The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day

May 27 Wednesday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].

Howells & Stokes wrote to Isabel Lyon (though catalogued to Clemens) about newspapers inquiring for photos of the new Redding house [MTP].

Phillip F. Cunliffe Owen wrote from Staten Island, NY to thank Sam for his appearance at the British dinner at Delmonico’s, and especially for his eulogy of Queen Victoria. Owen added he’d written to Whitelaw Reid about Clara Clemens’ presence in England [MTP].

May 27 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to a non-extant from Poultney Bigelow.

Dear Poultney: /Indeed yes the invitation does hold good till September.
I, too, was invited to join the psycho-theologized band. ‘Think of that: Sunday School inviting Satan.

Very well, I've seen an expurgated Don Quixote; also an expurgated Bible. They were merely sucked oranges. / Yours ever [MTP].

University of Missouri sent an engraved invitation to their 67" Commencement, May 30 to June 2 [MTP]. Note: “Declined May 27, ‘09”

May 28 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: All day Mr. Clemens has been working too hard revising his microbe manuscript. This afternoon he was limp—exhausted—and tonight he went early to bed. Jean read aloud to me in Madame Laschovska’s book on Transylvania and I did not play the Beethoven today that I had planned to. / Mollie Ingalls writes many things among them that Walter Griffin has gone to Holland [MTP TS 61]. Emily Laszowska-Gerard. See May 16 entry.

May 28 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Went to town” [MTP TS 60].

Frederick D. Wardle wrote to Sam (c/o Chatto & Windus) on Town Clerk’s Office, Guildhall, Bath stationery to Sam.

May 28 Thursday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].

May 28 Friday — Sam recorded a blunder by Ashcroft that led to the revocation of a power of attorney to Lvon and a search for a general power of attorney:

Toward the end of May our tempest in a teapot was pulling away at a great rate, & making a lively stir amongst the farms & hamlets scattered in the woodsy hills & vales of our neighborhood. Every day brought its fresh little event & added a new text for gossip. Whatever either side did or said was known next day all around, & discussed.

May 29 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: There is tremendous news from the Japanese Russian War. Togo has beaten Rojesvesky, and taken ships and many prisoners, among them poor Rojesvesky—yes “poor”—for his joy is gone—he has failed utterly. 7,000 Russians gone. Oh, the terror of it, a rough sea and tremendous shelling, and sinking vessels. Oh, terrible beyond words [MTP TS 61].

Isabel Lyon’s journal #2: “Mr. Clemens has been working too hard, he is tired” [MTP: TS 20].

May 29 Wednesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

May 29 Friday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].

Sam wrote to Carlotta Welles.

Friday night.

May 29 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a short note to Isabel V. Lyon revoking in writing the power of attorney he’d given her and revoked orally some months ago. Albert Bigelow Paine signed as a witness [MTP].

Sam also wrote to an unidentified person about the appointment of Paine as his secretary and manager of his affairs [MTP: American Art Assoc.—Anderson Galleries catalog, Nov. 11-12, 1937, No. 4346, Item 89].

May 3 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Robert Underwood Johnson about his nominee picks for the Academy of Arts and Letters.

May 3 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Mr. Clemens’s inspiration for this morning. ‘Get up a stench in England about the Gospel. Have 200 copies printed anonymously there, uncopyrighted, too” [MTP TS 69].

May 3 Friday – In  London Whitelaw Reid sent a momentous cable to Sam in care of Harper & Brothers, N.Y. It was received in New York at 2:40 p.m.

May 3 Sunday– Isabel Lyon’s journal:  “Ill all day, but I did go up to the Wayland’s for dinner with a stiff larynx—and a heavy heart” [MTP: IVL TS 51].

A.J. Dawson wrote from Scotland to ask Sam, “When will you come back again? The U.S. shouldn’t be selfish; we too have rights….Yours so affectionately.” Dawson quoted Sam’s “The Aged Pilot Man” from RI (1872) [MTP].

May 3 Monday - Sam paid a bill dated Feb. 1, 1909 for $13.95 for “Fit Mdse” to B. Altman & Co., Fifth Ave. 34th  and 35th Streets, NYC [MTP: L-A MS XVII]. Note: See May 25 entry.

May 30 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Ah, it was splendid to see Mr. Clemens stand with his back to the open fire, and hear him sum up the way in which the Almighty has been personally conducting this Russian campaign against the Japanese. As many as 8 terrible defeats, but the Russian Church say that it is ordained of God and they rushed into battle headed by the cross. Yes, you find yourself thinking, thinking—after Mr. Clemens gets through a talk of that kind [MTP TS 61].

Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2:

May 30 Thursday – Sam replied to Harper’s of May 29: Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “If the London people will just ask C&W [Chatto & Windus] they will find that they can let Harpers know. They transferred” [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Days and weeks are passing and I am not writing a word about the most wonderful creature in the world, but I’ll try to hark back. He is in love with Tuxedo.

May 30 Saturday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].

Sarah A. Blanchard wrote to ask Sam if he would lecture before the Dorchester, Mass.

Women’s Club next season [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Answd June 2, ’08; Sincere thanks for compliment of invitation”

Dorothy Quick wrote to Sam.

My Dear Mr Clemens

May 30 Sunday — Sam recorded that daughter Clara and Albert Bigelow Paine were still not satisfied about the possible existence of a general power of attorney that Sam may have given unaware to Ralph W. Ashcroft.

May 31 Wednesday – In Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to John Larkin.

Mr. Clemens directs me to say that he has stopped the check that is due M . Renwick on June 1st, as you suggest in your letter of May 29thr

May 31 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam added to his May 29, 30 to Charlotte Teller Johnson.        

May 31 Friday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Robert Underwood Johnson. “M . Clemens asks me to say that he cannot serve an active part in the Academy, & so regrets that he is not able to send in any nominations. He believed that his Silence would be an answer” [MTP].