December 9 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Helena G. Paderewski. “I am glad to have the honor, by grace of Madam Paderewski of standing once more in the presence of my old friend Leschetizky / Very truly …” [MTP: Heritage Book Shop, Nov. 29, 1960].
In the evening Sam spoke at a dedication of the new clubhouse for 400 members of the Engineers Club (Society of Engineers). Fatout writes of the event:
December 9 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 2 of Charles Hopkins Clark.
December 9 Thursday — Sam took daily scenic rides after school hours [Dec. 14 to Nunnally].
February 1 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal#2: Mr. Clemen’s preferences for new members to the national Institute of Arts and Letters.
February 1 Friday – Anticipating the Feb. 2 Players Club luncheon with Eugene Fitch Ware, Sam spent most of the day reading The Rhymes of Ironquill [MTB 1374].
The New York Times, Feb. 2, reported on Sam’s appearance at Police headquarters:
TWAIN VISITS BINGHAM.
Delights Police Headquarters by Wearing His White Flannel Suit.
February 1 Saturday – Sam was in Bermuda.
February 1 Monday - Mrs, Mary Stewart Gatter wrote from Newburgh, NY to ask Sam for a signed Photo to sell to the benefit of St. Luke's Hospital (MTP)
Winifred Holt for the NY Assoc. for the Blind wrote to thank Sam for the use of his name at their Bal de Tete [MTP]
New York Assoc. for the Blind wrote to Sam [MTP]
February 1 Tuesday -Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens: “I sent you a good batch of stuff yesterday & found your letter ...at the station this morning. Also a letter for you from Clara which is here enclosed,” He offered bank data, and opinion on numbering letter pages and a few other short remarks [MTP].
February 10 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s Journal: “…Mr. Clemens is writing another soliloquy, King Leopold’s—who is gloating over and excusing to himself the Congo atrocities” [MTP: TS 39; Hill 100] Note: See Feb. 21 Lyon entry.
February 10 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Mr. North, director of census at Washington —today called to see Mr. Clemens with a personal message from the German Emperor” [MTP TS 27]. Note: Simon Newton Dexter (S.N.D.) North (1849-1924) of Boston was Director of US Census at this time.
February 10 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: All day the King has been playing with Dorothy, & when she left this afternoon he went upstairs quite lonely, but tired too & so he slept. I was having a long interview with a Dr. Beal who is a friend of the Col. Ingersoll family and surreptitiously he is trying to interest some rich people to buy the house Mrs. Ingersoll is now living in. And the man told me how he had been the one to start the fund for Mr. Clemens when he met with his failure through the Webster Company.
February 10 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a note of introduction “To any friend or acquaintance of mine” for Albert Bigelow Paine, “my biographer & particular friend, who is seeking information concerning me for use in his book.” [MTP]. Note: Sam may have written several of these as two survive, UCCL # 07666 and 08345,
February 10 Thursday Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens: "Lounsbury thinks this man is going to take the Italian house at 5700.00, He will know in a day or two, and if he can, will close matters up this week or next”. He offered more details of costs and net [MTP]. Note: MT: “ans / approving / Feb. 14”
February 11 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Charles D. Burrage.
February 11 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Today hasn’t been a very gay Sunday, for Mr. Clemens went off to lunch at Mrs. Henry Holt’s with the Pumpelly’s, & then he went to see Mr. & Mrs. Rogers finishing up with dinner at the Broughtons & not reaching home until nearly 10:30” [MTP TS 28-29].
February 11 Monday – In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Calvin H. Higbie.
M . Clemens asks me to write for him & say that within a day or so you will receive a letter from his biographer M . Albert Bigelow Paine, who is planning to make a journey out to California in the early spring to collect material for his biography…. [MTP].
Paine quotes from his notebook for this day about memory: February 11, 1907. He said to-day:
February 11 Tuesday – Sam hosted his second “Doe Luncheon” at 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. [Feb. 7 to Mary Rogers; IVL TS 20].
Sam also sketched drawings to Dorothea Gilder and Helena Gilder (Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder), guests of the luncheon. To Dorothea he drew a sailboat with two figures on deck and one falling overboard, then wrote, “Ship sinking—man overboard / SLC.” To Helena he wrote a lady with an umbrella in the rain and wrote, “Lady out in the rain / SLC.” [MTP].
February 11 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin, granddaughter of H.H. Roger
O, come, dear heart, all this enthusiasm over a comparative stranger! But you have studied it over, & know whether it is warranted or not; so it isn’t for me to criticise.
February 11 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote per Helen S. Allen to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.
Dear Mr. Paine, / Mr. Clemens wants me to tell you that he approves of your project and also the terms [in SLC’s hand: suggested. /Helen.
P. S. The plan which would leave me 80 acres strikes me pleasantly.
February 12 Sunday – Samuel E. Belt wrote from Greenwood B.C. to Sam.
“I am collecting facts about the blowing up of the ‘Saluda’ at Lexington, Mo, being a nephew of the ill-fated Captain,” Francis Thomas Belt. He didn’t simply want an autograph but asked Sam for anything he might be able to tell him about the case [MTP].
February 12 Tuesday – In N.Y.C. Sam wrote instructions for Isabel V. Lyon to reply to Rev. Dr. Henry Blanchard in Portland, Maine—thank him for confirming statements made in a letter seven years before by Rev. Mr. Wiggin when Clemens was in England; he’d lost Wiggin’s letter long before [MTP].
February 12 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Jan. 16 from Eden Phillpotts about Phillpotts’ proposed book dedication to Mark Twain:
My dear friend: / Indeed there is not a single syllable to be altered. The dedication pleases me “to the limit”—it could not be improved. I am anticipating a good time in the society of that book.