February 12 Friday — Isabel Lyon’s journal noted that Sam was in bed reading “Quakenbores [sic] book on Natural Philosophy” in bed with “a cigar between his teeth”. Note: A Natural Philosophy, etc. (1899) by George Payn Quackenbos (1826-1881) [Gribben 565].
George Brunton for the Boone Iowa News-Republican wrote to ask Sam for a letter of encouragement for their YMCA [MTP].
February 12 Saturday - Sam’s new guestbook:
| Name | Address | Date | Remarks |
| Irving Bacheller | [Illegible city] Conn. | Feb. 12,1910 |
The Danish-American (Independent Weekly) per Emil Opffer wrote from the Tribune Bldg., NYC:
February 13 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: This morning came a letter from Raffaello. He has been ill, he has lost money, and just now there is dearth of happiness in his life. / Every evening we have music. Jean plays her simple sweet music, and I play the wonderful Beethoven and Schubert. Mr. Clemens spends nearly all his day in bed, getting up only in time for dinner. Every afternoon he calls me for a game of cards [MTP: TS 40].
February 13 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to thank an unidentified person for “the newspaper slip & for your pleasant words” [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Susy’s Biography continued—Cadet of Temperance—First meeting of Mr. Clemens and Miss Langdon—Miss Olivia Langdon an invalid—Dr. Newton [AMT 1: 354-359].
February 13 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Gabrilowitsch lunched—C.C.—Atlantic City [MTP TS 27].
February 13 Thursday – In the evening at 21 Fifth Ave. Clara Clemens gave a musical presentation to about 140 persons, accompanied by Miss Marie Nichols of Boston, a violinist, and Charles E. Wark, pianist The NY Times, Feb. 14, p 7, “Miss Clemens’s Musicale” lists the following 60 guests. See also Sam’s Feb. 14 to Jean.
February 13 Saturday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam and Isabel Lyon to professor Archibald Henderson at UNC, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dear Dr Henderson
February 13-19 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Brander Matthews.
“This came to me some time ago & I didnt reply to it—it seemed to me a most strange thing if it was sent by a sane person. And now he has called in person—L[yon] has seen him appeasable wanted to know who selected him the King president pro tem—” [MTP]. Note: a draft.
February 14 Tuesday – Harold J. Howland for The Outlook wrote to Sam, asking him to autograph one of the proofs of his photo [MTP]. Note: see also entries for Dec. 3, 1904, Feb. 21, and Feb. 26, 1905.
February 14 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Gertrude Natkin.
February 14 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.
I am very very glad, Jean dear, that you are having such wholesome & healthful good times & are so contented & happy. Poor little Clara isn’t so fortunate; she has been laid up with a bad throat & hoarseness, but she went to Atlantic City yesterday & will soon be in shape again she thinks.
February 14 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Greenwich, Conn.
February 14 Sunday - In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a reply on a postcard to Mary (not further identified).
Goodspeed’s
Boston
February 14, 1909
Picture postcard, no
postmarks, not addressed
black ink, 2 sides
Front:
February 14 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote a valentine poem to Helen S, Allen.
February 15 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Madeleine Sinsheimer.
February 15 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Chinatown” [MTP TS 29].
I.P. Moore wrote from London, England to inquire if Sam was his first cousin, since Moore’s mother was a Clemens [MTP]. Note: After Feb. 15 Sam replied that he knew nothing about his family tree before his father, who was born in Virginia in 1799; genealogical sources give Aug. 11, 1798 in Campbell Co. Va for the birthdate of John Marshall Clemens. www.accsolinc.com/familyroots/RobertClements.pdf
February 15 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Such a sweet comfort of an evening I have had with the King, after a busy & fluttering kind of a day. Mr. Rogers came in for a long talk this morning. Brio left at 12:45, leaving a baddish taste in Santa’s mouth. At 2:15 C. Teller called up asking if the King would come to the telephone, but he wouldn’t of course, & then she sent in a note asking him to go to the Brevort (where she is stopping) in order to do some work which he alone could do.
February 15 Monday — Charles E. Hinckley for W.A. Hunter & Co., Nashville, Tenn. wrote to Sam.
I have the honor to say that you are directed, for naval purposes, to read the accompanying article [not in file] and report to the secretary of the navy at Washington, D.C. the proper way of putting our naval vessels through the Suez Canal without so much flub-dub about the pilots. Talk about a little old eighty-seven miles on the Mississip? Huhl...
late Captain Steamer “Copperopolis” San Francisco to Sacramento.
February 15 Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Thomas Lemuel James.
Dear General,
The parcel of money shipped to me per Wells Fargo, February 4 has not yet arrived. I thought I would mention this in passing. But I mention it mainly to put you on your guard against sending anything to Bermuda or elsewhere by any express company, because the persons connected with those companies have been dead 30 years. This often causes delay, / Yours always / ... [MTP]. Note: see Jan. 30 to James.
February 16 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.
Dear Joe— / I knew I had in me somewhere a definite feeling about the President if I could only find the words to define it with. / Here they are, to a hair—from Leonard Jerome: “For twenty years I have loved Roosevelt the man & hated Roosevelt the statesman & politician.”
February 16 Friday – Sam gave a speech as the honorary head of The Ends of the Earth Club at the Savoy Hotel. The New York Times reported on p.9:
ENDS OF EARTHERS FOREGATHER HERE AGAIN
And Astonish Mark Twain with Some Very Brief Reports.
——— ——— ———
HE AND OTHERS REMINISCE
The Author Tells How He Filled Cooper Union 39 Years Ago—150 Globe Trotters at Dinner.
February 16 Saturday –Witter Bynner offered box seats to Clemens on Feb. 1 for an unspecified performance for this day. No record was found of Sam’s attendance to a performance for this day or evening. Lyon made no entry in her journal for Feb. 16, so it is unlikely Sam took Bynner up on his offer.
February 16 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Augustus Croffut.
My dear Croffut:
You will see by this morning’s clipping that there is hardly any likelihood that the Knickerbocker will resume business. My deposit is $51,199, & I am not expecting 15 per cent of it to escape alive.
February 16 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Archibald Henderson, professor at UNC, Chapel Hill.
Dear Dr Henderson:
Mr. Clemens’ comment was: “Mightily interesting and very ingenious.” And he was deep/y touched with your reference to Mrs Clemens.