November 16 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Zoheth S. Freeman, who had just been chosen as vice president of Liberty National Bank, N.Y.C.
Dear Freeman:
I thank you ever so much for accepting that trust. There is no one in the world I would prefer to you for that friendly office.
November 17 Thursday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison, asking her to place 3,500 lire for him with the Manhattan Trust co. for the credit of Haskard & Co., Ltd, Florence. He suggested any future Florentine accounts be paid this way [MTHHR 581].
Sam also wrote to Sebastiano V. Cecchi, letter not extant but referred to in Cecchi’s Dec. 16.
November 17 Saturday – Roi Cooper Megrue wrote to Isabel Lyon enclosing Ernest Hendrie’s reply to Elisabeth Marbury’s Oct. 29 about dramatization rights for “The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg.” Lyon wrote on Megrue’s letter sometime after Nov. 17:
Katherine telephoned
M . Timory can have the right to dramatize The Interviewer M . Hendrie be may be right, but r M . Clemens doesn’t remember. wrote Mr. Hendrie—Mr.H needn’t be surprised that M . Clemens has forgotten, for he always forgets everything of that nature.
November 17 Sunday – Rudolphine Scheffer Ely wrote from NYC to Sam inviting him to the opening meeting of the Civic Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 20 [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Mr. Clemens has engagement”
H.E. Wallace, Jr. wrote from NYC a letter of appreciation for “Huck and Jim” [MTP].
C.C. White wrote from Milford, Mass. to Miss Lyon, touched by the NAR segment with the death of Susy [MTP].
November 17 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Benares came back” [MTP: IVL TS 79].
Frank Bohrer, “a poor boy afflicted with locomotor ataxia which caused blindness” wrote from Sherrill, NY to ask Sam for a signed picture postcard [MTP]. Note: “Autogr. Sent Dec 7. 08. MLH”
Elva Fernald wrote from Topeka, Kans. to Sam, about to give a talk on Mark Twain, and thinking “a few words directly from” his pen “would add greatly to the enjoyment…” [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Unable to grant request”
November 17 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn, Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton in Toronto, Canada, enclosing her envelope sent on Nov. 15.
Dear Plumber: / Then we’ll postpone until your return.
To-day I have been condemned by the doctor to go away for two or three weeks—I can’t stand the idea! Still, it can’t be helped, I suppose. I haven’t been in quite satisfactory shape for several months, /
Affectionately Yours / ... [MTP].
November 18 Friday – An unidentified person wrote from NY to Sam, only the envelope survives [MTP].
November 18 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Mr. Halsey—S. Phi.” [MTP TS 34].
Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote on Koy-Lo Co. letterhead to Sam that he’d responded to Stanchfield’s Nov. 17. Ashcroft asked Stanchfield if he wanted to sell more Spiral Pin Co. shares [MTP].
November 18 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.
November 18 Wednesday – Sam’s new guestbook (and Lyon’s journal TS 80):
Name Address Date Remarks
Frank Nelson Doubleday )
Neltje D.G. Doubleday ) 11 East 16th st. New York Nov. 18-19 -> The perfect pair [D.G. = De Graff]
Note: Neltje de Graff Doubleday (Mrs. Frank N. Doubleday) (1865-1918)
November 18 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Albert B, Paine wrote for Sam to the American Civic Alliance, 507 5" ave. N.Y.C. Paine requested that Clemens wished to withdraw his membership in the Alliance [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Margaret Blackmer.
November 19 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Times Reporter. 10—” [MTP TS 34].
Marjorie V.d.W. Brooke wrote to Sam, evidently enclosing a photo of her grandfather, who many said looked like Mark Twain—didn’t Sam think him a handsome man? [MTP].
Asa Don Dickinson wrote to Sam.
November 19 Monday – In the morning at 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mary B. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers, Jr.), enclosing his latest photograph for her opinion; he wanted to put it in a locket for Clara. He revealed his creative method for catching up on mail, since Isabel Lyon was ill.
November 19 Tuesday – Sam gave a curtain speech at the P&P performance by the Children’s Educational Theatre, directed by Alice Minnie Herts. The New York Times, Nov. 20, p.9, reported on the event:
UPTOWN AUDIENCE AT CHILDREN’S PLAY
Society Folk, as Mark Twain’s Guests, See “The Prince and the Pauper.”
——— ——— ———
HOST’S SPEECH CUT SHORT
Miss Herts, Founder of the Theatre, Says the Object is to Develop Latent Dramatic Talent.
November 19 Thursday – Sam’s new guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
Judge Wm Scoville Case ) Danbury Nov. 19 Judge & state’s attorney
Stiles Judson ) who tried the burglars
Note: in the original guestbook one additional name is listed, Bettye D.G. Doubleday, Mill Neck, L.I.
November – W.L. Alden’s article, “Mark Twain; Samuel L. Clemens,” ran in English Illustrated Magazine p. 182-4. Tenney: “‘Mark Twain is essentially an enthusiast, and his enthusiasm is always for the things that are noble, and heroic, and right.’ Photo of MT by Walter Barnett, and bibliography of his works and secondary material concerning him” [39].
Michael Monahan’s article, “Saint Mark,” ran in The Papyrus: A Magazine of Individuality [Gribben 525].
November – In N.Y.C. Sam inscribed a copy of Eve’s Diary to Elbert Hubbard: “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economise it. Truly yours Mark Twain. To Elbert Hubbard, Nov./06.” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries Catlogs, 25 Feb. 1938, Item 40].
Henry Hahn, Sven Riars, Agnede Larsen, Cecilic Kiar, & Bassemig wrote from Copenhagen, Denmark for birthday wishes to Sam [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Answered”; Lyon wrote “Answer / Dec 5”
November – In N.Y. Sam had invitations printed for the Nov. 19 Children’s Educational Theatre performance of P&P.
November 1908 [not defined by Fears as November]
November — Paine writes of what Clemens had been reading this month, including Chivalry (1909) by James Branch Cabell. “He cannot say enough of the subtle poetic art with which Cabell has flung the light of romance about dark and sordid chapters of history” [MTB 1535; Gribben 122].
Atlantic Monthly for November issue ran “Atlantic Dinners and Diners” by Arthur Gilman, p. 646-57. Tenney: “A brief account of his Whittier Birthday-Dinner speech, with no indication that it gave offense” [47].
November 2 Wednesday – Harper & Brothers sent a small notice of a check enclosed, amount not given [MTP].
November 2 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mary B. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers, Jr.).