Stormfield - Day By Day

November 20 Saturday — Sam met Albert Bigelow Paine at the train station in N.Y.C. to board the Bermudian for the voyage to Bermuda. In Robert Underwood Johnson’s Remembered Yesterdays, p.133, we find the following, which denotes that he had time to go to the funeral for Richard Watson Gilder: “As Mark Twain entered the Church of the Ascension at the funeral service, he said to a friend, ‘I wish that I were that man lying in there’.” Note: Paine in MTB does not mention Sam attending the funeral.

November 21 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed a copy of Eve’s Diary to Mary Elizabeth Milner Harmsworth (Mrs. Alfred Harmsworth); Baroness Northcliffe; 1868- 1963): “To Lady Northcliffe with the compliments of the Author. / Adam at Eve’s Grave: / ‘Wheresoever she was, There was Eden’ (page 109)./ Nov 21/08” [MTP].  

Sam’s new guestbook:  

  Name Address Date Remarks

Commodore D. Dow, R.N.R. R.M.S. “Caronia” Nov. 21-24

November 21 Sunday — Clemens and Albert Bigelow Paine were aboard the Bermudian en route to Hamilton, Bermuda. The ship encountered rough seas and Paine suffered from seasickness [D. Hoffman 135]. Note: I have not come across one instance where Clemens ever suffered from seasickness.

November 22 Sunday – In Redding, Conn., Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Helen Keller.

Dear Miss Keller:

November 22 Monday — The Bermudian arrived in the islands on a rainy day. They took rooms at the Hamilton Hotel. D. Hoffman writes:

November 23 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to William Dean Howells, addressing the letter:

“Mr. W. D. Howells |at the Burlington just aft the Holland House, 30th st., on the port tack as you pull out of 5th avenue reaching for 6th, on a taut bowline. New York City |N. Y.”

Dear Howells:

There’ll be a vacant bed Friday Nov 26th—do come up & occupy it & stay a few days. The early train (for Redding) leaves the Grand Central at 8.50 a.m.

November 23 Tuesday — Sam and Paine Stayed at the Hamilton Hotel for the first three days of their visit, which D, Hoffman cites from Marion Allen’s diary as unexpected [135]. Paine writes of their activities the day after their arrival:

November 24 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:  Will arrived early and Santa. / Prof. Sanford came today to see about having the library moved to Redding Centre. The Hawaiian mantel came today, but the beautiful Koa wood has been polished until it is terribly yellow, and it won’t go anywhere. Steve Barr and Mr. Adams lugged it around from billiard to dining room— but the polish of it was fearful. The King declared it too offensive, but suggested that all the wonderful shine be scraped off—so the men carried it to the garage to reduce its coloring [MTP: IVL TS 80-81].

November 24 Wednesday — The last of three days’ stay at the Hamilton Hotel. Sam kept their rooms there but stayed mostly with the Allens at Bay House [Nov. 26 to Clara]. On Dec. 6, however, he wrote daughter Jean that the Allens wouldn’t let him stay at the hotel so he gave up his room, Likely Paine kept his room.

November 25 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery Hamilton Clinton, 39 E. 57th, N.Y.C.

Dear Plumber:

Oh no, bless your heart, you are not in any danger of losing your job. All you have to do is to be sweet, & look sweet, & sit around & let on to plumb, same as the others do. These are the only requirements in your case, & they will always come easy to you. Your job is quite secure.

November 25 Thursday — Thanksgiving Day — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam joined the Allen family at Bay House for Thanksgiving dinner. He enjoyed it so much there that he stayed with them for the remainder of his Bermuda visit [D. Hoffman 135].

November 26 Thursday – Thanksgiving – Elizabeth Wallace, whom Sam had met upon his arrival in Bermuda on Jan. 26, arrived at Stormfield for a visit of several days. She is listed for this day in Sam’s new guestbook, with his note under Remarks: “Stayed several days but not long enough. Blackmer, discovered her in Bermuda about a year ago.” She left Stormfield the morning of Nov. 29. In her 1914 recollection, Mark Twain and the Happy Island, Wallace writes:

November 26 Friday — In Hamilton Bermuda Sam wrote to daughter Clara.

Clärchen dear, I do hope Jean & the house are getting along well, for I don’t feel a bit like leaving this peaceful refuge. If I could be sure of Jean & the house’s happiness I wouldn’t sail from here till the 18th of December.

November 27 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “The King read for the benefit of the Library” [MTP: IVL TS 81].

Elizabeth Wallace describes the events of a full day at Stormfield:

November 28 Saturday – Elizabeth Wallace describes the events of her last day’s stay at Stormfield:

November 29 Sunday – Elizabeth Wallace ended her visit and left Stormfield on an early train. 

November 3 Tuesday – On or about Nov. 3 Sam sent the library notice with receipt for $1 to Mai Rogers Coe (Mrs. William R. Coe) [MTP]. Note: see Sam’s new guestbook below:  

Name Address Date Remarks

Wm. R. Coe

L. Lanier Winslow

Mrs. Mai Rogers Coe )  New York City November 3

Clemens acquired another case of Queen Anne whisky [L-A MS]. Note: see June 8, 1907 for the full list of acquisition dates of whisky , intended as ammunition against Isabel Lyon.

November 3 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent an order form to Harper & Brothers for their story, “Beasley’s Xmas Party” to be send to various of his friends (blank lines left for Sam to write in names) [MTP: Harper’s Weekly Magazine, 18 Dec. 1909]. Note: “Beasley’s Christmas Party,” by Booth Tarkington (1909); see Gribben 686.

Paine writes of the day’s activities:

November 3. He said he could not sleep last night, for thinking what a fool he had been in his variousinvestments,

November 30 Monday  – Sam’s 73rd Birthday. The New York Times, Dec. 1, p.1 “Mark Twain is 73.” announced that Sam passed his birthday “quietly at his home…As was his custom, Mr. Clemens took his morning ride, passing the remainder of the day with his household.”

In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean   in Berlin, Germany.

November 30 Tuesday — Sam’s 74th and last Birthday. Paine writes of the day and his gift:

On the morning of his seventy-fourth birthday he was looking wonderfully well after a night of sound sleep, his face full of color and freshness, his eyes bright and keen and full of good-humor. I presented him with a pair of cuff-buttons silver-enameled with the Bermuda lily, and I thought he seemed pleased with them.

November 4 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Berlin, Germany.  

November 4 Thursday — Lotta M. Crabtree wrote on Brewster Hotel, Boston notepaper to ask forgiveness for “not having acknowledged at once the invitation to your daughter’s wedding” [MTP]. Note: “’Lotta’ /Autograph Col’

November 5 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam sent a telegram to President of the Pilgrims, N.Y. chapter.

President of the Pilgrims:

New York

November 5 Friday — William Dean Howells wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam.

November 6 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to the Redding Court. “This is to certify that I have examined & identified as my property the silver taken from my house by force in the early morning of September 18, 1908. / Respectfully submitted to the honorable Court” /… [MTP].

Sam also wrote to an unidentified man.

Dear Sir: / I note this passage in the letter sent you by Mr. Ashley: