The Man in the White Suit: Day By Day

January 9 Sunday — Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens:

I am enclosing to you a letter from Clara, received yesterday. It seems to be postmarked the 27th, so it was written before she could have received a letter from you.

She probably received my first letter about Jan 1 and we may expect an answer to it by next steamer. I also am enclosing a letter from Margaret Blackmer and I will put in one or two foreign letters [MTP].

Margaret W. Patterson wrote from Iowa to offer condolences [MTP].

January 10 Monday — Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens:

January 11 Tuesday - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in West Redding, Conn,

January 12 Wednesday — Mr. & Mrs. A.S. Kelley from Palmyra, Mo. wrote condolences [MTP].

January 14 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in West Redding, Conn.

For the Bazar

WHO?

Who loves to steal a while away 
From sinful joys & foolish play 
And fold her holy hands & pray? 
The Bitch. 
Who loves to watch while others pray, 
And hog their assets, night & day, 
Wherewith to fat her Ashcroft—say? 
The Bitch, 
(To be continued.) 
[verso:]

January 15 Saturday — Mrs. W.F. Forbush wrote from Cannon Station, Conn. to offer some treatment for Sam’s indigestion [MTP].

January 17 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to the New York Telephone Co. requesting telephone books. His letter is not extant but referred to in the Company’s Jan. 20 reply; since Paine wrote the below for Clemens, it’s probable he also wrote this letter [MTP].

Albert B. Paine wrote for Sam to Mrs. Emma Gertrude Quick.

January 18 Tuesday — William Dean Howells wrote from NYC to Sam.

Dear Clemens: / While your wonderful words are warm in my mind yet, I want to tell you what you know already; that you never wrote anything greater, finer, than that turning-point paper of yours.

I shall feel it honor enough if they put on my tombstone, "He was born in the same Century and general Section of middle western Country with Dr. S. L. Clemens, Oxon., and had his Degree three years before him through a mistake of the University.”

January 19 Wednesday — Ragnvald Blix wrote on Simplicissimus notepaper from Munich, Germany:

I have just received the St. Sebastian [drawing] from my exhibition in Christiana and a friend of me, who goes to New York in some days, takes the drawing with him (I have heard that the luggage of drawings in America is very detailed and troublesome)

I hope, that the Sebastian is welcome in Stormfield? [MTP].

January 20 Thursday - W.H. Howe for H.H. Laboratory, Moorefield, Ky. wrote to ask for an autograph, after having visited Florida, Mo. and viewing the house where his aunt Polly said Clemens was born [MTP].

New York Telephone Co. per F.B. Ellis wrote to Sam: “I have your favor of January 17th, and wish to advise that 2 copies of the New York Telephone Directory issue of October 14th, 1909 have been sent to you by Adam’s express to-day” [MTP].

Dora Prentice Wills wrote from Holmesburg, Phila. to Sam.

January 21 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.

Dear Paine,—Thanks for your letter, and for its contenting news of the situation in that foreign and far-off and vaguely-remembered country where you and Loomis and Lark and other beloved friends are.

I have Letter from Clara this morning. She is solicitous, and wants me well and watchfully taken care of. My, she ought to see Helen and her parents and Claude administer that trust!

January 24 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.

Dear Paine:

Can you get this note to Mr. Moroso for me?

And will you send the poem to Clara when you write her?

January 25 Tuesday

January 25? Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote on the Jan. 20 letter from Dora Prentice Wills to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.: “Paine, write her one of your darlingest letters for me. SLC / Paine, Claude does not want his money. He will cash the check, but don’t send any more. SLC” [MTP].

January 26 Wednesday - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer in Greenwich, Conn.

Dear Margaret— / So you have reached Rosemary Hall at last. I know it must be recently, or you would have run up to see me at Stormfield.

I suppose I shant see Stormfield again very soon, I have no sorrowful associations with Bermuda, so I expect to spend a good deal of my time here in future, I am not in any hurry to go back to America.

January 27 Thursday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.

January 28 Friday — Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens:

I will forward our letter to the Poet Moroso. It will gratify him very much—more than any money payment he could receive, I am sure.

I am enclosing you an interesting batch best of all a letter from Clara, written eleven days ago. Perhaps she has one on the way to you, too—of course she has—but you will be glad to see this, no doubt. I’d like to have it again, by and by,

January 29 Saturday — Sam finished his Jan. 26 to Elizabeth Wallace.

January 30 Sunday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Thomas Lemuel James (1831-1916), prior Postmaster General briefly under Garfield (1881-1882); afterward until his death James was chairman of the board of directors of the Lincoln National Bank, NYC . See also Feb. 15 entry.

Dear General—

Please send me fifty dollars. Send it in silver American quarter pieces. Don’t send old rusty ones. Send bright and white and new ones just out of the mint. I have a special use for them. I enclose a check.

Sincerely yours,

January 31 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam inscribed a copy of “Is Shakespeare Dead?” From My Autobiography to Marion S, Allen (Mrs. William H. Allen). “We ought never to break the Sabbath during a thunderstorm. /Truly Yours /Mark Twain / To / Mrs. William Allen / with the respect, esteem, and affectionate regards of / The Author” [MTP].

Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens:

February — Sam’s contribution to the essays, “The Turning Point of My Life,” ran in this issue of Harper’s Bazar. This was a series of notable men who contributed individual essays on the theme. Hill writes of Twain’s contribution:

February 1 Tuesday -Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens: “I sent you a good batch of stuff yesterday & found your letter ...at the station this morning. Also a letter for you from Clara which is here enclosed,” He offered bank data, and opinion on numbering letter pages and a few other short remarks [MTP].

February 2 Wednesday — Maude Jordan wrote from London to remind Sam of her letter and photos send for autograph and had not heard back [MTP]. Note: ABP: “Mr. Clemens is not in America & is not expected before May—”

Florence Rice Knox wrote “In the Suez Canal” (most certainly on a vessel) to offer condolences [MTP].

Los Angeles Saddle Club per J.H. Coker wrote to ask for Sam’s likeness to frame for their library wall [MTP].

February 3 Thursday — At the Bay House in Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn. Written to Paine just two months before Twain’s death, this note, in its black-bordered envelope (in mourning for Twain's daughter) concludes, as if in fun, with the words, I’ve got some more to say, but my secretary is busy & I am lazy” [MTP; Paraphrase: Dawson’s Bookshop catalogs, No. 150, Dec. 1940, Item 138].

February 4 Friday — At the Bay House in Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie.

Dear St. Andrew:

This will introduce & endorse to you Mr. Morgan; & as this is the first time I have ever given anyone a letter of introduction to you out of 150 applications, “dying I salute you!” and urgently beg you to let him talk to you on a matter which is not trivial but is of very high importance to our country & to its loftiest interests.

February 5 Saturday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam inscribed his photograph to an unidentified woman: “To Etheldoralinda, from her principal best friend” [MTP]. Note: The playfulness of the name used by Sam infers a young lady.

Sam also began a letter to Albert B. Paine that he finished Feb. 7.

Dear Paine:

Your preliminary report is very fine.

Under “Salaries” it lacks one item, not yet payable: Stanchfield, which is about $80 a month.