June 25 Sunday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day
June 26 Monday – Sam wrote the poem “Apostrophe to Death,” not published in his lifetime:
O Death, O sweet & gracious friend,
I bare my smitten head to Thee, & at thy sacred feet
I set my life’s extinguished lamp & lay my bruised heart
[Tuckey, “The ‘Me’ and the Machine” 135; Scott, Poetry MT 126-7]. Note: Hill gives the title as “An Invocation to Death” (as does Miss Lyon in the entry below) and notes that Sam read the poem to the “cozy group around the fire, and the next day Miss Lyon was ‘weak with the wonder of that poem’ all day long” [110].
June 27 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: All day I’ve been weak with the wonder of that poem [See June 26 journal]. Mr. Clemens made some corrections in it and then let me take it— to read and read this morning. Later he came down stairs and talked about the kind of woman Mrs. Howells is. I’d just been saying that according to the way that Mr. Howells has depicted womankind in “Miss Billard’s Inspiration” [sic] he must have either an enchanting wife, or an utterly inconsequential one, and I think it is probably the latter, but there is that inconsequential side to every woman anyway.
June 28 Wednesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.
This is a line to say there’s a report in Norfolk, Conn. (which we are doing what we can to keep out of the papers) that Clara’s horse has been running away with her. It isn’t so. It was her horse, but she wasn’t in the carriage.
Jean & I expect to go see Clara in a few days—as soon as we get a permit from the doctor, which may come any day now. It is pretty cold weather here, but we don’t mind it.
With warm regards to both of you [MTHHR 587-8].
June 29 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara in Norfolk, Conn.
Ah dear heart, I am very sorry you are not going to be able to sing the Two Grenadiers BUT I shan’t be sorry if you are with us instead of out on the concert stage singing for strangers.
Yes, my bronchial affection is in a sense permanent: my port lung got a permanent damage in Berlin, & if I should catch 500 colds they would all be followed by bronchitis.
June 30 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Hamlin Garland.
July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article “William Dean Howells” p. 803-6. Clemens chose an excerpt from Howells’ “Easy Chair” column, a paragraph concerned with Louis Dyer’s Machiavelli and the Modern State (1904) to show “how clear, how limpid, how understandable” is Howells’ prose [Gribben 331]. Note: see Lyon’s journal entries for Mar. 26, 29, Apr. 5 on the writing of this article.
July 1 Saturday – John Milton Hay (1838-1905) died this day. In Dublin, N.H. Sam sent a telegram to the N.Y. American:
I am deeply grieved & I mourn with the nation—this loss is irreparable. My friendship with Mr. Hay & my admiration of him endured 38 years without impairment. / Mark Twain [MTP: Cummings file]. Note: See Sam’s note sent anonymously under 1905 entries.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: This evening a telegram came from the N.Y. American asking Mr. Clemens to telegraph them something on the death of Mr. Hay.
July 2 Sunday – Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers) wrote from New Bedford, MASS. To Sam, having rec’d his note on July 1. They had just come from Boston the day before and would return this afternoon, as Mr. Rogers had to take the stand in a lawsuit; they might have to stay all week, and were at the Hotel Lorraine if Sam stopped on his way to Norfolk, Conn. To see Clara [MTHHR 588].
July 3 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Jean and Teresa started for Norfolk early this morning. Dear Col. Higginson has sent me a copy of the beautiful little sketch that his daughter wrote—“The Drum Beat”. I cannot read it without a gush of grieving tears. Mr. Clemens came down at 3:00 o’clock today with the day’s work finished. In 3 days he has done the work of 5 days—and it is so delicious. He read it to me as we sat in the living room.
July 4 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Painted Shadows”, I’m reading. Mr. Binner [sic Bynner] sat in front of me on the porch this afternoon. Mr. Binner— ……..and………. He came with Mr. Faulkner. The same lovely eyes that I had been remembering. His talk is very, very good, and he called me “The Lion of St. Mark”. I told Mr. Clemens of it when he came in from a Fourth of July punch with Mr. Pearmain, down the trail, and he laughed with a beautiful joy. You remember that singing laugh for days. Mr. Clemens had a pleasant time, and found Col. Higginson’s daughter beautiful.
