January 14 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in West Redding, Conn.
For the Bazar
WHO?
Who loves to steal a while away
From sinful joys & foolish play
And fold her holy hands & pray?
The Bitch.
Who loves to watch while others pray,
And hog their assets, night & day,
Wherewith to fat her Ashcroft—say?
The Bitch,
(To be continued.)
[verso:]
January 15 Friday – Harry Windsor Dearborn for the Robert Fulton Monument wrote to Sam, attempting to entice him to attend the “informal reception” for which he’d changed the date from Jan. 23 to the 21st to accommodate Sam’s visit to NYC. He listed a string quartet which would be there, a waiting billiard table of Henry W. Marsh’s, and would send an automobile for Clemens. He added a P.S.: “I have invited a number of very young and beautiful girls who will be so pleased to see you on Thursday next” [MTP].
January 15 Saturday — Mrs. W.F. Forbush wrote from Cannon Station, Conn. to offer some treatment for Sam’s indigestion [MTP].
January 16 Saturday – Sam’s guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
Edward Quintard New York Jan 16 1909
Lumbring Kant [?] New York Jan 16 1909
Frank Lascelles Oxford – Keblelon “ 16 “ [see notes below]
John Elton Wayland New York 17-18 Jan 16, 1909
January 17 Sunday – William B. Jones for Raymond & Whitcomb Co., Boston wrote to ask for information on an article he’d seen years before attributed to Clemens on the “Waters of The Ganges, etc.” [MTP].
January 17 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to the New York Telephone Co. requesting telephone books. His letter is not extant but referred to in the Company’s Jan. 20 reply; since Paine wrote the below for Clemens, it’s probable he also wrote this letter [MTP].
Albert B. Paine wrote for Sam to Mrs. Emma Gertrude Quick.
January 18 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mai H. Coe and William R. Coe.
Dear Coes:
January 18 Tuesday — William Dean Howells wrote from NYC to Sam.
Dear Clemens: / While your wonderful words are warm in my mind yet, I want to tell you what you know already; that you never wrote anything greater, finer, than that turning-point paper of yours.
I shall feel it honor enough if they put on my tombstone, "He was born in the same Century and general Section of middle western Country with Dr. S. L. Clemens, Oxon., and had his Degree three years before him through a mistake of the University.”
January 19 Tuesday – In Redding Clemens wrote to Frank Cavendish Lascelles, English actor and pageant director who had visited on Jan. 16-17:
Dear Mr. Lascelles: / Mr. Clemens asks me to say that he is very willing to have you burgle the enclosed, & with it sends his warm regards. / Sincerely Yours / Isabel Lyon Jan. 19/09
[first enclosure: postcard with photograph of Stormfield]
[Second enclosure in SLC’s hand:]
TO THE GUEST
January 19 Wednesday — Ragnvald Blix wrote on Simplicissimus notepaper from Munich, Germany:
I have just received the St. Sebastian [drawing] from my exhibition in Christiana and a friend of me, who goes to New York in some days, takes the drawing with him (I have heard that the luggage of drawings in America is very detailed and troublesome)
I hope, that the Sebastian is welcome in Stormfield? [MTP].
January –Samuel Wyatt wrote from Berks, England to offer three pages of verse after reading JA [MTP].
January 2 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a postcard to daughter Jean. “Happy New Year, Jean dear! And I hope you will have many more. / Affectionately” … [MTP].
Sam also wrote a postcard with a photograph of Stormfield to Dorothy Quick. Happy New Year! Jan. 2’09
It is a very nice poem, Dorothy dear; that is my opinion, & Miss Lyon’s, too.
January 20 Wednesday – Sam went to New York City, accompanied by Isabel Lyon [Feb. 5 to Blackmer]. He would not return to Stormfield until the evening of Jan. 30.
In the evening Sam attended the annual dinner at Delmonico’s, given by the Directors and faculty of the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital. The New York Times reported on the function:
TWAIN TALKS TO DOCTORS.
