May 14 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Charles S. Fairchild, now in London.
Day before yesterday I quitted my bed after 5 weeks in it. I am ever so much obliged to you for yours of Apl. 22 [not extant]. I at once cabled the Plasmon Co acknowledging receipt of dividend.
I am very glad you got acquainted with Hillier. He is fine.
I don’t suppose you will get this letter, still I’m going to send it, any way [MTP].
May 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Acorns, Cooper Inst? / Dr. Rice, 7.30” [NB 46 TS 16].
May 16 Saturday – Sam went to Fairhaven, Mass. to visit H.H. Rogers, who was recovering from an appendectomy. The men played billiards, went on a ride, then after dinner Rogers took to his bed; Sam and William E. Benjamin (Rogers’ son-in-law) played more billiards till 11:30 p.m. [May 17 to Livy].
May 17 Sunday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam wrote to Livy.
May 18 Monday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore: “P.S. You know you want to take a N.Y. draft, Brer—a Hartford check isn’t worth so much” [MTP].
May 19 Tuesday – Sam returned to Riverdale, N.Y. either the night before or this day. He returned at least part way on Rogers’ yacht Kanawha [MTHHR 528n1].
May 20 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.
May 21 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Livy a follow up letter to Franklin G. Whitmore about personal property at the Hartford house. Livy was concerned about “some embroideries and handkerchiefs left in the Hartford house” which might be ruined from long storage and wanted to know if laces kept in the Hartford bank needed to be examined. Livy also wanted Ellen O’Neil to have some furniture [MTP].
May 23 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
Mr. Clemens wishes me to write for him answering the various points of your letter.
The stained glass can be put in an art store as you suggest.
The mirror can be sold at auction.
The mahogony [sic] bureau and bedstead can be sold at auction.
The sale of the safe at $15 is all right.
Mrs. Clemens does not think it will be necessary for the laces at the Bank to be examined.
May 24 Sunday – The New York Tribune, p. 16 reported on the Clemens family illnesses:
ILLNESS AT TWAIN HOME.
——
Members of Family Have Been Sick—All
Except One Now Well.
The statements published in yesterday’s papers that Mark Twain and his family were still ill at his home, at Riverdale-on-the-Hudson, were declared by Dr. Henry Moffat, of Yonkers, one of the physicians in attendance, to be wofully [sic] exaggerated.
May 25 Monday – The New York Times ran a squib under “General Notes,” p.8:
At Mr. Henry H. Rogers’s request, Samuel L. Clemens, “Mark Twain,” is to preside and make an address at the opening exercises of the Old Home Week in Fair Haven, Mass., Mr. Rogers’s native town. Mr. Rogers is President of the Old Home Week Association. [Note: July 26-31, 1903; Sam was in Elmira the entire week, so plans were changed.]
May 26 Tuesday – In Fairhaven, Mass. H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam, responding to his of May 20.
I received your letter of the 20th and since that time have seen in the papers accounts of the condition of your patients [NY Tribune of May 24]. I hope they are still improving.
….
We have had lovely weather and I am leading a simple Christian life, trying to get strong and fit. I wish you were young enough to be influenced religiously. It would I am sure be the making of you [MTP].
May 27 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “APH / Noon—Collier / 416 W. 13th / Man was made at the end of the week’s work when God was tired. / Patriot & humbug are usually synonymous terms” [NB 46 TS 16].
May 28 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Ferrar [sic Farrar] / 1271 Bway / 11 am. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Plasmon meeting 1.30 / [Horiz. Line separator] / 142 E 33d. Robt. Reed. 5. ” [NB 46 TS 17]. Note: Dr. John Nutting Farrar (1839-1913), dentist, “Father of American Orthodontics.”
Robert J. Collier wrote to Sam.
May 29 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel Lyon wrote two letters for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
May 30 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Thomas F. Gatts (1863-1915), attorney for the 1904 St. Louis Fair. (Incoming letter from Gatts not extant; see June 3 from Gatts, June 8 to Gatts.)
May 31 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Bergheim here—lunch. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Take him to Lotos— / [Horiz. Line separator] / Leave him there & go to Mr. Rogers & show him Collier proposal” [NB 46 TS 18].
June 1, before – Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske, asking help in finding a furnished villa near Florence, Italy. He divulged that he was also writing Mrs. Ross , (Janet D. Ross ) and that daughter Clara was also writing Miss Hall and Miss Blood to keep an eye out for a place “during the next 5 or 6 months.” Livy added a PS in the top margin: “Do you know of any very good physicians in Florence?”
June 1 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote again to Daniel Willard Fiske.
June 2 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore, advising that Sam had sent a check for $70 to John O’Neil, the Clemenses old gardener, who was packing up belongings in the Hartford house. Sam didn’t expect O’Neil to do anything for the money beyond completing his work which might take three or four days [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Afternoon—here—Col. Harvey & Duneka” [NB 46 TS 17].
June 3 Wednesday – Sam went to Hartford, planning to arrive there just after noon. He stayed at the Whitmore home [June 1 to Whitmore].
Thomas F. Gatts wrote to Sam.
Your esteemed favor of May 30th, received this morning. I assure you that we give due consideration to every word and sentence of your letter.
While we would very much like to develop the National Mark Twain Association into local and State reading clubs; but we humbly bow to the will and desire of the man whose name we all love to honor.
June 4 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Hartford. Interview, 4 p.m. with Ward Jacobs” [NB 46 TS 18]. Note: Ward Jacobs was a major stockholders in Am. Publishing Co. Sam sought his support for his buy-out plan. See June 5 NB entry.
In Hartford Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, probably referring to the tribute he’d written to Rogers, who objected to it being published.
June 5 Friday – Hartford: Sam’s notebook: “Interview with Ward Jacobs, Chas. Clark, & Geo. Gilman” [NB 46 TS 18]. Note: See Sam’s letter to the Company’s stockholders, dated after June 10.
June 6 Saturday – Hartford: Sam’s notebook: “Interview with Jacobs at his bank—noon. Lunch at the Club” [NB 46 TS 18].
From NB entries, it seems that Sam likely returned to Riverdale either this evening or the following day, since he noted Samuel Bergheim’s arrival by train on Sunday.
June 7 Sunday – Riverside, N.Y.: Sam’s notebook: “Bergheim—arr. By 11.17 train?” [NB 46 TS 18].