July 19 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Eric L. Pape in Gloucester, Mass..
Dear Mr. Pape, / By command of physicians, I am not to stir outside the limits of this farm for the next half year to come. Otherwise I would be there on the 4th of August and do my share in welcoming the President.
July – Review of Reviews (NY) published a portrait of Mark Twain, “From a photograph recently taken in Italy,” p. 122 [Tenney 39].
July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article “William Dean Howells” p. 803-6. Clemens chose an excerpt from Howells’ “Easy Chair” column, a paragraph concerned with Louis Dyer’s Machiavelli and the Modern State (1904) to show “how clear, how limpid, how understandable” is Howells’ prose [Gribben 331]. Note: see Lyon’s journal entries for Mar. 26, 29, Apr. 5 on the writing of this article.
July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article, “William Dean Howells,” p. 221-5 [Budd, Collected 2: 1011].
The Reader carried a photograph by Underwood & Underwood of Mark Twain reading in bed [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Third Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1979 p. 191].
July to August – Sam wrote a sketch unpublished until 2009: “The Force of ‘Suggestion’” [Who Is Mark Twain? xxvi, 51-54].
July – Sometime after his return to Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Quick [MTP].
In London Sam inscribed a photograph of himself in front of the House of Parliament, to I. Benjamin Stone [MTP].
July – Sometime during the month a lawn party was held by the Mark Twain Library Association at Harry A. Lounsbury’s home. Another party at the same location was held in August [MT Library minutes copied by Tenney, Nov. 15, 1981].
Amo Umbstaetter and Elizabeth Atwood wrote from Lovell, Maine to thank Sam for his letter and autographs. Signed, “Your little friends” [MTP].
July — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller.
July 2 Sunday – Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers) wrote from New Bedford, MASS. To Sam, having rec’d his note on July 1. They had just come from Boston the day before and would return this afternoon, as Mr. Rogers had to take the stand in a lawsuit; they might have to stay all week, and were at the Hotel Lorraine if Sam stopped on his way to Norfolk, Conn. To see Clara [MTHHR 588].
July 2 Monday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam finished his July 1 to Clara in Norfolk, Conn.
July 2 Tuesday – Ashcroft’s note: “Lunched with Henniker-Heaton, M.P., at the House of Commons; dined with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brittain at the Savoy” [MTFWE 85].
The London Evening News, July 2, p.1, reported on Sam’s doings for the day.
MARK TWAIN AT WESTMINSTER.
Smoking the cigar which would seem never to go out, Dr. Mark Twain drove in a taximo to his photographer-in-ordinary, Mr. H. Walter Barnett, of Knightsbridge.
July 2 Thursday – Sam and Albert B. Paine left Boston at 8 a.m. for N.Y. [June 29 and July 2 to Quick]. Later, in Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean.
July 2 Friday — Sam’s new guestbook:
July 20 Wednesday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam sent the Bohan in Roseville, Ill. and added the following:
July 20 Friday – John T. Lewis, hero of Elmira, died on the way to the hospital [Sue Crane to Sam July 23, 1906].
Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we read Orion Clemens letters. Some of them written back in 1862. Mr. Paine is [many illegible cancelled words]. Oh, the wonder of life” [MTP TS 99].
July 20 Saturday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka. The traditional last night at sea benefit program was held for the Seaman’s fund, though when it fell on a Sunday such programs were likely moved to Saturday. Fatout gives this day for the program and concert and writes that Sam spoke for an hour, including the “sock-hunting” story [MT Speaking 678]. Dorothy Quick had given her “permission” as Mark Twain’s “business manager” for him to take part (see July 16 from Cooley).
July 20 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the July 7 request by Edward Verrall Lucas.
Dear Lucy: / My permission to include the Tom Sawyer extract in your series, you have, straight from the bat, as the worldlings say. My secretary will ask the Harpers to add their permission, & forward it to the Mac Millans or to you.
Love & all good wishes to you & to Punch & that dear little fairy./ Sincerely Yours … [MTP].
July 20 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Charles T. Lark, had decided he needed Isabel Lyon’s Signature on a lease agreement which would legalize the Sept. 1 date for her to leave. This time accompanied by Clara Clemens, he returned to the Lobster Pot to secure Lyon’s signature. Clara wrote an account of the meeting:
CLARA’S NARRATIVE.
[in Clara L.. Clemens’s hand:|
July 21 Thursday – In Tyringham, Mass. Isabel Lyon wrote for Clara Clemens to Martha G. Pond thanking her for her “sweet letter of sympathy.” Clara had been “utterly prostrate” since Livy’s death and so Isabel answered with thanks [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Mary B. Cheney in South Manchester, Conn.
July 21 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today I set out for Dublin again, achieving all I planned to do. I reached the house at 8:30 to find Mr. Clemens and Jean having supper with Mr. and Mrs. Learned. Oh, the peace of the hills, the purity of the air, only I am too exhausted to know [MTP TS 81].
July 21 Saturday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “These are such beautiful days. The mountain has brought life to me. Who could have thought within the month there could be an awakening such as mine—an awakening out of black poisoned misery into the meaning of the mountain & the meaning & sacredness of life, whether in solitude or not” [MTP TS 99].
July 21 Sunday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka.
London Evening World sent a telegram to Sam: “How do you feel approaching the land of the free after your pleasant experience with royalty and the nobility please answer our expense” [MTP].
Sydney Layland wrote from the S.S. Minnetonka at sea to thank Sam for his book and program with signature [MTP].
July 22 Friday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to Mr. Van Dreele. “I & my stricken family hold ourselves under the deepest obligations to you. You removed the difficulties which beset our mournful home-coming, & made our way smooth & untroubled. We cannot thank you enough, but we do thank you most cordially” [MTP].
July 22 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: This afternoon [4 p.m.] Mr. Clemens spoke before the members of the Dublin Lake Club. It was all a surprise to them. They had imagined Mr. Thayer would speak. He was such a delight. I had never heard him before in public—so didn’t know that side of the magic of him. He touched on “Eve’s Diary,” and Eve’s characteristics, and then he spoke of the caprices of memory, introducing one delightful anecdote after another. I didn’t want to know what subject he was going to speak on, so I didn’t ask. He is so wonderful.
July 22 Sunday – Sam was in NYC. He signed and inscribed a photograph of himself in his three-piece white suit in a rocking chair, to Mai Rogers (Mrs. William R. Coe): “A happy voyage to you dear Mrs. Coe & a speedy return! Sincerely yours, S.L. Clemens July 22, 1906.” On the back he wrote, “Shall I learn to be good? ….I will sit here & think it over” [Skinner Auctioneers Nov. 19, 2006, Sale 2341, Lot 27].