February 11 Wednesday – Edward Bergiz wrote from Kivik, Sweden to Sam asking for his “monogram” [MTP].
Frederick A. Duneka of Harpers wrote to Sam.
“There should be an interval of six weeks between the receipt of a MS. and the publication of the book. This can be cut down, of course, but not very much. It is wise to issue the Christian Science volume not later than the last of April. Will this impose too great a burden upon you [?]”[MTP].
February 11 Thursday – Andrew Carnegie wrote this date on an invitation to Sam. On the back he wrote: “My Dear Young & Gay Boy / this is the literary Fellows dinner for the year—shall miss you much—Hope Mrs Clemens improves” [MTP]. Note: written sometime shortly before Feb. 11, obviously.
Samuel Whisby wrote from Florence to Sam, enclosing sketches of the first and ground floors of the Villa Loechino, with measurements [MTP].
February 12 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Harvey, 7.00. He will send carriage for me” [NB 44 TS 6].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Albert Simmons.
“I wish I could be of service to you, in which case I should gladly avail myself of the opportunity, but I am unable for the reason that I have not written anything about the club, at any time so far as I remember” [MTP: Swann Galleries catalogs, Sept.14, 2000, Item 249]. Note: Simmons and the club are not identified.
February 12 Wednesday – George Iles inscribed a copy of Voices of Doubt and Trust (1897) by Volney Streamer (1850-1915), for Sam: “Samuel L. Clemens, from George Iles, / with the highest esteem /and regard. / New York, Feb. 12, 1902” [Gribben 673]. Note: Iles visited Sam on Feb. 17, and may have delivered this with him then.
Sam’s notebook: “Wm. E. Dodge, 262 Mad. Ave dinner & all night” [NB 45 TS 4].
February 12 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote a spoof to Sam of a dream he’d had:
February 12 Friday –Sam gave a reading this evening and the following afternoon at the amateur performance of Cousin Kate; in his NB entry for the next day he noted the location of the reading, “(second floor) via Cavour.” Sam was first on the program, a few minutes after 8:30 p.m. on Friday and a few minutes afer 3:30 p.m on Saturday [Feb. 3 and after Feb. 3 from Gordon].
February 13 Wednesday – [date in a PDF box]
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to retired General Oliver O. Howard’s Feb. 12 letter. “You are a busy man, and I thank you cordially for taking the time to say those pleasant and welcome words” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to the editor of the N.Y. Tribune . (This letter ran Feb. 15 in the paper on p. 3. Many other letters to the editor were printed about Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article.
February 13 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam finished his Feb. 5, 7, 11 to Francis H. Skrine.
Feb. 13. It is so good of you & Mrs. Skrine to offer us your house, & we thank you cordially & wish we could take you up, but we are barred. I suppose we shall summer on the coast of Maine. It looks like it; we are inquiring after a dwelling-house at York Harbor.
February 13 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to William Dean Howells’ dream by playing along and extending the joke.
I am infinitely sorry. I was lying awake at the time, & felt sure I heard voices; so sure, that I put on a dressing-gown & went down to inquire into the matter, but you were already gone. I encountered Sam coming up as I turned the lower corner of the house, & he said it was a stranger, who insisted on seeing me— “a stumpy little gray man with furtive ways & an evil face.”
February 13 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Aftnoon. 3.30. / 4 p.m. 8 (second floor) via Cavour / Senator Luchini
[Horiz. Line separator] / Send the cook here tomorrow (Sunday) / [Horiz. Line separator] / Also, Emilio / [Horiz. Line separator] / Also Celestino?” [NB 47 TS 6]. Note: the first entry was his second reading (after Friday night) at the amateur performance of Cousin Kate; see Feb. 12. Not in Fatout.
