To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

November 19 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John M. Dickey in Indianoplis, Ind.

Dickey had evidently asked for copies of letters to and from James Whitcomb Riley the “Hoosier Poet”.

November 19 Thursday – In Florence, George Gregory Smith wrote to his mother: “We necessarily see a good deal of Mark Twain & his family. They are all delightful people” [Orth 31].

Sam’s notebook: “Dr. S. (G)iglioli—see Biagi Pref. Pol. ? Vispera” / Dr. Grazzini (Little Thanky)? (Praise these.) / 147860 (Prescription / British Pharmacy” [NB 46 TS 30].

November – In New York City, Sam inscribed a copy of Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance to: Ernest D. North: “E.D. North, Esq. Mark Twain November, 1900” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries catalog, Oct. 27, 1953, No. 1458, Item 173].

November – In Riverdale, N.Y., Sam wrote on a letter by his real estate broker, George W. Reeves, who had just sold the Hartford home: “He started in to bilk me, & did it” [MTP: Am. Art Assoc.-Anderson Galleries catalogs, Apr. 24-5, 1935 Item 58].

At the top of a circular from Harper & Brothers, Sam wrote an answer: “Ever so many thanks for the books. If I could get time I’d like to review the one on the raising of babies…” [MTP: Am. Art Assoc.-Anderson Galleries catalogs, Apr. 24-5, 1935 Item 58].

November – Critic ran a brief review of “A Double-Barrelled Detective Story” on p.479. In full:

November –This issue of the Ladies’ Home Journal contained Thomas E. Marr’s “Three Famous Authors Outdoors, p. 36-7, with four of the photographs Marr took of Sam Clemens with a porcelain cat, and John T. Lewis at Quarry Farm.

November 2 Friday – At 14 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to William Webster Ellsworth: “All right— make it Dec. 4—Aldine—good time—no reporters” [MTP].

Sam also replied to Andrew Langdon (1835- 1919), Livy’s first cousin. Langdon was a wealthy Buffalo businessman. In 1887 Clemens had made him the subject of an uncomplimentary sketch, “Letter from the Recording Angel” (see What Is Man?, etc.).

November 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduce a speaker?” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: may refer to Nov. 7.

November 2 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward W. Ordway, secretary of the Anti-Imperialist League: “Although I cannot do any of the work myself, I shall be mighty glad to advise others what to do; therefore, accidents not preventing, I shall be at 501 at 4 p.m.” Nov. 13th” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to commiserate with Sir Thomas Wardle on the loss of his wife, Lady Wardle:

November 2 Monday – The Clemens family arrived at Gibraltar. Sam’s following NB entry states they arrived at 7 a.m. and left at 2 p.m., the last leg by train from Genoa to Florence, Italy.

November 20 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Grape-fruit. prepare it / 19th Cent. Club / Sherry’s, 5th Ave & 44th. 8.30” [NB 43 TS 29].

At 14 W. 10th Street in New York Sam wrote to John Kendrick Bangs.

My wife has Aldrich’s speech locked in her desk, & she is out; but when she returns it will be mailed to you.

I am glad to have the other boys say things, but I’ll keep still & let on to know nothing of the pleasant conspiracy [MTP]. Note: See Nov. 13 entry.

November 20 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Miss Hart (not further identified): “I am very glad indeed to comply” [MTP].

November 20 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to David A. Munro of the North American Review who wrote on Nov. 19: “Mr. Franklin’s count may be right but it falls short of my estimate by about 4000 words. Did he count 35 pages of reprint? That much of the reprint has never been published” [MTP].

In N.Y.C. William Dean Howells wrote to Sam, having rec’d a letter from Charles W. Stoddard.

November 20 Friday – Isabel Lyon and her mother Georgiana Lyon arrived in Florence and were met at the train station by Jean Clemens, “wearing an incongruous lorgnette” (eyeglasses mounted on a handle: an oxymoron!) [Trombley MTOW 29]. Note: Lyon’s trip had been delayed by needed treatments for a bad eye.

November 21 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton in a playful style that bespoke of his mood.

November 21 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie about speaking at the Sons of Scotland banquet at Delmonico’s on Nov. 30.

I find I am to be there. Mrs. Clemens came in, a minute ago, and furnished the information. If I had had another 18 hours I could have made up my mind myself. At bottom I am afraid of religious banquets, but now that the matter is settled I am not feeling so worried as I was.

November 21 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Jean fainted to-day—the first time in 16 weeks & 1 day” [NB 45 TS 34].

M.C.B. Hart wrote from NY to ask Sam for his autograph on a clipping or a book of articles [MTP].

David A. Munro wrote to Sam, deeply regretting that a “blunder” had been made on word count (evidently pointed out by Sam); and enclosed an additional $105 check [MTP]. Note: see Nov. 19 from Munro.

November 21 Saturday – At the Villa di Quarto near Florence, Livy suffered a bad night that led Sam to search for a doctor the next day [Orth 31: Smith to his mother Nov. 22].

Isabel Lyon and her mother Georgiana Lyon had spent the night in a Florence hotel, and arrived this day at the Villa di Quarto. Isabel’s reaction to the place may be found in: [Trombley, MTOW 29-30].

November 22 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “The Monterey, 351 W. 114th & Columbus Avenue. Cars pass door. But can go by 6th ave Elevated & get off at 116th. Then take 116th surface cars down Manhattan Avenue & pass the door. / Sam Moffett dinner 6.30. / 2 p.m. at the Greenwich Savings Bank—6th ave & 16th. / Harsen Rhoades” [NB 43 TS 29-30].

November 22 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward W. Bok, editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal. “It is a long look ahead but it is good wisdom any way. I haven’t broken with the Harpers yet, and I see no prospect of it, but if it should happen I should be quite willing to talk Christmas Story with you” [MTP].

November 22 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Interview; 10 to 12 a.m. / Mr. E. Bunbury— / Caulfield (‘Italian Gazette.)” [NB 46 TS 30].

November 23 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Flagg. 10.30. / Mrs. Van Rensalier afternoon / Mrs. Ed Hewitt

Carriage will come at 4” [NB 43 TS 30]. Note: either Charles Noel Flagg, artist, or John Henry Flagg, author.

The New York Times, p. 7 ran a follow-up to Sam’s run-in with the cab driver who overcharged Katy Leary:

MARK TWAIN IS AVENGED

One False “Cabby” Learns the Power of His Wrath.

—————

HIS LICENSE IS RECLAIMED

November 23 Saturday – William Dean Howells replied to Sam’s Nov. 21.

That Baker letter is indeed precious: he could use an old people’s home all by himself. The spelling, spirit and expression all go together. I wish Keats could have lived to hear of “a town of beauty and a joy forever.” But we must not expect everything.

November 23 Sunday – M.J. June wrote from Detroit, Mich. to Sam, heading it “Obituary.” This was for the “obituary contest,” which Mark Twain solicited in the Nov. 15 issue of Harper’s Weekly [MTP].

November 23 Monday – Miss Theodosia Lawson Boone presented Sam the letter of introduction from St. Clair McKelway dated Nov. 18, 1903. Miss Boone added her own note, confessing she did not know McKelway personally, but he was an old friend of her father’s (Dr. William C. Boone) [MTP].