September 15 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “I came back from town with Santa” [MTP: IVL TS 65].
Hawaii Promotion Co. sent a press release about the imminent shipment of the koa wood mantel carved by Franz (Frank) Nickolous Otremba, who had worked on the piece the last four months [MTP].
September 15 Wednesday - In Redding, Conn, Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer in Lake Placid, N.Y.
You thoughtless little rascal, why didn’t you tell me where you were going to be, now? You are gone from Lake Placid by this time, & this letter won’t ever reach you.
September 16 Wednesday – Dorothy Butes wrote from England to thank Clemens for his autograph:
September 16 Thursday — In Redding, Conn, Sam replied to the Sept. 13 from James Beauchamp (“Champ”) Clark in Bowling Green, Mo.
Dear Champ Clark:
I am glad I have made another convert. This makes two, for sure, for while I was at it I converted myself. Well, no—that happened earlier.
September 17 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Charles Gilman Norris (1881- 1945), author and playwright (see notes) in Toronto.
September 18 Friday – At 12:30 a.m. two burglars, Charles Hoffman and Henry Williams, broke into Sam’s home in Redding, Conn. They were surprised by Isabel Lyon as they were removing silverware. As they were fleeing Claude Benchotte the French butler fired shots at them, and a neighbor, Harry A. Lounsbury, followed them.
September 18 Saturday - Sam wrote across all columns of his Stormfield new guestbook:
September 18, anniversary. A year ago the burglars broke into the house at midnight. They were condemned to terms of 4 & 9 years. Persons of their sort had been plying their trade in the house for a long time, but we were not aware of it. This 18th closed all falatious [2 illegible words].
September 19 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Marjorie Breckenridge, in Brooklyn.
September 19 Sunday — In Redding, Conn. Sam began a letter to Joe Twichell that he added a line to on Sept. 27.
Dear Joe— / Nine days ago it was all arranged, & the writings drawn & signed, & yesterday the last little details were accomplished which wiped the slate clean of all connection with that criminal couple & dismisse's them out of our lives. And by George! yesterday was an anniversary—the date that the two burglars broke into this house!
September – Sam inscribed a photograph of himself in his white suit sitting in a chair and holding a book, to Isabel S. Wayland (Mrs. John Elton Wayland): “Mrs. John Wayland, with the affectionate regards of Mark Twain, Sept/08”[Sotheby’s auction June 19, 2003, Lot 127]. The Waylands were logged into Sam’s guest book for the period Aug. 31 to Sept 2, giving their home as “Little Pumpkin Island.”
September — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Marjorie Breckenridge.
I can’t, Marjorie dear, my activities are pretty definitely suspended. I can’t drive, I can’t walk, I am a prisoner. I am as well as anybody—as long as I keep still; but the least little exertion gives me such a bitter pain in the chest that I could enjoy it more than anything in the world if somebody else had it.
You must look in on me, Marjorie, & if I get over this before you go away, I’ll pay back. /Affectionately / [MTP; MTAq 265].
September 2 Wednesday – Dorothy Quick wrote to Sam.
My dear Mr Clemens.
September 20 Sunday – Sam’s new guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
F. Opper New York “ [September] 20 [Note: IVL: misspells Opper as “Opher”]
C.J. Taylor “ “ “ “
September 20 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Albert B. Paine wrote for Sam to Archibald Henderson.
September 21 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “F. Opher [sic Frederick Burr Opper] & C.J. Taylor / Santa to N.Y.” [MTP: IVL TS 66]. See guests above for Sept. 20.
Helen Kerr Blackmer (Mrs. Henry Myron Blackmer) wrote to Sam.
September 21 Tuesday — Paine writes of a dream Sam related:
September 21. This morning he told me, with great glee, the dream he had had just before wakening.
He said:
“I was in an automobile going slowly, with ‘a little girl beside me, and some uniformed person walking along by us. I said, ‘I’ll get out and walk, too’; but the officer replied, ‘This is only one of the smallest of our fleet.’
September 22 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Benares goes” [MTP: IVL TS 66].
Charles Henry Meltzer, reporter for the New York American, visited Sam to question him about the pamphlet that Elinor Glyn had been circulating. The visit is referred to in Meltzer’s letter of the following day, Sept. 23.
In New York, Jean Clemens wrote to Isabel Lyon [MTP]
September 22 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. Augusta M.D. Ogden in Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
September 22? Tuesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Helen Kerr Blackmer (Mrs. Henry Myron Blackmer) (mother of Margaret Gray Blackmer). “I accept with great pleasure. / S.L. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: because Sam wrote on Sept. 18 to Margery as if his call at the Woman’s Club had already been accepted, it may be that this note predates Sept. 22, which the MTP has placed it with question mark.
September 23 Wednesday – Sam’s original guestbook contained one entry for this date: Harriet W. Barbour, Farmington, Conn. [Mac Donnell TS 3].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Ill all day – nervous shock” [MTP: IVL TS 66].
J.H. Burchford for the Circumnavigators Club wrote from Burlington, NJ, a short note to advise a “prospectus” of the club was being sent, “and we should be very glad to receive your application” [MTP].
September 24 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.
Oh I reckon you will be able to stand such abuse as my autobiography will deal out to you. Particularly as you will be in heaven & not caring a dam in that distant future day appointed for the appearance of the Auto in print.
September 24 Friday — J.M. Eddy for Rush of ’49 Committee, Stockton, Calif. wrote to invite Sam to the 60th Anniversary of the gold rush, beginning on Oct. 26 [MTP].
September 25 Friday – Sam was in NYC to see daughter Jean off for Berlin, where she would be treated by a German physician, Professor Hofrath von Reuvers, recommended by Dr. Frederick Peterson, Jean’s primary physician. William Dean Howells and Sam spent some time together [MTHL 837n1]. Note: Clemens likely spent the night in a hotel and saw Jean off early the next morning.
September 25 Saturday —- Sam noted in his after Sept. 25, 1909 letter that on this day, “Clara’s announcement,” of her wedding on Oct. 6 to Ossip Gabrilowitsch.
Sam’s new guestbook:
September 26 Saturday – At 11 a.m., Jean Clemens sailed for Germany on the Pretoria, accompanied by Anna Sterritt, and Marguerite Schmidt. On the dock waving goodbye were her father, Isabel Lyon and Dorothy Quick. Jean would cable her father on Sept. 30 that she was well and having a comfortable voyage [Sept. 30 to L. Paine; MTOW 179; Hill 213]. Note: MTHL 837n1 erroneously gives Sept. 25 as Jean’s sailing date; Howells’ Oct.