November 21 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to Asa Don Dickinson, who wrote Nov. 19.
The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day
November 22 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Ray. 3.15” [MTP TS 32].
George Dewey wrote to Sam, advising receipt of “your recent letter, I have to state that I resigned several months ago from the Advisory Directorate of the Oppenheimer Institute, but that while I was a director I had no personal knowledge of the workings of the cure” [MTP].
Max Lowenthal wrote a postcard from Vienna, Austria to send birthday wishes [MTP].
November 22 ca. – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam responded to C.F. Bertholf’s Nov. 16 question: Stories he refers to is in one of the volumes of sketches published by the Harpers” [MTP]. Note: The MTP catalogs this as “on or after 16 November.” Six days estimated postal time is allowed here.
November 23 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Miss Lawton to interview Mr. Charles Frohman at 10:30. / Mr. Clemens will go with Mr. Thuthong / Mr. Clemens will dine with Dr. Quintard, perhaps” [MTP TS 35].
Thomas S. Barbour for Congo Reform Assoc., Boston wrote to Sam on their new letterhead, which listed Samuel L. Clemens as a vice president. Barbour sought Sam’s approval to leave a footnote in place in the “King Leopold” pamphlet. He hoped Sam had had a good talk with Dr. Haley during Sam’s Boston stay; Barbour was sorry he could not see Sam then [MTP].
Thomas S. Barbour for Congo Reform Assoc., Boston wrote to Sam on their new letterhead, which listed Samuel L. Clemens as a vice president. Barbour sought Sam’s approval to leave a footnote in place in the “King Leopold” pamphlet. He hoped Sam had had a good talk with Dr. Haley during Sam’s Boston stay; Barbour was sorry he could not see Sam then [MTP].
November 24 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y., Sam spoke into a graphophone, dictating a letter that Isabel Lyon later wrote to Dr. Osgood:
Dear Dr. Osgood:
Your letter gives me very great pleasure. I believe there is no greater pleasure than that which one gets out of a compliment heartily expressed. Your warm words have gone to my heart and I am grateful for them.
November 25 Saturday – The Hartford Courant ran an interview, “Mark Twain at 70” p.16.
Scharnhorst (p. 511-16 & n.1) explains it was attributed to Samuel E. Moffett but actually written by Clemens.
Louise Forsslund wrote Sam from Sayville, L.I., N.Y. to confirm a story her father told of traveling with a young man named Clemens in 1849 in Sacramento [MTP]. Note: Sam’s reply ca. Nov. 28.
The New York Times, p. BR812 ran a squib on the coming birthday celebration, “Mark Twain’s Banquet.”
Scharnhorst (p. 511-16 & n.1) explains it was attributed to Samuel E. Moffett but actually written by Clemens.
Louise Forsslund wrote Sam from Sayville, L.I., N.Y. to confirm a story her father told of traveling with a young man named Clemens in 1849 in Sacramento [MTP]. Note: Sam’s reply ca. Nov. 28.
The New York Times, p. BR812 ran a squib on the coming birthday celebration, “Mark Twain’s Banquet.”
November 26 Sunday – In Washington, D.C. Sam wrote to Brian Ború Dunne (1878-1962), journalist for the Washington Times: “I lack time for an interview, but if we can compromise on a Thanksgiving Sentiment, take your pencil & I will dictate it. Thus:” [MTP]. Note: Sam followed this note, crammed at the top of the page, with what is a self-interview that ran in the front page of the Nov. 27 issue of the Washington D.C. Times. Sam wrote the following on a small sheet, cut from the above paragraph. “A few days ago one of the interviewers [Dunne] offered to let me do a Thanksgiving Sentiment.
November 27 Monday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. and was a guest of President Theodore Roosevelt. Later in the day he returned to New York. The New York Times reported the event on page 1.
Mark Twain the President’s Guest
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.—Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) was a guest of President and Mrs. Roosevelt at luncheon to-day. Invited to meet Mr. Clemens were Secretary Bonaparte, Attorney General Moody, and John Temple Graves. The call of Mr. Clemens upon the President was purely social.
