England 1899-1900 DBD

April 6 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Ward’s studio, 11 a.m. / Goerz, Savoy 6.45 German play” [NB 43 TS 6a]. Note: in his Apr. 9 NB entry he lists “Ward the artist—sit for portrait.”

April 7 Saturday

At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to C.F. Moberly Bell, editor of the London Times:

Although you are going out of town I want this note to catch you & thank you for accommodating the A.P. representative with an early proof. But for that he would have been delayed 5 or 6 hours.

April 8 Sunday – In London, England Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers that he added a long PS to on April 9. Samuel S. McClure was trying to interest Sam in editing a new magazine; Sam referred the matter to Rogers.

McClure wrote, some weeks ago, that there was nothing lacking but an understanding in written detail of what my duties were to be—then he would lay the contract before you. I said go ahead, there’s no hurry, & when his contract was ready, carry it to you.

April 9 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Canon Wilberforce / both of us—1.30. / J. Ross Clemens, / Bath Club, 7.30, 24 Dover / Ward the artist—sit for portrait” [NB 43 TS 6b].

At 30 Wellington Court in London, England, Sam finished his Apr. 8 to H.H. Rogers:

P.S., April 9. Mrs. Clemens is greatly troubled about that Plasmon-cure, and wants me to write you and tell you to boil it before using….

August 1 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Postcard from Bigelow. Apparently he has gone to Germany without attending to the Hadleyburg dramatic business” [NB 43 TS 23].

At Dollis Hill in London, England Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.

“I read the Difficult Situation [sic] night before last, & got a world of evil joy out of it.

August 10 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Candlestick. / Joan of Arc play / Smythe, 16 Adam st / Hair-Cut / Steamship, 15 st / Cigars” [NB 43 TS 23].

August 11 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Died suddenly at 3 a.m. yesterday the Lord Chief Justice of England. We dined with him 4th of July” [NB 43 TS 23]. Note: Baron Charles Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice.

August 12 Sunday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote a long letter to Frank Fuller in N.Y. on the merits of Plasmon, enclosing two circulars on the product [MTP: Anderson Auction catalog, Nov. 6-7, 1924, No. 1870, Item 83].

Sam also replied to James B. Pond’s latest platform offer of ten nights at $10,000, declining though the offer was “handsome, but it does not seduce. I am out of the field, & am not likely to ever enter it again” [MTP].

August 13 Monday – H. de Lima Woods wrote from Kilburn NW, London to Sam about the Dollis Hill house. Some drainage work needed to be done and as a result some of the flooring had to be taken up. The work would be “executed as quickly as possible” [MTP].

August 14 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Promenade deck each of 2 rooms £85. / Two outside rooms on main deck (no ports) £52 each. / Or, one inside room on that deck, £48. / Maid £15 in place with servants” [NB 43 TS 23]. Note: See Aug. 17 entry.

At Dollis Hill House in London, Sam wrote a brief note to Brander Matthews.

August 15 Tuesday – About this day Sam wrote the introduction for T. Douglas Murray’s use of the Official Records of the Joan of Arc Trial, which would not appear until 1902 as Jeanne d’Arc: Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France [Aug. 25 to Murray].

August 15 Wednesday – If Sam’s intentions were met, he and Livy hosted Brander Matthews and family, sharing tea and cake and dinner [Aug. 14 to Matthews]. Note: NB entry seems to confirm.

Sam’s notebook: “Candlestick / Bicycle / Gift-books. / Telegram / Dinner & tea Wednes / Inform American Line / Resign from Plasmon” [NB 43 TS 23-24].

August 16 Thursday – Sam made a call on the widow of Charles Russell, Baron of Killowen and Chief Justice of England, who had died Aug. 9 [Aug. 17 to MacAlister].

Sam’s notebook: “Plasmon, Duke [Street] / Lord Aberdeen / 58 Grosvenor st. (Has gone to Haddo House)” [NB 43 TS 24].

August 17 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “MacA & W to lunch” [NB 43 TS 24].

At Dollis Hill House in London, Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister.

I don’t know when I have been so disappointed. I got all work cleared away & was ready for friends & luxurious leisure. And the weather—well, it was imported for the occasion.

August 18 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “August 18, 1899. Three years ago, to-day, Susy Clemens, aged 24 years & 5 months. / Escaped out of this life” [NB 42 TS 57].

August 18 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Susy died 4 years ago. / All remained at home at Dollis Hill & saw no company” [NB 43 TS 24].

At 7:30 a.m. at Dollis Hill House in London, Sam replied to Joe Twichell (incoming not extant).

No, it was not gastritis alone that the Chief Justice died of—that was a journalistic error: he had a cancer.

I get this from a physician.

August 19 Saturday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam from Antwerp, Belgium. He explained why he hadn’t written—being far away from his “base which furnished the staple of my communication,” and keeping up with the pace of his Chicago friend (unspecified). Joe landed in Southampton July 5 and would sail again from there for home on Sept. 23. They were disappointed at being unable to see the Clemenses. He told of their adventures so far and of plans to go to the Hague, then to Milan, the Tyrol, and perhaps Venice.

August 19 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Third-personing speeches a fad. / Winston Churchill’s. / Ethel Newcomb’s remittance collected by a scullery maid. / Xing cheques. / Endorsing Bk notes & entering the numbers” [NB 43 TS 24].

August – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Frank Fuller [MTP]. Text not available.

Sam also mailed his photograph to Harper & Brothers. Only the photograph and envelope survive; a letter may or may not have been enclosed [MTP].

Will M. Clemens’ article, “Mark Twain on the Lecture Platform, etc.” ran in Ainslee’s Magazine (NY),

August 2 Thursday – At Dollis Hill in London, England, Sam wrote to William Archer (1856-1924), Scottish critic and author who helped establish the work of Henrik Ibsen.

August 20 Sunday – In Sanna, Sweden, Livy and Clara Clemens wrote to Chatto & Windus; Clara requested a copy of The Open Question by Elizabeth Robins (C.E. Raimond) and Livy asked for selections of Robert Browning’s poetry, “something not very expensive” [MTP].

August 20 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam began a letter to John Tatlock, which he finished on Sept. 23 (perhaps mislaying it in the meantime). For this date:

“Thank you for the pamphlet which records your work; work which I do not understand, but which I hold in high reverence largely for that reason” [MTP]. Note: Tatlock was one of the proposed investors in an American syndicate for the sale of Plasmon.

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

August 21 Monday – The Polish Countess Emily De Laszowska wrote from Corinthia, Austria, a long, mostly illegible letter to Sam. “Dearest Mr. Clemens I have always put off writing letter to because I hate writing you a short letter, so the result has been a disgraceful silence” [MTP]. Note: Sam must have had a migraine trying to read this one. See Dolmetsch for more on the Countess.

August 22 Tuesday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

I have looked over the originals of the Dream Sweetheart & Wapping Alice, & perceive that the first does not convey my idea clearly at all; & so, for me it has no value & must remain unpublished. And I perceive that a part of Alice needs re-writing—so she can’t be publishable as she stands. She’ll never get that re-writing. She should have applied while I was interested in her—& she didn’t. I wash my hands of the business.

August 22 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Chatto & W[Indus] tea & dinner” [NB 43 TS 25].