Life in Exile: Day By Day

July – In London, England Sam inscribed a copy of Stories from Old Fashioned Children’s books, etc. to Percy Spalding: “To / Mr. Spalding / with the kindest regards of / Mark Twain / July 1900” [MTP]. Note: in another hand the book bears this inscription: “To Mark Twain / from And: W. Tuer / with admiration & apologies./ p. XVI Intro: / Nov. 1899” [MTP]. Note: it appears this book was originally inscribed to Sam by Andrew W. Tuer, the author.

July 2 Friday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to Frank E. Bliss, enclosing a photo “mentioned in the last chapter of the book.” Sam advised that he and Andrew Chatto had removed material from FE the day before. “Chatto promised to write you, so that you can leave it out, too, if you like.” After his signature Sam wrote they would leave for the Continent on July 8 [MTP]. Note: delays pushed departure to July 13.

July 2 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Sun [July] 2—Sunday. Mrs. Aklom” [NB 40 TS 57]. )

The New York Times, p. 17 ran a notice about the special English edition of Mark Twain’s works:

LITERARY EXODUS FROM LONDON

Publishing Season is Over—New Edition of Mark Twain’s Works.

July 2 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Drove out to Dollis Hill (4.35 to 5.10) in the rainstorm & took possession. It is certainly the dirtiest dwelling-house in Europe—perhaps in the universe. / Plasmon 12? / Goerz, 7.30” [NB 43 TS 20].

The Clemens family moved to the Dollis Hill House on the outskirts of N.W. London.

Sam gave a private reading, place and time unknown; he may or may not have stopped by John Y. MacAlister’s home [July 1 to MacAlister].

July 20 Tuesday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister, apologizing for not hearing the doorbell on the night of July 7. Evidently MacAlister was going to urge Sam to take Pond’s lecture offer:

July 20 Wednesday – At the Villa Paulhof in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to Frank Bliss that it wasn’t possible for him to come over, what with advance rent paid, the “educational arrangements” of his daughters, and all.

July 20 Thursday – Sam’s notebook:

5 p.m. 20th. Jean fell in a spasm striking her head on the slop jar. A bad convulsion; she lay as if dead—face purple & no light in the eyes. I ran & brought Harry; his father soon followed. They are working at her now. She is better [NB 40 TS 58].

July 20 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “There is a divinity that roughs our ends, smooth-hew them how we will” [NB 43 TS 22].

July 21 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook:

Took a room at the Villa Tannen as a writing-room. Price 20 francs a month.  Paid the first month in advance, & shall move in tomorrow.

———

Our landlady offered me a room in the next house below ours at 60 fr a month.

———

July 21 Friday – Robert G. Ingersoll died in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. of congestive heart failure, age 65. Sam admired Ingersoll, called the “Great Agnostic” for views Sam couldn’t publicly take himself. Audio recordings Ingersoll made at Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory survive and are accessible online. See Sam’s letter of Nov. 12 to Eva L. Farrell, Ingersoll’s niece. Also, Schwartz’s May 1976 article, “Mark Twain and Robert Ingersoll: The Freethought Connection” in American Literature Vol. 48, No. 2, p. 183-93

July 22 Thursday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam wrote two letters to Chatto & Windus, the second not finished till July 24. In the first:

Let us drop this impossible thing. Cable Bliss for sheets.

It will not answer to try to produce the book from the original MS. It cannot be done. It is perfectly lousy with errors and foolishnesses which are not in Bliss’s copy. I can’t endure to read another chapter of it. I must go straight & telegraph you.

July 23 Friday – In Weggis, Switzerland added a PS to his second July 22 to Chatto & Windus: “Send sheets to Bliss up to the MIDDLE of the book—then don’t send any more without first writing me about it” [MTP].

July 23 Sunday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam replied to Richard Watson Gilder (incoming not extant). Sam praised the cure they’d been taking—“it takes all the old age out of you & sends you for the feeling like a bottle of champagne that’s just been uncorked” [MTP].

July 24 Saturday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam finished his second July 22 letter to Chatto & Windus. Five additional detail items (fixes on the book) were listed and the letter dated at the end, so it’s not possible to tell which were added on July 23 and which this day. Among these was this jewel:

July 24 Sunday – Sam’s June 28 letter on Anglo-American unity to Brainard Warner, Jr., United States Consul in Leipzig ran in the N.Y. Times as “Fourth of July in Berlin.”

July 24 Monday – A letter by Clemens to Joseph Hatton was assigned this date by a June 25, 2003 auction sale of Bonhams & Butterfields. The text is not available; the catalog listing from the MTP shows the letter pasted to the front flyleaf of a First English Edition of PW, “an Autograph Letter Signed, July 24 [1899], to Mr. Hatton, regretting that they will be unable to meet prior to his trip to Sweden, signed (“S.L. Clemens” pasted to front flyleaf” [Sale 7443z, Lot 3171].

July 25 Sunday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam wrote again to Chatto & Windus:

“I give it up. These printers pay no attention to my punctuation. Nine-tenths of the labor & vexation put upon me by Messrs. Spothiswoode & Co consists of annihilating their ignorant & purposeless punctuation and restoring my own.”

July 25 Monday – Jean Clemens’ photograph with The “Professor,” her six month old puppy, was taken “the day before I put my hair up” [Harnsberger 229].

July 25 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook:

July 25, ’99, Sanna: Jean had a convulsion in bed at noon—fortunately the Director had just entered the roon.

It was tolerably severe. He relieved her.

At 5 she had another while sitting on the porch, Livy & I present. We were not able to carry her in—so laid her on the floor & did what we could till we sent for & got Miss Moore. By & by it passed & we got her to bed [NB 42 TS 57].

July 25 Wednesday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow. Inviting him to “Come out & see me,” and giving directions, then advising, “Don’t get lost—it takes an artist to do it.” After his signature Sam added, “If my friend J.Q. Adams of 88 Oakley street calls, you can freely talk about ‘Hadleyburg’ with him, you being my agent” [MTP]. Note: John Quincy Adams II, namesake of the President, died in 1894; so this JQA is not identified but may be a descendant.

July 26 Monday – Jean Clemens’ seventeenth birthday.

Chatto & Windus wrote a card to Sam that they’d rec’d “two repaired wine glasses with a bill for 8d, which we paid” (this note is a fragment) Sam wrote on their card to send the glasses to 23 Tedworth

[MTP]. Note: how does one “repair” a broken wine glass?

July 26 Tuesday – Jean Clemens’ eighteenth birthday.

July 26 Wednesday – Jean Clemens’ nineteenth birthday.

July 26 Thursday – Jean Clemens’ twentieth birthday. Sam’s notebook: “Rev. Mr. Fowler came out to tea” [NB 43 TS 22].

At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske, having just received Fiske’s note (not extant).

“Do run out, to-morrow or next day, or any day but Sunday (which is pre-empted) & take tea with us—or dinner if you can” [Sam gave directions] [MTP].

July 27 Tuesday – In Weggis, Switzerland Sam telegraphed Frank Bliss, evidently finally arriving at the title for his new book “Following equator” [MTP]. Note: in England, More Tramps Abroad,.

Sam also wrote to Wayne MacVeagh.