April 20 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y., Sam, still in bed with bronchitis, wrote to Susan Crane.
To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day
April 21 Tuesday – The New York Times, p.9:
Elizabeth W. Lampton.
ST. LOUIS, Apr 21.—Miss Elizabeth W. Lampton, who for twenty-eight years had been a teacher in St. Louis schools, is dead of pneumonia. She was a cousin of Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) and of Col. Henry Watterson, and a niece of the Rev. Dr. Frederick Pentecost. Her stories for children were widely known.
April 22 Wednesday – Charles S. Fairchild wrote to Sam, the letter not extant but referred to in Sam’s May 14 reply [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. John P. Jones / Dinner, 7.30. Clara / 237 East 17th / Tel: 2817—18th” [NB 46 TS 14].
April 23 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dr. Wilson L. Hawkes in York, Maine, upset by being overcharged per visit.
April 24 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
Mr. Clemens wishes me to send the enclosed from the Jewell Pin Co. to you, saying that “as they are now paying dividends, perhaps you can sell the stock—”
The enclosed notice from the Hartford P.O. came this morning, and Mr. Clemens wishes me to send that also‘ to you, saying that you will know what to do with it, and also he says that the Hartford P.O. people ought to know that they must send registered mail to you.
April 25 Saturday – The New York Times, p. 11:
Mark Twain Leases His House.
The property of Samuel Clemens, (“Mark Twain,”) on Benedict Avenue, Tarrytown, consisting of a dwelling, stables, and about eighteen acres of land, has been leased to Charles A. Gardiner, attorney for the Manhattan Railway Company. Although Mr. Clemens bought the property about a year ago, he has never lived there, but has continued to make the Appleton place, at Riverdale, his home.
Frank Bliss wrote to Sam.
April 26, before – Hilary Trent (pseud. of R.M. Manley) wrote to Sam. “I have written a book—naturally, which fact, however, since I am not your enemy need give you no occasion to rejoice. Nor need you grieve, though I am sending you a copy. If I knew of any way of compelling you to read it I would do so, but unless the first few pages have that effect, I can do nothing” [MTP]. Note: her book, Mr. Claghorn’s Daughter by the Ogilvie Publishing Co. (1903).
April 27 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
Yes, the collected set is being offered at $36.50, but it is not Bliss that is responsible, it is I. He is to keep within the requirements of the Harper contract, & leave the rest to me. Which is quite proper, as his house is only a subordinate partner in the set’s fortunes, I being the principal, the person mainly & perhaps two-thirdsly concerned. He wanted to try this cheap edition, but needed backing.
April 28 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a postcard to American Publishing Co. “War suspended. Truce proclaimed. The sheriff will find some other way to amuse himself. / Go ahead. There is nothing in your way now” [MTP]. Note: Sam referred to the conflicts between Harpers and Bliss. Bliss’s 29 Apr refers to a telegram.
Sam also wrote to Frank Bliss.
April 29 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.
April 30 Thursday – In Riverdale, Isabel V. Lyon and Sam wrote to an unidentified person , enclosing an aphorism: “Work & Play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook:
April, late or May early – Sam wrote a short essay, “Reflections on a Letter and a Book,” so titled later by Paine. The piece was a response to a letter and book sent him by Hilary Trent (aka R.M. Manley). Sam was often irritated by such requests to read literary works, and took this instance to wax ridicule on the selfishness of the human race [AMT 1: 181, 520n181.3].
May 1 Friday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
Though it isn’t quite down to your level, I don’t wonder you like my literature—it’s nearly all about you. But you’d better take a brace, and try to get up as high as “Putnam Place.” Now you’re sick, I ‘ve a great mind to have it out with [you] about Jane Austen. If you say much more I’ll come out and read “Pride and Prejudice” to you.
May 2 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
Mr. Clemens wishes me to write you at once that he will accept Mr.Bissell’s offer and will pay the tax. Regarding the furniture, Mr Clemens will have to write you later as that must be left with Mrs. Clemens, and she cannot talk the matter over at present.
Mr. Clemens does not think that Mr. Reeves will ever put in a claim [MTP].
May 3 Sunday – Sam also wrote to Millard Sewell.
Friend Sewall: —
I am not conscious of any hostility toward Christian Science, nor Mohammedanism, nor Hinduism, nor Judaism, nor Presbyterianism, nor Mormanism, nor Dowieism, nor any other religion. Sincerity of belief makes any religion respect worthy, and certainly the Christian Scientists are sincere. My hostility is all for Mrs. Eddy. I know she never wrote a line of Science and Health, therefore I have no respect for her; her claim is a falsehood, and she is a criminal.
May 4 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam, still laid up, wrote to Brander Matthews.
I haven’t been out of my bed for 4 weeks, but—well, I have been reading, a good deal, & it occurs to me to ask you to sit down, some time or other when you have 8 or 9 months to spare, & jot me down a certain few literary particulars for my help & elevation. Your time need not be thrown away, for at your further leisure you can make Columbian lectures out of the results & do your students a good turn.
May 5 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
God is very good to us, when He can’t think up anything fresh. Jean is so much better this morning that Katy calls her almost well; I am so much better that I have suspended the tiresome poultices till afternoon; Livy is so much better that she bombards me right along with urgent notes about business; Clara is so much better that there is nothing the matter with her, & hasn’t been. For these mercies, &c., &c., &c.
May 6 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to Franklin G. Whitmore.
“Mrs. Clemens left the enclosed out, thinking they would not sell for anything, but I think they will help pay the taxes. / Make no report to Reeves. Take the whole commission. If he complains I will settle with him myself” [MTP]. Note: See May 2.
May 7 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote on the top of a May 6 letter regarding a poet-humorist convention, to William Dean Howells.
May 8 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added to his Apr. 7 to John Y. MacAlister that he discovered this day he’d forgotten to post.
May 8. Great Scott! I never mailed this letter! I addressed it, stamped it, put “Registered” on it—then left it lying unsealed on the arm of my chair, & rushed up to my bed quaking with a chill. I’ve never been out of the bed since—oh, bronchitis, rheumatism, two sets of teeth aching, land, I’ve had a randy time for 4 weeks. And to-day—great guns, one of the very worst!
May 9 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore concerning items in the Hartford house that should be sold loose: “3 or 4 sets of billiard balls,” worth about $50 per set; the old safe in the cellar Sam had purchased for $200, “painted windows…made in England after the house was finished.” Sam noted that the seller of the Tarrytown house had ripped out built in bookshelves “when our back was turned” [MTP].
May 10 Sunday – In N.Y.C. William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
May 11 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank E. Bliss, suggesting if he came now Sam would discuss “the details of some very important talks” he’d been having, things which Bliss would want to know about [MTP].
Hill gives this as the date Sam signed the deed on the Hartford house, purchased by Richard M. Bissell [60].
Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.
May 12 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “If God invented the fly, that is enough. It gives us the measure of His character. If a man had invented the fly, we should curse his name forever. And he would deserve it” [NB 46 TS 16].
Henry C. Griffin, attorney, wrote again about details and how to mail tax payments for the Tarrytown house [MTP].
May 13 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore asking what delayed sending the mantel-piece design; if it couldn’t be sent the day of this letter’s receipt, to telegraph [MTP]. Note: see May 11 to Whitmore.
Sam’s notebook: “APH / It is bad enough for a Christian to lose his temper, it is worse for a razor to do it” [NB 46 TS 16].