December — Sam’s article, “Marjorie Fleming, the Wonder-Child,” ran in the Dec. issue of Harper’s Bazar [Hill 250].
Sam signed his copy of A Dash at the Pole (1909) by William Lyon Phelps: “SL Clemens from / Wm Lyn Phelps / Dec 1909” [Gribben 542].
Paine writes of Sam quoting Oliver Wendell Holmes’ poem, “The Last Leaf”:
One evening he spoke of those who had written but one immortal thing and stopped there. He mentioned “Ben Bolt”.
December 20 Sunday – In Redding, Conn. Sam began a letter to Margaret Blackmer that he finished on Dec. 21. The Dec. 20 segment:
December 20 Monday — The Bermudian arrived in New York City. Jean Clemens met Sam and Albert Bigelow Paine. According to Paine, Jean continued on to Redding, Conn. while Sam stayed “a day or two later.” He described Jean as “blue and shivering with the cold,” and felt “she should not have come.” Likely she was accompanied by Katy or one of the servants [MTB 1547].
December 21 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added to his Dec. 20 to Margaret Blackmer.
Next morning. 8 a.m. Before breakfast.
December 21 Tuesday —- The New York Times, p. 1, ran an article on the arrival of Mark Twain from Bermuda and Sam’s declaration that he would do no more work:
MARK TWAIN DONE WITH WORK
Humorist Says There'll Be No More for Him in This World.
“I am through with work for this life and this world,” said Mark Twain on his arrival yesterday from Bermuda. He had said a good word for the suffragettes, and his reply came when he was asked whether he intended to lecture for the cause of votes for women.
December 22 Tuesday – Mansfield Hobbs, an attorney friend of Ralph W. Ashcroft filed incorporation papers for the Mark Twain Company, with $5,000 in capital stock. Clemens, Ashcroft, and Isabel Lyon were the original officers. Sam signed a document assigning and transferring all of his literary rights to the new corporation.
December 22 Wednesday — Sam left NYC for Redding by this day, according to Paine [MTB 1547].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote from NYC:
“You may recall that we had a talk not very long ago about making some school books from your writings. | talked the matter over with Paine yesterday. The school book plan seems a good one in so far as it teaches the young where to go for the most limpid English.
December 23 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 10 of L.M. Powers. “Published without my consent; & promptly suppressed. SLC /Don’t know where to find this one. It was a political brochure” [MTP].
December 23 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a short note to the Manager, Associated Press that ran in the NY Times (and possibly other newspapers) on Dec. 24, p.6, “Twain’s Merry Christmas.”
“I hear the newspapers say I’m dying, The charge is not true, I would not do such a thing at my time of life. I am behaving as good as I can, / Merry Christmas to everybody! / Mark Twain” [MTP].
See Paine’s recollection of dinner this evening with Jean Clemens, in Dec, 24 entry.
December 24 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed a copy of P&P to Ossip Gabrilowitsch: “To Ossip Gabrilowitsch, all good wishes & a Merry Christmas, from the Author. Stormfield, Dec. 24/08” [MTP].
December 24 Friday — In the morning Jean Clemens died in the bathtub. Dr. Ernest H. Smith, the examining physician of the county ruled Jean’s death was due to drowning, evidently during a seizure [Hill 253]. The New York Times ran the sad story on page one, Dec. 25:
MISS JEAN CLEMENS FOUND DEAD IN BATH
She Was Overcome by an Epileptic
Seizure an Hour Before Her Body Was Discovered.
HAD PLANNED A HAPPY XMAS
December 25 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Dorothy Butes.
December 25 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent the same reply (telegram) to Annie Moffett Webster at 55 W 10th St N.Y. [MTP]
Paine writes of Christmas day:
December 26 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam sent the same postcard with a photo of himself, Ashcroft, and Lyon to Dorothy Sturgis, this time adding supposed dialog between those photographed:
December 26 Sunday — Sam drafted instructions to a printer for a card he wished printed for answering the many dozens of letters that poured in expressing sorrow and condolence upon the death of Jean Clemens.
TO ALL FRIENDS WHO HAVE S.L. CLEMENS STORMFIELD, DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH |
December 27 Sunday – Sam’s new guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
December 27 Monday – Redding, Conn, Sam wrote to Mai H. Coe.
December 28 Monday – In Redding, Sam wrote a postcard to Ragnvald Blix in Munich, Germany.
December 28 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn, Sam wrote to Harriet E. Whitmore.
December 29 Tuesday – Sam wrote in the new Guestbook before transferring names and information from the old guestbook:
STORMFIELD GUESTBOOK
December 29 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Clara .
O, Clara, Clara dear, I am so glad she is out of it & safe—safe!
I am not melancholy; I shall never be melancholy again, I think.
You see, I was in such distress when I came to realize that you were gone far away & no one stood between her & danger but me—& I could die at any moment, & then—oh then what would become of her! For she was wilful, you know, & would not have been governable.
December 3 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
December 30 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Elizabeth Alexander Alexander (Mrs. John White Alexander).
December 30 Thursday - More letters and telegrams of condolence were sent by:
| Henry M. Alden Irving Bacheller Samuel C, Benson Florence Carbutt Katherine L. Collier (telegram) Margaret C, Dougherty Lucy M, Gallagher John C, Gordon (telegram) D.M. Hanson Robert Underwood Johnson [MTP], |
December 31 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Gertrude Natkin in N.Y.C.