February 14 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “E.P. Clarke, 10.30. Yankee at Arthur / Paschal [sic Pascal] Institute 576 Lexington Ave—N.W. cor. of 51st. Say 9 p.m. Dine at Mr. Rogers” [NB 44 TS 6]. Note: See NB entry of Mar. 29, 1901 for same address and a Boys’ debate he attended and named the President of the group, Margaret Pascal. A Sept. 25, 1901 NY Times article, p.5, “Pascal Institute Plans” indentifies officers and also the involvement of Miss Grace Dodge.
February 14 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears in Scotland.
Feb. 14. If you don’t come pretty soon, I shall begin to be afraid you are not coming this year at all. At the end of this month I am going yachting in the southern waters until the middle of April. If you come while I am gone, you must telephone the house, so that you can be met at the station & properly cared for [MTP].
February 14 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a Valentine’s Day note to Livy.
Feb. 14—being St. Valentine’s Day.
And so this is to my Valentine—my especial Valentine & darling & best beloved—with kisses therewith, many! I have read that ½ page. Mr. Bryant was wonderful to do those early risings & all that at 80. If ever I get to be 80, I mean to do them, too. Go to bed, Livy darling, & sleep well—I shall get up as early as I can, & go out & get fresh air.
February 14 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
The publishers sent me your book three or four weeks ago, & it gave me a most stimulating & delicious time—& did also partly & timely justify & reinforce some laudations of you which I had dictated the day before (in my Autobiography.)
February 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Doubleday, 7 pm 111 E. 16th” [NB 44 TS 6].
Sam was unable to attend the Feb. 14 annual Sheriff’s Jury dinner at the Hotel Savoy, and so wrote a letter declining shortly before. The New York Tribune ran Twain’s letter on p.6:
SHERIFF’S JURORS DINE.
————
MARK TWAIN’S LETTER OF DECLINATION
AROUSES LAUGHTER.
February 15 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.
I suppose Newbegin asked for a day or two because he wants to find out who the new client is, & trade with him instead of with us. I guess he will find out without much trouble; therefore you better get that option right away.
I think the new applicant will want to sell single volumes rather than sets. That obstructing Harper contract will bar that, as far as the Harper books are concerned, & the new applicant will back out.
February 15 Sunday – Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Rogers came to the Clemens home for a visit [Feb. 6 to E. Rogers]. Sam’s notebook: “The Rogers? Send cab, ? lunch” [NB 46 TS 11].
February 15 Monday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
February 16 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Dine—7.30 Leigh Hunt, Holland House” [NB 44 TS 6]. Note: Leigh S.J. Hunt. See Jan. 1.
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Paschal H. Coggins (Sidney Marlow), who wrote on Feb. 13.
February 16 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka asking for “a travel-book or two,” on the West Indies, preparing for his next yachting trip with H.H. Rogers. He also requested A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by Andrew D. White (1901). Clemens also referred to a book he was writing:
February 16 Monday – Sam wrote to Henry Elias Howland, former Supreme Court Justice, president of the University Club, popular and witty speaker, declining an unspecified invitation due to his wife’s health. [MTP; Bauman Rare Books, Jan. 23, 2009 online].
Sam sent his butler to the Oppenheimer Institute to take the cure for his problems with alcohol. He would return inebriated a week later with the bill for the Institute’s services [Nov. 1905 to Oppenheimer Inst.]
February 16 Tuesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto Sam wrote to Lady Augustus Gregory.
February 17 Sunday – Edwin L. Godkin wrote compliments of Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTP].
Charles Erskine Scott Wood of Portland, Ore. wrote complimenting the “Sitting in Darkness” article— “it’s a great work. It’s effective, do it some more.” He would be in N.Y. around Mar. 8; was there a chance of seeing him? [MTP]. Note: Wood was a partner in the law firm of Williams, Wood & Linthicum.
February 17 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Geo. Iles & Mr. Montgomery, artist, coming, 4.15 p.m.” [NB 45 TS 4].
Elisabeth Marbury sent Sam another statement for two weeks of the PW play and a check for $22 for his royalties [MTP].
February 17 Wednesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Susan Crane.