February 10 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a note of introduction “To any friend or acquaintance of mine” for Albert Bigelow Paine, “my biographer & particular friend, who is seeking information concerning me for use in his book.” [MTP]. Note: Sam may have written several of these as two survive, UCCL # 07666 and 08345,
Stormfield - Day By Day
February 11 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin, granddaughter of H.H. Roger
O, come, dear heart, all this enthusiasm over a comparative stranger! But you have studied it over, & know whether it is warranted or not; so it isn’t for me to criticise.
February 12 Friday — Isabel Lyon’s journal noted that Sam was in bed reading “Quakenbores [sic] book on Natural Philosophy” in bed with “a cigar between his teeth”. Note: A Natural Philosophy, etc. (1899) by George Payn Quackenbos (1826-1881) [Gribben 565].
George Brunton for the Boone Iowa News-Republican wrote to ask Sam for a letter of encouragement for their YMCA [MTP].
February 13 Saturday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam and Isabel Lyon to professor Archibald Henderson at UNC, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dear Dr Henderson
February 14 Sunday - In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a reply on a postcard to Mary (not further identified).
Goodspeed’s
Boston
February 14, 1909
Picture postcard, no
postmarks, not addressed
black ink, 2 sides
Front:
February 15 Monday — Charles E. Hinckley for W.A. Hunter & Co., Nashville, Tenn. wrote to Sam.
I have the honor to say that you are directed, for naval purposes, to read the accompanying article [not in file] and report to the secretary of the navy at Washington, D.C. the proper way of putting our naval vessels through the Suez Canal without so much flub-dub about the pilots. Talk about a little old eighty-seven miles on the Mississip? Huhl...
late Captain Steamer “Copperopolis” San Francisco to Sacramento.
February 16 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Archibald Henderson, professor at UNC, Chapel Hill.
Dear Dr Henderson:
Mr. Clemens’ comment was: “Mightily interesting and very ingenious.” And he was deep/y touched with your reference to Mrs Clemens.
February 17 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.
February 18 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton in N.Y.C.
Very dear Plumber:
(who doesn’t know how to plumb);
February 19 Friday — John N. Ryan for Equitable Life Assurance, NYC wrote to ask Sam for “something from you” for the Year Book for the Pleiades Club, NYC [MTP].
A.H. Tomlinson wrote from Swathmore, Penn. to Sam. He’d sent a copy of “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” and asked that Sam sign it with a few words and place the date on it [MTP].
February 20 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer.
Attention, you dear little tyke!
You will have a long vacation at Easter; can’t you & your mother spend it with us? I do hope so. When Ashcroft-Benares goes to New York Tuesday, I want him to catch your mother on the telephone & discuss the matter with her. / With lots of love [MTP; MTAg 251].
February 21 Sunday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to prof. Archibald Henderson, University of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill. “Dear Dr Henderson: / We spell it: ‘UMPAWAUG’—not ‘Umpawag, as you had it” [MTP]. Note: Umpawaug, named after Indians who deeded land in 1686; a district, and road in Redding, Conn. Also a cemetery, across the road from the original Mark Twain Library, which began in a chapel.
February 23 Tuesday — Isabel Lyon left Stormfield to recover from her breakdown at her mother’s house in Hartford. She was there ten days. Hill writes of Clara Clemens’ arrival and of the ensuing controversy of suspicion:
February 24 Wednesday — Elizabeth P. Brown wrote from NYC to Sam.
I shall put yesterday down as one of the days in which something really happened for it was last evening that your letter came.
Irene was a dear to suggest your writing—and you—what shall 1 say about you for doing as she suggested?
Anyway, I thank you very much indeed. [She regretted not being able to speak to him the day he called at her school. She thought Irene Gerken] “a most bewitching little miss” MTP]. Note IVL: “From Irene's teacher, Miss Brown”
February 25 Thursday - In Redding. Conn. Sam wrote to John Albert Macy.
Dear Mr. Macy: / Thank you for Greenwood’s book. I have read it most carefully, and have stolen meat enough from it to stuff yards and yards of sausage-gut in my vast Autobiography and make it look like my own. And really the gut is mine. My, but I have enjoyed that book!
With love to you all,
Clemens,
February 26 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean now at the Unkeway Farm in Babylon, Long Island, N.Y.
You dear Jean, I was glad to hear from you. I have a photograph of your house, & I think it is most attractive. For your sake I hope it is as pleasant as it looks.
That poor old Geronimo! I am glad his grand old patriot heart is at peace, no more to know wrong & insult at the hands of the Christian savage.
February 27 Saturday — Pieter Bausch wrote from Amsterdam, Holland to thank Sam for his letter and for the $50 sent. A photo of a somber Mr. & Mrs. Bausch is in the file [MTP]. Note: “P. Bausch / Interesting (Photo)”; Sam paid Bausch in order to use his letter in his Autobiography. Bausch kept writing until he became a pest and Sam would not answer. Bausch then wrote to Harpers.
February 28 Sunday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton.
Dear Plumber who can’t plumb:
If opportunity offers, you must shake hands with Mr. Taft for me, that able & lovely man. And can’t you also do the like for yourselves—you & your beautiful pal?
I inquire to know.
With love & best wishes to you both [MTP].
March — The Virginia Railway and H.H. Rogers sent an invitation to a dinner for H.H. Rogers upon the completion of the Virginia Railway. Endorsed: “Accept formally. S.L.C.” [MTP; not in MTHHR).
Paul Thompson’s article “A Day with Mark Twain” ran in Burr McIntosh Monthly, p. 22-4. Tenney: “Superficial description of a visit to MT at his ‘Stormfield’ home in Redding, Connecticut; illustrated with two photographs of MT and two of the house” [48].
March 1 Monday — On or about this day Jean Clemens moved from Babylon, Long Island (she hated it) to a cottage named “Wahnfried,” in Montclair, N.J., supervised by Miss Edith Clapp, a nurse. Jean had still not seen Stormfield [Hill 225]. Note: on Mar. 3 Sam replied to a non-extant letter from Jean; allowing a day each way would put Jean’s letter and probably her arrival in Montclair, to this day.
Sam’s new guestbook:
March 2 Tuesday — Andrew Chatto wrote to Sam. “I am sending for your kind acceptance an early copy of a drama on Joan of Arc’ which I hope may be of interest to you. It is written by a young friend of mine and I think it has merit” [MTP].
Miriam Sutro Price for Public Education Assoc., NYC wrote to ask Sam if he would “Join their association and help us in our work for public schools?” [MTP].
March 3 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Helen Kerr Blackmer (Mrs. Henry Myron Blackmer) in N.Y.C.
Dear Mrs. Blackmer:
March 4 Thursday - In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a memo to Ralph W. Ashcroft.
Memo. for Mr Ashcroft.
Draw up codicil to will, whereby, at age 55, my daughter Clara may have her 1/2 share of estate, Jean’s share to remain in trust during her (Jean’s) lifetime. If Jean dies before Clara, & Clara is her sole or partial legatee, this property to remain in trust until Clara is 55. If Clara dies before Jean, & Jean is Clara’s sole or partial legatee, this property to remain in trust during Jean’s lifetime.
March 5 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam began a postcard to Dorothy Quick, which he lost in his table drawer and which he then found and finished on Mar. 31.
March 6 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. an unidentified person wrote for Clemens to Harry A. Lounsbury.
Dear Mr. Lounsbury : / Mr, Clemens, who is, as you know, very satisfied with the manner in which you have attended to his needs in the past, wishes me, however, to call your attention to the following matters: