March 20 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster, asking him to:
“…thank Mr. Whitford for his efforts to get me a stenographer, but I had already secured one, just before your letter came” [MTNJ 2: 517].
Sam also typed a short note to John Russell Young, who had replied to Sam’s request for a visit. “Name the day yourself” Sam offered [MTP].
March 20 Tuesday – In New York City, Sam and Livy took Charles and Annie Webster and attended a special matinee performance of Herr Barnay at the Thalia Theater, “to which only members of the profession were invited.”
BARNAY IN FARCE AND TRAGEDY.
A PERFORMANCE FOR THE PLEASURE OF HIS PROFESSIONAL BRETHREN
March 20 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood, acknowledging receipt of $5,000. Sam matched the amount and “paid off that old endorsement”—probably settling accounts on LM, which Sam had agreed to produce at his cost, with a royalty going to Osgood. He encouraged a prize for subscription sellers who reached 400 sales of LM. Sam was also afflicted:
March 20 Friday – Sam went to New York City for the weekend and stayed at the Everett House [Mar. 14 to Pond; Mar.
March 20 Saturday – Charles Webster wrote to Sam, firmly against allowing a reduced share of Webster & Co. To allow Jesse Grant into the firm:
I would go very slow about taking in new partners. I don’t want to part with any of my interest but if you wish to sell any of yours I have no objection to the Grant boys, but they should have nothing to say about the conduct of the business [MTNJ 3: 220n111].
March 20 Sunday – The New York Times, p.9 ran a short article, “MARK TWAIN’S MEMORY,”touting Professor Loisette’s “system of memory,” and quoting Sam’s letter (See the beginning of this year.)
March 20 Tuesday – A. Loisette wrote to Sam that he’d been successful in changing his advertisements as Sam had requested [MTP].
March 20 Wednesday – Reading in Volume 1 of The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning, Sam recorded his progress along the margin on p.81: “Finished here March 20/89 I declare! What time it is!” [Gribben 105]. (See Mar. 27 for next notation.)
An unidentified person (signed, “A Bostonian”) wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].
March 20 Thursday † – In Hartford on or just after this date Sam, through Franklin G. Whitmore, answered G.G. Green’s Mar. 19 request “that he could not spare a moment for the work you propose” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to James R. Osgood asking him the custom for reserving “a couple of the choicest (communicating) rooms” in Paris, France or New York for the “first fortnight in June” — could it be done without making advance payment?
March 20 Friday – Annie B. Jennings wrote to Sam inviting him to take part in an Authors’ Readings for the benefit of the YWCA of New York. Also appearing were Hjalmar Boyesen, Robert Underwood Johnson, Frank R. Stockton, Will Carleton, and John Kendrick Bangs [MTNJ 3: 611n133]. Note: the readings took place on Apr. 22.
March 21 Sunday – An unknown boy wrote from Chicago to Sam; only the envelope survives [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “A Boy’s Request”
March 21 Monday – The New York Times reported under “Literary Notes” on page 3:
—It is rumored that James R. Osgood & Co. have engaged Mark Twain to prepare a “Cyclopedia of Humor”
Western Union bill for Mar. 31 shows a telegram to New York on this date (see entry for others).
March 21 Tuesday – From Hartford, Sam typed a letter to Hattie and Karl Gerhardt.
“DON’T YOU IMAGINE ANY NONSENSE ABOUT DISPLEASING US. I AM NOT THE SORT OF PERSON WHO MANIFESTS DISPLEASURE BY SILENCE. I SEND A CABLEGRAM ON THE SPOT. UNTIL YOU GET THAT SORT OF CABLEGRAM, YOU CAN REST PERFECTLY EASY, THAT NO TROUBLE IS BREWING.”
March 21 Wednesday – Sam and Livy continued their New York stay, for both business and shopping pleasure. Sam and Livy also visited with Augustus Saint-Gaudens on this trip [Mar. 26 to Gerhardt, MTP].
March 21 Friday – James R. Osgood wrote (twice) to Clemens: first: sorry for Sam’s affliction, whether gout or rheumatism; “Webster is going through that prize question when he comes. We will send you acceptances when we arrive at the balance.” Second note: Chatto & Windus had written asking progress on HF; “Shall I reply to this, and if so, how?” [MTP].
March 21 Saturday – Sam and Cable gave a reading in Steinway Hall, N.Y. Clemens included: “A Dazzling Achievement,” “Tragic Tale of the Fishwife,” “Incorporated Company of Mean Men,” and “The Bluejay’s Mistake” [MTPO].
Sam telegraphed from New York City to Livy:
“Gerhardt worked three hours in General Grants presence yesterday with excellent results” [MTP].
March 21 Sunday – From Susy Clemens’ diary:
Sunday — Here is another of papa’s stories told to me by Jean:
“The Generous Fender”
March 21 Monday – In Hartford Sam responded to a neighbor’s note, Charles E. Thompson, that he would “report at the Armory at 8 tomorrow evening.” He also gave Thompson permission for his son to tie up his boat on the creek at the rear of Sam’s property.
…& if he will speak to my coachman, he will provide a place for his oars in our stable, if he would like that [MTP]. Note: The Armory event is unknown.
March 21 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook also reveals a probable appointment with Senator Thomas Meade Bowen, of Colorado to discuss the international copyright bill then in Congress; also the name of Adair Wilson at “Wednesday, 2 p.m.,” which would have had to be this day.
March 21 Thursday – L.P. di Cesnola for Metro. Museum of Art wrote that Sam had been nominated as an “annual member” [MTP].
March 21 Friday – Robert L. Niles wrote to Sam asking the possibility of reviving The Gilded Age play. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Brer, I will answer or dictate / SLC / This must go to Howells I guess” [MTP].
Mary Russell Perkins wrote to solicit Sam’s annual subscription of charity to the Hartford Orphan Asylum. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Brer, Send $10. SLC” [MTP].
Daniel Whitford wrote to Sam (TS of Frohman to Whitford Feb. 12 enclosed):
March 21 Saturday – Sam had planned to give a reading at Simsbury, Conn. on this day [MTNJ 3: 603n102]. See also a train time for Simsbury [609].
March 22 Monday – In Boston, Howells wrote to Sam about the “charm and the solid delightfulness” of A Tramp Abroad.
Well, you are a blessing. You ought to believe in God’s goodness, since he has bestowed upon the world such a delightful genius as yours to lighten its troubles [MTHL 1: 293].
William Haskell Simpson (1858-1933) wrote on Univ. of Kansas Chancellor’s Office, Lawrence, Kansas letterhead.
March 22 Tuesday – N.Y., New Haven & Hartford R.R. billed Sam $2.31 for “transporting ½ bbl wine”; paid; Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Co. billed $1.22 for telegrams: Mar. 15 to Boston, Mar. 22 to N.Y. [MTP].
March 22 Wednesday – In Boston, Howells wrote a short note to Sam concerning the “Library of Humor” work and his plans to go to Europe [MTHL 1: 395].