———
“Dr. Clemens” Describes Imaginary Medical School at His Country Home.
January 20 Thursday - W.H. Howe for H.H. Laboratory, Moorefield, Ky. wrote to ask for an autograph, after having visited Florida, Mo. and viewing the house where his aunt Polly said Clemens was born [MTP].
New York Telephone Co. per F.B. Ellis wrote to Sam: “I have your favor of January 17th, and wish to advise that 2 copies of the New York Telephone Directory issue of October 14th, 1909 have been sent to you by Adam’s express to-day” [MTP].
Dora Prentice Wills wrote from Holmesburg, Phila. to Sam.
January 21 Thursday – Sam was in New York City.
Harry Windsor Dearborn for Henry W. Marsh sent an engraved card invitation to tea on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Henry W. Marsh, NYC [MTP].
Mrs. Emma Sheridan Fry wrote to notify Sam of her resignation from the Educational Theatre, enclosing a copy of her resignation to Minnie Herts, which stated her inability to work with Mr. Heniger, “your young Stage Director” [MTP]. Note: Fry wanted no editorial interference.
January 21 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.
Dear Paine,—Thanks for your letter, and for its contenting news of the situation in that foreign and far-off and vaguely-remembered country where you and Loomis and Lark and other beloved friends are.
I have Letter from Clara this morning. She is solicitous, and wants me well and watchfully taken care of. My, she ought to see Helen and her parents and Claude administer that trust!
January 22 Friday – Sam was in New York City.
January 23 Saturday – Sam was in New York City with Isabel Lyon, who became ill and was forced to return to Stormfield, where she kept her bed for a couple of weeks [Feb. 5 to Blackmer]. Notes: Sam would return home on Jan. 30. Isabel would suffer a mental and physical breakdown, caused perhaps by her great volume of work, and a growing conflict with Clara Clemens. It may have been a standard hen-house issue of control and of access to Sam’s time and attention. She stayed in bed back at Stormfield and is mentioned in several of Clemens’ letters after he returned to Stormfield on Jan.
January 24 Sunday – Sam was in New York City.
J.C. Hawkins for the Missouri Univ. Savitar wrote to ask Sam for “a small literary contribution.” He mentioned the 1906 Savitar which had been dedicated to Clemens, “the greatest Missourian” [MTP].
Anna Rosenkranz wrote from Bromberg, Prussia to ask permission to translate Eve’s Diary into German for their newspapers [MTP].
January 24 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.
Dear Paine:
Can you get this note to Mr. Moroso for me?
And will you send the poem to Clara when you write her?
January 25 Monday – Sam was in New York City.
Dr. Henry M. Chase and the Boston Dispensary Staff sent an invitation card for a dinner on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Brunswick, Boston [MTP].
Herbert F. Knowles, “a complete stranger” wrote from Hartford to Sam. Knowles was writing an article, “How I felt after my first smoke” and asked for “a few lines relating to your experience” [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 27 M.L.H.”
January 25 Tuesday
January 25? Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote on the Jan. 20 letter from Dora Prentice Wills to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.: “Paine, write her one of your darlingest letters for me. SLC / Paine, Claude does not want his money. He will cash the check, but don’t send any more. SLC” [MTP].
January 26 Tuesday – Sam was in New York City.
January 26 Wednesday - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer in Greenwich, Conn.
Dear Margaret— / So you have reached Rosemary Hall at last. I know it must be recently, or you would have run up to see me at Stormfield.
I suppose I shant see Stormfield again very soon, I have no sorrowful associations with Bermuda, so I expect to spend a good deal of my time here in future, I am not in any hurry to go back to America.
January 27 Wednesday – Sam was in New York City.
Mary E. Boynton wrote before this date to ask Sam to appear before a “very enthusiastic Staten Island audience.” What were his terms? [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 27 M.L.H.”
George Dickson wrote from Alton, Ill. enclosing a formal studio portrait of himself, having been called “Mark Twain” by his friends (in file; not much resemblance). Would Clemens send one of his pictures? [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 27 M.L.H.”