The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day

January 2 Monday Sam’s notebook: contains an aphorism circled, followed by a list of things to do lined through as if completed:

January 2 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

January 2 Thursday – The New York Times, p. 9 ran this brief squib of an upcoming gathering:

Lotos Club Dinner to Mark Twain

A jollification dinner is announced at the Lotos Club on Jan. 11. Mark Twain is to be the guest of the evening.

Isabel Lyon’s journal:  Loose jointed & weary I am in bed all day. Not doing much thinking— not doing any work but reading Daniel Deronda with greater delight than ever.

January 2 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a postcard to daughter Jean. “Happy New Year, Jean dear! And I hope you will have many more. / Affectionately” … [MTP].

Sam also wrote a postcard with a photograph of Stormfield to Dorothy Quick. Happy New Year! Jan. 2’09

It is a very nice poem, Dorothy dear; that is my opinion, & Miss Lyon’s, too.

January 20 Friday – Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote on Koy-Lo Co.letterhead to Sam, concerning ongoing disputes with Howard E. Wright and the American Plasmon Co. “The other day, I came across the card of admission issued by Hammond to Butters in connection with the ‘freeze-out’ game. I enclose it” [MTP].

January 20 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

January 20 Monday – The New York Times, p. 9 reported on Sam’s health, as “No Worse”:

MARK TWAIN NO WORSE

———

But Still In Bed Nursing His Cold—To Go to Bermuda Soon.

There was at least one sore man in the city yesterday, and he was sore in two places at once—in his chest and in his mind. The man was Samuel L. Clemens, whom almost everybody knows best as “Mark Twain.”

January 20 Wednesday – Sam went to New York City, accompanied by Isabel Lyon [Feb. 5 to Blackmer]. He would not return to Stormfield until the evening of Jan. 30.

In the evening Sam attended the annual dinner at Delmonico’s, given by the Directors and faculty of the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital. The New York Times reported on the function:

TWAIN TALKS TO DOCTORS.

———

“Dr. Clemens” Describes Imaginary Medical School at His Country Home.

January 20 Thursday - W.H. Howe for H.H. Laboratory, Moorefield, Ky. wrote to ask for an autograph, after having visited Florida, Mo. and viewing the house where his aunt Polly said Clemens was born [MTP].

New York Telephone Co. per F.B. Ellis wrote to Sam: “I have your favor of January 17th, and wish to advise that 2 copies of the New York Telephone Directory issue of October 14th, 1909 have been sent to you by Adam’s express to-day” [MTP].

Dora Prentice Wills wrote from Holmesburg, Phila. to Sam.

January 21 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

Mr. Clemens got into the big grey mobile with Mr. Clinton at 12 o’clock and away they went for luncheon. The day is very lovely—just the sort for motoring, for we’re having a warm wave, too warm but good for motoring.

January 21 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote an aphorism to an unidentified person: “Consider the proportions of things: it is better to be a young june-bug than an old bird of Paradise. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Jan. 21/07” [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Dr. Herring came, says Bermuda is better in summer than in winter.

January 21 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.

Francesca dear

I wish you were here

And had 2 weeks to spare. Then I would pack you & Miss Lyon aboard ship & sail for Bermuda Saturday. Now you see what you are robbing her of—& she needs that trip very much. I shall take nobody but Ashcroft—yet he hasn’t any use for a voyage.

You are going to spend those ten Easter days here, aren’t you, dear? We’ll come to Catonville & fetch you.

January 21 Thursday – Sam was in New York City.

Harry Windsor Dearborn for Henry W. Marsh sent an engraved card invitation to tea on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Henry W. Marsh, NYC [MTP].

Mrs. Emma Sheridan Fry wrote to notify Sam of her resignation from the Educational Theatre, enclosing a copy of her resignation to Minnie Herts, which stated her inability to work with Mr. Heniger, “your young Stage Director” [MTP]. Note: Fry wanted no editorial interference.

January 21 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.

Dear Paine,—Thanks for your letter, and for its contenting news of the situation in that foreign and far-off and vaguely-remembered country where you and Loomis and Lark and other beloved friends are.

I have Letter from Clara this morning. She is solicitous, and wants me well and watchfully taken care of. My, she ought to see Helen and her parents and Claude administer that trust!

January 22 Sunday – “Bloody Sunday” (or “Red Sunday”) in St. Petersburg, Russia was the impetus for Mark Twain’s “The Czar’s Soliloquy,” written shortly after this day. (See Jan. 30, and Feb. entries.) Peaceful demonstrators petitioning Czar Nicholas II were gunned down by the Imperial guard. Budd writes:

January 22 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

The King dined at the Coes & will stay the night.

January 22 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie.

Dear St. Andrew:

I have had to decline this mission a couple of times in the past year or two, & the most I can do now is to forward the letter—which I do, & leave it to take its chances.

That whisky came very handy. I had a very wild & exasperating cold, but a pint of the whisky tamed it in 3 minutes by the watch & I did not wake up again for ten hours.

I shall be out of bed tomorrow, I think, & I’ll break straightway for Bermuda [MTP].

January 22 Friday – Sam was in New York City.

January 23 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Sent card to Mrs Clander, for Mr. Clemens” [MTP TS 2].

George B. Harvey wrote to Sam, soliciting him to attend the “little dinner to the Archbishop Thursday evening,” urged by Mr. O’Day [MTP]. Note: this may be Daniel O’Day.

January 23 Wednesday – At 5 p.m. at Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam fell up the front steps and skinned his “starboard shin” [Jan. 26 to Jean].  

Isabel Lyon’s journal: More about Aldrich’s coat—label gone.

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January 23 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y.