Mark Twain the President’s Guest
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.—Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) was a guest of President and Mrs. Roosevelt at luncheon to-day. Invited to meet Mr. Clemens were Secretary Bonaparte, Attorney General Moody, and John Temple Graves. The call of Mr. Clemens upon the President was purely social.
November 28 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. where he wrote to Robert Bacon, Asst. Secretary of State, who was seeking more information about England’s willingness to act against Leopold.
November 29 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to John P. Cowan.
Dear Mr. Cowan: / Health to you! Sometimes, in the past two years, I have asked the Harpers’permission to say a word outside—for print—but I don’t now, for the applications these past two days amount to a sort of flood. Privately, between you and me, I did not suppose there was any Clemens blood in the world, outside of my family and J. Ross Clemens of St. Louis. Adam was the only ancestor I had ever heard of. / Sincerely yours … [MTP].
November 30 Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – Sam’s 70th Birthday.
Several newspapers across the country reported Sam’s “Thanksgiving sentiment,” including this quote taken from the Nov. 28 issue of the Grand Forks Daily Herald (N. Dakota), p.1:
“Every year every person in America concentrates all his thoughts on one thing—cataloguing his reasons for being thankful to the Deity for the blessings conferred on him and on the humanrace during the expiring twelve months.
December – “Eve’s Diary” was first published in Harper’s Monthly. In June 1906 it was published in book form as Eve’s Diary Translated from the Original MS; also included in The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories (1906) [Budd, Collected 2: 1010-11].
In N.Y.C. Sam inscribed his photograph to Mrs. John C. Graham: “Perhaps Mrs. John C. Graham will divine why this picture is intruded upon her by her obliged servant. / Mark Twain Dec./05.” [MTP].
December 1 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote a short note to Marcella Sembrich, opera star. “Dear Madame Sembrich— / It was lovely of you to send me so eloquent & so beautiful aremembrance, & I thank you out of my heart” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Will Larrymore Smedley in Chataqua-on-Chataqua, N.Y.: “To you, & to all my other known & unknown friends who have lightened the weight of my seventieth birthday with kind words & good wishes I offer my most grateful thanks, & beg leave to sign myself” [MTP].
December 2 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie.
Dear St. Andrew: / What is your telephone number? I have been trying to get to your house, & look at the family, but it is so far & I rise so late—however, I shall succeed, yet. My telephone address is “3907 Gramercy”—it isn’t in the book. With warmest regards to you all, … [MTP].
Dear St. Andrew: / What is your telephone number? I have been trying to get to your house, & look at the family, but it is so far & I rise so late—however, I shall succeed, yet. My telephone address is “3907 Gramercy”—it isn’t in the book. With warmest regards to you all, … [MTP].
December 3 Sunday – Gribben cites the New York World’s article “Twain Calls Leopold Slayer of 15,000,000,” and speculates: “Twain probably drew on Suetonius when he mentioned Nero as a killer” [677]. Note: the interview is in Scharnhorst, p.528-31, and also online at the Univ. Washington site:
Twain Calls Leopold Slayer of 15,000,000 Besides Leopold, Nero, Caligula, Attila, Torquemada, Genghis Khan, and such killers of men are mere amateurs.
December 3 or 10 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie.
“Dear St. Andrew: / I don’t know for sure that you got my telephone message the other day, but it doesn’t matter—I’m coming, the 18 anyway, with a nightshirt / Ys Ever / Mark ”[MTP]. Note: this letter # 08592 was found in the Fragments file and determined to be on a Sunday before Monday, Dec. 18, 1905, when Sam spoke for Russian Jews in NYC. No other year fits. Also, Carnegie inscribed his book for Clemens on Dec. 16. See entries.
December 4 Monday – Mrs. L.C.U. Bramhall wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam, noting they shared the same birthday, and asking about Susan Crane and “all the familiar faces of old” that she knew in Elmira some 30 years before. On or just after this day Sam replied, “Not seen Mrs. Crane lately, but a letter addressed to her at Q.F. will find her” [MTP].
