Life in Exile: Day By Day

June 24 Saturday – Frank N. Doubleday and Edward W. Bok stopped by Sam’s hotel in the morning with a cable from J. Henry Harper wanting to publish a 75 cent edition of Tom Sawyer. He had no objections but referred him to H.H. Rogers [June 25 to Rogers; Aug. 3 to Rogers mentions Bok was along]. , At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote to William Knight. (1837-1916).

June 24 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall—8 o’clock. / Percy Fitzgerald. / (Dickens Club.) / Lord James of Hereford / Lord Acton / Mr. Birrell, M.P. / Mr. H. Dickens, Q.C. / Marcus Stone, R.A. / Call Bergheim / Halsey” [NB 43 TS 18].

During their stay at Dollis Hill, Sam resumed work on “The Chronicle of Young Satan” that he’d begun in Vienna [F. Kaplan 579].

June 25 Friday – Percy Mitchell in the Paris, France office of the NY Herald, sent a telegram to Sam, which he mentioned in the following letter to Rogers: “Mr. Bennett says he has not received any letter from you if important will you not kindly repeat it to him as he says glad to do anything” [MTP]. Note: James Gordon Bennett, Jr., of the Herald.

June 25 Saturday – John A. Steuart’s article, “American Fiction in England,” ran in Outlook, p. 658-9 [Tenney 29].

June 25 Sunday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, heading it “Prince of Wales Hell of a Hotel”:

June 25 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “TEA. H. of C T. / Penley, Grt. Queen St theatre? / Plasmon 12? / TEA with Provand M.P. See 27th. / MacMillan 52 Cadogan Place (8—then theatre ” [NB 43 TS 18]. Note: Alexander Dryburgh Provand (1839–1915), Scottish Liberal Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown (1886-1900).

June 26 Saturday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote a postcard to Chatto & Windus: “Please send for some more MS.—say 10 or 11 Monday.” Sam wanted them to send the entire typewritten lot of pages to H.H. Rogers [MTP].

June 26 Sunday – In Kaltenleutgeben near Vienna, Austria, Sam wrote to Samuel S. McClure.

June 26 Monday – Samuel E. Moffett for the N.Y. Journal wrote to Sam, enclosing a printed bio sketch of Mark Twain. Moffett apologized for the delay on revisions; some question had arisen as to the proper length. He discussed Twain’s ancestor research on Gregory Clement and on the Lambtons. Moffett felt the bio still seemed very “short and bald” and “a lot more personal details ought to be worked in, but Mr.

June 26 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “ McClure—to meet Philpots? No answer? / The Halls— 10 p.m. / Muriel Elliot, 3 p.m. / Concert. ? / 8 Salle Erard 18 Gt. Marlboro st W. / PLASMON 11 Cornhill, 12 noon. ” [NB 43 TS 19].

June 27 Sunday – Henry Irving wrote to Sam, asking if he “had nothing better to do tomorrow evening it would be a delight if you could look in at the Lyceum” [MTP]. Note: no further evidence was found but no decline was either. Noting Twain’s regard for Irving, the likelihood is he did “look in.”

June 27 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dine with Mr. White (where?)” [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: likely Frank Marshall White, journalist.

Leila Gittings wrote from Upper Falls, Maryland to Livy, seeing by the papers that the Clemens family had left Vienna and were in London. Was that preliminary to returning to America? [MTP].

June 27 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “J.L. Adams & Mr. Cadenhead 11. / Mr. Provand, M.P. Will meet us in the Lobby 4 to 4.30. / Tea on House of Commons Terrace. / Mrs. Hincks, 7.30? / Central London RR Opening. Meet in the Booking Hall at the Bank Station at 2.30. Train leaves at 3” [NB 43 TS 19].

June 28 Monday – Sam likely stopped in the Lyceum Theatre in London to see Henry Irving [June 27 invite].

Sam’s notebook: “will send to Chatto parts 15-16-17-18 & 19 to be mailed home & the same in my MS to be kept for himself” [NB 41 TS 32].

June 28 Tuesday – In Kaltenleutgeben near Vienna, Austria, Sam wrote to Chatto & Windus, asking how many new books had been copyrighted in England for the past year. He needed it for an article [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Brainard Warner, Jr., United States Consul in Leipsic (Leipzig).

June 28 Wednesday – In London, England Sam wrote a PS to his telegram (not extant) to Mr. Massee (possibly George Edward Massee (1850-1917), principal assistant at Kew Gardens and internationally known scientist—specifically a mycologist and lichenologist—and President of the British Myological Society from 1850-1917) [MTP]. Note: this mis-dated in file as 1907; It may also be 1900.

June 28 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Thursday 12? / Skrine, dinner—hour not specified” [NB 43 TS 19].

John Y. MacAlister wrote to Sam on The Library letterhead, where he was editor.

June 29 Tuesday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to Douglas Garth, either owner or property manager of the family’s rental flat. An extension beyond July 1 had evidently been requested and granted by Garth:

June 29 Wednesday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to Thomas Bailey Aldrich.

June 29 Thursday – In London, Clara Clemens wrote for her father to Bram Stoker that the family’s plans had changed, and they were not able to make the trip back to America with the Stokers [MTP].

Sam’s notebook: “Thursday, New Vagabonds at King’s Hall, Holborn Restaurant, 7 for 7.30” [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: see below:

Fatout writes of Sam’s speech at the New Vagabonds Club, followed by some excerpts:

June 29 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister’s June 28: “I quite agree with your above suggestions, & say yes, & many thanks to you” [MTP].

Fatout lists a speech for Mark Twain at the Lord Mayor’s Luncheon, London [MT Speaking 667]. Sam’s notebook lists the event but lines it out: “LORD MAYOR’S lunch—1.30—? / Savoy—dinner. Dillingham, C.B.?”

June 3 Thursday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to James R. Clemens confirming he’d be waiting that night (Sam did not mention family) at the Adelphi Theatre and also asked him to Sunday dinner. It was the first time noted that the Clemens family hosted since moving into Tedworth Square:

June 3 Saturday – Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) died of double pneumonia. Sam had met him in Vienna.

Strauss’ widow on June 6.

In an interview with the London Daily Chronicle, “Mark Twain in London,” p.3, Clemens reported “he was in London to arrange for the publication of a twenty-two volume de luxe edition of his writings” [MTHHR 399 n2; MTCI 334-39].

June 3 Sunday – Whitsuntide (Pentecost) in London. Sam’s notebook: “1 Hamilton Place, Piccaly / Boating on the Thames. Herring. / Train 11. Paddington. / to Taplow—11 am arriving at 11.38. Fly waiting—the man will have white ribbon on his whip. / Dinner / Burford Bridge Hotel Dorking” [NB 43 TS 14].

Adele Chapin (Mrs. Robert Chapin) recalls Mark Twain coming by two days after their dinner where he met the artist James Abbott McNeil Whistler:

June 30 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner, (7.30?) Skrine, Queen Anne’s Mansions Wednesday, 30th” [NB 41 TS 32]. Note: Sam confirmed Skrine dinner, but for July 1, back on June 26; the date was then changed.

From the Brooklyn Eagle, p. 6, an editorial response to Mark Twain refusing charity efforts to pay his indebtedness:

Mark Twain.