July 5 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tonight Mr. Clemens read the work of the day. It is strong, I wonder if it is too strong? But oh the interest of it. He could satisfy those who must be satisfied by only the most highly seasoned, stinging, racy, delicious, unforbidden literature. He could do it. When I think of what must be the thoughts boiling in that marvel of a brain, I’m sick to think that he cannot feed them out to strong men of the earth. The most remarkable things issue from the innocent lips of characters that he draws, and your eyes are opened.
July 6 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Adair Wilson, an old Virginia City acquaintance now in Durango, Colo. Adair had been on the staff of the Va. City Nevada Union.
July 7 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to William Winter.
July 8 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to an unidentified person in which he requested the addressee to contradict the report that Clemens was getting up an organization bearing the name “The American League of Honest Men.” He wrote: “was trying to get it up, but circumstances interfered. It was my ambition to have it consist of two members, but was obliged to give it up” [MTP: Am. Art Assoc. catalog, Feb. 28, 1927, Item 110].
July 9 Sunday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.
If the news is correct, things have turned the other way in Kansas, by direction of Providence,& I wish to congratulate upon this evidence of your continued popularity in that quarter. I wish I had your secret. It isn’t righteousness, for I’ve tried that myself, & there’s nothing in it.
July 10 Monday – Sam wrote to G.E. Stechert & Co., New York, ordering a subscription to the German periodical, Simplicissimus; Illustrierte Wochenschrift. Sam’s letter is not extant but referred to in the company’s reply of July 12.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: This afternoon Mr. Clemens came down with the day’s ms. –“44” turns time backward in order to accommodate the ghosts who’ve been invited to the ghost dance.— He was so handsome as he sat reading with lovely color in his cheeks, and his eyes flashing. Such a delight.
July 11 Tuesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote a squib to Harper’s Weekly Editor, which ran in the Aug. 12 issue.
“DIOGENES AND HIS LANTERN”
NEW YORK, July 11 1905.
To the Editor of Harper’s Weekly:
“DIOGENES AND HIS LANTERN”
NEW YORK, July 11 1905.
To the Editor of Harper’s Weekly:
July 12 Wednesday – Clemens began Eve’s Diary for the Christmas issue of Harper’s [Hill 112; also IVL Journal entry below].
July 13 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.
July 14 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “After the Fall”—Mr. Clemens read tonight and Eve sums up all the reasons why she could love Adam, but doesn’t. It’s something else. It’s because he’s hers, dear little Eve.
Tonight at dinner Mr. Clemens talked about Mahommed [sic] and the wonder of him
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Wrote Mr. Duneka, suggesting that the word ‘Damn’ be struck from the title of You’re a Damnfool Mary, you always was” [MTP TS 23].
Tonight at dinner Mr. Clemens talked about Mahommed [sic] and the wonder of him
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Wrote Mr. Duneka, suggesting that the word ‘Damn’ be struck from the title of You’re a Damnfool Mary, you always was” [MTP TS 23].
July 15 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Clemens heard a “bright little Japanese gentleman” give a talk in the nearby club house, among 50 or 60 ladies. Sam was asked to give a talk [July 16 to Clara; IVL Journal entry below].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tonight Jean came home. I drove over to Harrisville for her. Tired and big eyed and pale and hungry and full of C.C. and doings. Ugo is back again in the employ of Casa Clemens.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tonight Jean came home. I drove over to Harrisville for her. Tired and big eyed and pale and hungry and full of C.C. and doings. Ugo is back again in the employ of Casa Clemens.
July 16 Sunday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Virginia Frazer Boyle in Memphis, Tenn.
July 17 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara.
You dear, read these & return them. No, there is no need of “private”—no one will open your letter. Do not write about the letters —it is a secret of mine—just return them without comment.
Jean & I were out from 5 yesterday until 8, calling, & had a good time. We sup with Raphael Pumpelly this evening.
You dear, read these & return them. No, there is no need of “private”—no one will open your letter. Do not write about the letters —it is a secret of mine—just return them without comment.
Jean & I were out from 5 yesterday until 8, calling, & had a good time. We sup with Raphael Pumpelly this evening.
July 18 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Yesterday Mr. Pumpelly called because Mr. Clemens and Jean dined there last night, and he paid such interesting respects to “Casa Clemens,” and I was the only one to hear them. He is tall and white bearded with a fine blue eye, and he’s handsome to look upon. He has been every where too. Mr. Clemens says that Mr. P. is two years younger than he.