December 5 Tuesday – In New York City Sam wrote a short note to Helen Keller:
It is a lovely letter, dear Helen, & I thank you from my heart for it Remain an optimist just as long as you can, dear! I would not abridge the term by a single day. But as for me—ah, that is different! Do please give my love to Mr. & Mrs. Macy. / Always affectionately…[MTP: Cushman file]. Note: John Albert Macy (1877-1932), author, critic, poet.Isabel
December 6 Wednesday – Sam attended “a part of Hansel and Gretel,” a play based on Grimm’s fairy tale, performed at the Metropolitan Opera House, Alfred Hertz conducting the performance of the opera written by Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921). Isabel Lyon recorded that he enjoyed the opera, but at George Harvey’s insistence left early so as not to become overtired [Gribben 341: Lyon’s journal TS 112: MTP]. Note: the N.Y. Times, Dec.
December 7 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
Dear Mrs. Rogers: / I walked out to your home this afternoon, hoping & expecting to see you, & was sorry to learn that you were not feeling well, & not seeing people. The footman offered to report my name & see if you would make an exception in my favor, but I was afraid your goodheartedness might overreach your judgment, so I wouldn’t let him do it.
Dear Mrs. Rogers: / I walked out to your home this afternoon, hoping & expecting to see you, & was sorry to learn that you were not feeling well, & not seeing people. The footman offered to report my name & see if you would make an exception in my favor, but I was afraid your goodheartedness might overreach your judgment, so I wouldn’t let him do it.
December 8 Friday – Louise A. Howland (Robert Howland’s widow) wrote from Sausalito, Calif. to Sam, congratulating him on his 70 , asking for an “up to date photograph” and recalling the old says when she “knew and claimed Mark Twain—as one of her best friends” [MTP]. Note: estimated here one week, or ca. Dec. 15 for Sam’s reply.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Today Mr. Clemens took me down to the Produce Exchange Safety Vaults and made me his deputy there” [MTP TS 112].
Benjamin Arthur wrote to congratulate Sam [MTP].
December 9 Saturday – More Dec. 6 form letters for the occasion of Sam’s 70th to the
following:
Kate Douglas Wiggin: “I didn’t know until last night (Dec. 8) that you had sent me a book & a letter, dear Mrs. Riggs. I am enjoying them this afternoon, in place of working, (for I am tired again,—always tired since I struck 70). I do so thank you for your hearty words” [MTP]
Kate Douglas Wiggin: “I didn’t know until last night (Dec. 8) that you had sent me a book & a letter, dear Mrs. Riggs. I am enjoying them this afternoon, in place of working, (for I am tired again,—always tired since I struck 70). I do so thank you for your hearty words” [MTP]
December 10 Sunday – Another Dec. 6 form letter for the occasion of Sam’s 70th to Howard Pyle. Sam added this comment: “It is a most dear & sweet little Eve, & looks just as she did in those first days, when there wasn’t any night because that radiant creature still remained smiling around after the sun went down” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
December 11 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Marjorie V.d.W. Brooke. “I am quite sure, Miss Brooke, that if I had seen that photograph in a shop window I should have supposed it was a picture of myself, so marked is the resemblance” [MTP: eBay item #30366463].
Sam sent another Dec. 6 form letter for the occasion of his 70th to Will Larrymore Smedley. Sam added no comment [MTP].
In N.Y.C. Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Dihdwo Twe.
December 12 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Louis Windmüeller, treasurer Legal Aid Society.
I have known about The Legal Aid Society for some years, but it conducts its affairs so quietly and so unostentatiously that I did not know, until the other day, how extensive is the work it is doing. It stirs one’s blood and compels one’s deep homage to read the great figures! If New York could read them, do you think it could ever be said again that “the contributions fail to cover the ever-growing expenses”? I think not—I am sure not.
I have known about The Legal Aid Society for some years, but it conducts its affairs so quietly and so unostentatiously that I did not know, until the other day, how extensive is the work it is doing. It stirs one’s blood and compels one’s deep homage to read the great figures! If New York could read them, do you think it could ever be said again that “the contributions fail to cover the ever-growing expenses”? I think not—I am sure not.