February – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Laura H. Frazer, childhood sweetheart.
Dear Laura,
Who of this list, have passed away? You will not be able to tell me in all cases, but tell me those you know about.
The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day
February 1 Monday - Mrs, Mary Stewart Gatter wrote from Newburgh, NY to ask Sam for a signed Photo to sell to the benefit of St. Luke's Hospital (MTP)
Winifred Holt for the NY Assoc. for the Blind wrote to thank Sam for the use of his name at their Bal de Tete [MTP]
New York Assoc. for the Blind wrote to Sam [MTP]
February 2 Tuesday — John W. Davis for NY Education Dept. wrote to ask Sam to use an excerpt from TA for a reader he was preparing for use in public schools [MTP].
James Ephraim McGirt, “a New Negro Poet” wrote from Phila. to ask Sam for “an expression...in regards to the merits of” his work. A flyer with McGirt’s photo is in the file [MTP].
February 3 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mai H. Coe and William Robertson Coe.
Dear Coes:
It has arrived, & Miss Lyon, who is ill in bed & under contract with the doctor to keep perfectly quiet for ten days, has gone into raptures & frenzies & convulsions of admiration & delight over it. But a happy earthquake doesn’t hurt a patient, it sets the drowsy circulation going at lightning-express gait, & does good. And that is what has resulted in this instance.
February 4 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a postcard (with a picture of Stormfield) to Ruth Woods in Philippi, W. Va.: “Thank you ever so much, dear Ruth, for suggesting it, but the truth is I am much too old & indolent to take up writing again. / Sincerely your friend / SL. Clemens” [MTP].
February 5 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer.
February 6 Saturday — Sam’s new guestbook:
February 7 Sunday — Clara Clemens and Ossip Gabrilowitsch arrived at Stormfield; at least this date was given in the guestbook. However, on Feb. 8 in a letter to Frances Nunnally, Sam misdated it Feb. 9, which may present confusion. Victor Fischer of the MTP confirms that the Feb. 8 letter was misdated.
February 8 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote “the newest postcard” (“Posing for Admiration”) to daughter Jean.
February 9 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent the “Posing for Admiration” postcard to Margery Hamilton Clinton. “Ashcroft has must arrived with the news—& your date—Tuesday the 23*, You are a very dear plumber, & will be most welcome. Bring several changes of soldering irons—for you must stay as long as you can. / Affectionately” [MTP].
E. Mayban Denbeigh wrote from NY asking for “<a little message” to read to her literary club [MTP].
February 10 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a note of introduction “To any friend or acquaintance of mine” for Albert Bigelow Paine, “my biographer & particular friend, who is seeking information concerning me for use in his book.” [MTP]. Note: Sam may have written several of these as two survive, UCCL # 07666 and 08345,
February 11 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin, granddaughter of H.H. Roger
O, come, dear heart, all this enthusiasm over a comparative stranger! But you have studied it over, & know whether it is warranted or not; so it isn’t for me to criticise.
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 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 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 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 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.
February 17 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.
February 18 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton in N.Y.C.
Very dear Plumber:
(who doesn’t know how to plumb);
February 19 Friday — John N. Ryan for Equitable Life Assurance, NYC wrote to ask Sam for “something from you” for the Year Book for the Pleiades Club, NYC [MTP].
A.H. Tomlinson wrote from Swathmore, Penn. to Sam. He’d sent a copy of “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” and asked that Sam sign it with a few words and place the date on it [MTP].
February 20 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer.
Attention, you dear little tyke!
You will have a long vacation at Easter; can’t you & your mother spend it with us? I do hope so. When Ashcroft-Benares goes to New York Tuesday, I want him to catch your mother on the telephone & discuss the matter with her. / With lots of love [MTP; MTAg 251].
February 21 Sunday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to prof. Archibald Henderson, University of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill. “Dear Dr Henderson: / We spell it: ‘UMPAWAUG’—not ‘Umpawag, as you had it” [MTP]. Note: Umpawaug, named after Indians who deeded land in 1686; a district, and road in Redding, Conn. Also a cemetery, across the road from the original Mark Twain Library, which began in a chapel.
February 23 Tuesday — Isabel Lyon left Stormfield to recover from her breakdown at her mother’s house in Hartford. She was there ten days. Hill writes of Clara Clemens’ arrival and of the ensuing controversy of suspicion:
February 24 Wednesday — Elizabeth P. Brown wrote from NYC to Sam.
I shall put yesterday down as one of the days in which something really happened for it was last evening that your letter came.
Irene was a dear to suggest your writing—and you—what shall 1 say about you for doing as she suggested?
Anyway, I thank you very much indeed. [She regretted not being able to speak to him the day he called at her school. She thought Irene Gerken] “a most bewitching little miss” MTP]. Note IVL: “From Irene's teacher, Miss Brown”
February 25 Thursday - In Redding. Conn. Sam wrote to John Albert Macy.
Dear Mr. Macy: / Thank you for Greenwood’s book. I have read it most carefully, and have stolen meat enough from it to stuff yards and yards of sausage-gut in my vast Autobiography and make it look like my own. And really the gut is mine. My, but I have enjoyed that book!
With love to you all,
Clemens,