October 13 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Oct. 12 from William Henry Bishop.
Dear Mr. Bishop: / The Mark Twain Library thanks you cordially, through me, its President, for your welcome contribution and forwards herewith its official receipt.
I offer to you & Mrs. Bishop my best wishes for a safe & pleasant voyage. / Sincerely Yours / ... [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Helen Kerr Blackmer (Mrs. Henry Myron Blackmer) in N.Y.C.
October 14 Thursday — On this day or Oct. 15 in Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Clara at the Hotel Latham, N.Y.C.
“Mrs. Gabrilowitsch / Hotel Latham, 5th ave & 28th st. New York
October 15 Friday — In the evening the Mark Twain Library Association held “The Harvest Home Dance” at the barn of Meeker Jones, The attendance was “large”’ at this costume events, which ended with one of Sam’s old favorites, the “Virginia Reel” dance. The minutes do not disclose Sam’s attendance [MTLA minutes copied at the Library by Tenney Nov. 15, 1981].
John Bigelow wrote to Sam.
October 16 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed a copy of Eve's Diary to Helen Schuyler Allen: “Helen Schuyler Allen M.A. / with the love of / The Author / Oct. 16/09.”” [MTP: Charles Hamilton catalog, 30 Sept. 1965, No. 9, Item 23].
Sam’s new guestbook:
October 17 Sunday — The New York Times, p. 1 reported on the condition of Ossip Gabrilowitsch:
TO OPERATE ON GABRILOWITCH
Mark Twain’s Son-in-Law HasAppendicitis—Cancels Sailing.
October 18 Monday - In Redding, Conn. Albert B, Paine wrote for Sam to prof. Archibald Henderson at Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill.
October 19 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. Augusta M.D. Ogden, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
Dear Mrs. Ogden: / Good—I shall be on the lookout for you.
Telephone, ‘774 Danbury.”
That is our call.
October 20 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Irene Gerken [MTP]. Note: beyond, “You dear little scamp,” text not available.
October 21 Thursday —In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. John Paul Jones.
October 23 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent a postcard (picture of Stormfield) to Elizabeth Hatch (Mrs. John C. Hatch) in Maplewood, N.J.: “All sorts of congratulations & cordial good wishes, from a fellow-pupil (Dawson’s School) of 60 years ago! /SL. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Betty Owsley.
October 24 Sunday — Sam’s new guestbook:
October 25 Monday - Lord Northcliffe wrote from Newfoundland to congratulate Sam on Clara’s wedding. “I shall be in New York next month if by any chance you are there I hope you will let me clasp you by the hand” [MTP].
October 26 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Thomas Power O’Connor now at the Hoffman House N. Y.C.
October 27 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a note to Beatrice M. Benjamin (H.H. Rogers’ granddaughter) in N.Y.C.: “This isn’t to wish you many happy returns of the occasion, but only of its anniversary. I hope there will be a rich abundance of those, & that each succeeding one will be happier than its predecessor.”’ The note was to be included in a set of Mark Twain books, red-bound, for her wedding on Nov. 7 [MTP].
October 28 Thursday — In the evening a dance was held at the “old Selleck house through the courtesy of Mr. Bergquist, the present occupant... at which the guests wore sheets, pillow cases & masks, quite a number were present, and all seemed to have a pleasant time” [MTLA minutes copied at the Library by Tenney Nov. 15, 1981]. Note: it is not known if Sam attended, though it is doubtful, as he was under a sort of “house arrest” by doctor’s orders.
October 29 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a longer letter to Beatrice M. Benjamin.
October 30 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Helen Schuyler Allen in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Dear Helen: / I hope you & your mother reached your island safe & well. It was a short visit you gave me, but it was delightful, & it must be repeated some day & lengthened, if you’ll be so good.
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 Tuesday — Janet Duff Gordon Ross wrote from Florence to congratulate Sam on Clara’s marriage and to ask if he was ever going to return to Italy [MTP].
November 3 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent an order form to Harper & Brothers for their story, “Beasley’s Xmas Party” to be send to various of his friends (blank lines left for Sam to write in names) [MTP: Harper’s Weekly Magazine, 18 Dec. 1909]. Note: “Beasley’s Christmas Party,” by Booth Tarkington (1909); see Gribben 686.
Paine writes of the day’s activities:
November 3. He said he could not sleep last night, for thinking what a fool he had been in his variousinvestments,
November 4 Thursday — Lotta M. Crabtree wrote on Brewster Hotel, Boston notepaper to ask forgiveness for “not having acknowledged at once the invitation to your daughter’s wedding” [MTP]. Note: “’Lotta’ /Autograph Col’
November 5 Friday — William Dean Howells wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam.
November 6 Saturday — Frank L. Dyer for National Phonograph Co., Orange, NJ wrote to Sam.
November 7 Sunday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin on her wedding day.
Dear Beatrice:
November 8 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Oct. 29 from Miss Helen Roberts.
Dear Miss Roberts: / I am not sure I understand the question, but it seems to be Am I jesting, or am I in earnest in believing Shakespeare did not write Shakspeare? If that is it, I am in earnest, & not jesting.