The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day

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 3 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka. It may interest you to know that all of half of the letters I get concerning the Joan sketch are from Catholics; & are strongly (even fervently) complimentary, every time.

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 Monday – Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Mesmerism continued—The Baron F. incident [MTP Autodict3; MTE 131-136].

Fanny E. Coe wrote from Jamaica Plain, Mass. to Sam. She was “preparing a series of reading books for publication” and wished to use the TS fence episode [MTP]. Note: “Ansd Dec. 6”

Major Leigh of Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam. “I beg to hand you herewith statement of your account for the year ending October 30 last. In doing so, permit me to present to you my congratulations” [MTP].

December 3 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to W.H. Powell, editor of the Hannibal Courier-Post.

December 3 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.

December 30 Friday – Herbert Ashcroft of the Koy -Lo Co. wrote to Sam. “I am today in receipt of a cable from my brother stating that the London Plasmon Company will not make any contract and that they prefere to stand the ‘freeze out’ with which they are threatened. He also confirms …that he will return on the ‘Lucania’ arriving her probably Saturday morning, the 7th prox.” [MTP].

E. Prentiss Bailey of the Utica Observer (NY) wrote to Sam.

December 30 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

December 30 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Carlotta Welles.

Your letter has just arrived, & is a very pleasant & very welcome surprise; I thought you had forgotten me long ago. The xmas holidays have this high value: that they remind Forgetters of the Forgotten, & repair damaged relationships.

December 30 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Elizabeth Alexander Alexander (Mrs. John White Alexander).

December 30 Thursday - More letters and telegrams of condolence were sent by:

December 31 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “The puppy & the Christian are born blind. The puppy gets over it” [NB 47 TS 17].

George Standring sent Sam a 3×4” card with his name nicely written in the center, and in the upper left corner, was printed:

“A PLAIN CARD: FROM A PLAIN MAN: WITH NEW YEAR GREETING; WISHING YOU ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN REASONABLY HOPE FOR OR DESIRE IN THE YEAR NOW ABOUT TO BEGIN—–FROM GEORGE STANDRING TO” [MTP].

December 31 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote a postcard to Andrew Carnegie and Louise W. Carnegie. “Unto / Mrs. Carnegie / & St. Andrew / a happy New Year & repetitions of it.† Mark”  [MTP].

Sam also wrote a postcard to Gertrude Natkin at 138 W. 98 N.Y.C.: “A happy New Year to you, dear Marjorie, & many repetitions of the like!” [MTP]. Note: see Feb. 20, 1907 for her delayed reply.

The New York Times, p.1, reported on the New Year’s Eve party thrown at his home for Clara Clemens.

December 31 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote on a card picturing a woman in a hat to Maud W. Littleton: “Happy New year / to / Mrs Littleton / from / SL. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Martin W. and Maud W. Littleton, across-the-street neighbors.

December 31 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Gertrude Natkin in N.Y.C.

December 31 Friday - More letters and telegrams of condolence were sent by:

December 4, after – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Mr. Lee: “No, it’s lovely. I haven’t any suggestions to make” [MTP].

December 4 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (in Hartford): “At twilight I walked through the beautiful rooms of this beautiful house & my heart torn into sobbing shreds by my homesickness for the King” [MTP TS 148]. Note: she likely toured the Farmington Ave. house.

December 4 Wednesday – William B. McGann, who was President of the American Plasmon Co. to Apr. 30, 1906, wrote a salary claim to Sam, now acting President and Vice-President. The letter is not extant but is referred to in a New York Times article of Dec. 21, 1907, p. 6, (below).  Shortly after Dec. 4, Sam replied to McGann, his letter reprinted in the Dec. 21 article:

MARK TWAIN CONCERN GIVES UP THE GHOST

Plasmon Company of America Unable to Meet Obligations and Receiver is Named.

December 4 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Elizabeth Jordan.

Dear Miss Jordan:

December 4 Saturday — John Bigelow wrote from Grammercy Park, NYC to Sam. “I hope you will pardon the liberty I have ventured to take with your name, in a note to the Chamber of Commerce which you will find on the 324 page of a pamphlet which I send you under another enclosure... Yours truly...” [MTP].