England 1899-1900 DBD

January 21 Sunday – According to Livy’s letter of Jan. 20, the “two days” for a sitting room at the Royal Huts in Hindhead for herself and the girls, would have ended with this day, denoting a return to London either this evening or the following day.

January 23 Tuesday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam replied to Harper & Brothers’ Jan. 8 enclosure and query by Marie Wiertz, who wished to translate into French “Concerning the Jews.” Sam had no objections provided the postscript he’d written for the article, a copy of which he’d sent to H.H. Rogers, be added to the translation [MTP].

January 24 Wednesday – Sam and Livy dined with Sir William Wilson Hunter (1840-1900), Francis Henry Skrine, Frank Frankfort Moore (1855-1931), British dramatist, novelist, poet; and others [Life of Sir William Wilson Hunter, etc. by Francis Henry Skrine (1901) p. 477]. Hunter would die on Feb. 6. See also Feb. 8 and 26 entries.

January 25 Thursday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam began a reply to William Dean Howells’ Jan. 14 that Sam finished on Jan. 26.

Yes, the short things will be added to Bliss’s Uniform Edition. Harper will issue two volumes of them in the spring. I consented a couple of weeks before their smash. They decline to give them up, now.

January 26 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam finished his Jan. 25 to William Dean Howells.

January 27 Saturday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Joe Twichell [MTP:

Paine’s 1917 Mark Twain’s Letters, p.694].

DEAR JOE,—Apparently we are not proposing to set the Filipinos free and give their islands to them; and apparently we are not proposing to hang the priests and confiscate their property. If these things are so, the war out there has no interest for me.

January 29 Monday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Felix Volkhovsky (1846 -1914). Many opponents of the Russian Czar fled Russia for the refuge of Britain. Volkhovsky fled from Siberia and settled in west London, where his home became a meeting place for a community of Russian émigrés.

January 3 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Write Mr. Lawson about / Charles Stewart Walther Manager Estate Department—Army & Navy Stores (Auxiliary)” [NB 43 TS 4]. Note: unknown reference.

January 30 Tuesday – Sam tried to visit T. Douglas Murray, but the family was not at home [Jan. 31 to Murray].

January 31 Wednesday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to T. Douglas Murray, enclosing the introduction he wrote for the Official Trial Record of Joan of Arc.

I enclose the Introduction, corrected & reduced. I have retained several of the emendations made, & have added some others.

January 6 Saturday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam (this note was then forwarded by Sam on Jan. 18 to Poultney Bigelow:

We beg leave to enclose herewith a copy of a letter which we received from Mr. J. Boyd Douglass, in which he asks permission to use your story “The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg” as “an incentive for the construction of a “comedy drama.” We have advised Mr. Douglass that we have referred his request to you [MTP].

January 8 Monday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison, enclosing a typewritten sheet with sections XIV between his and Livy’s Dec. 31, 1896 contract with American Publishing Co., and V, and VI from his Dec. 31, 1896 contract between Harper & Brothers and the American Publishing Co. and Livy:

January 9 Tuesday – Henry Ferguson wrote from Hartford to Sam, enclosing a copy of Sam’s article about the Hornet saga from the Century with changes suggested.

“I should be glad to have the whole passage in regard to the supposed disaffection of the men omitted, but do not feel that I should urge this against your will if the other changes are made.” He added an interesting detail: “Captain Mitchell died on July 23rd 1876…he was taken ill in South America.” In either this or a separate note of this date Ferguson [MTP].

July 1 Saturday – In London, England, Sam replied to Francis H. Skrine (Skrine’s not extant), after a visit proved the Skrine’s were not home.

Alas, we shall then be far out on the briny deep, & between this & then I see no chance for us to get together, on account of interfering engagements; but we shall be back by October, & then we shan’t have any difficulty about managing it. We were hoping to catch you at home today & say good-bye, but luck was against us—you were out [MTP].

July 1 Sunday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, Sam wrote a postcard to John Y. MacAlister that he could not go to the Savage Club on the 8th. He would try to come by the next day but he might fail to do so as they were about to move and he had to “do a private reading in the afternoon” [MTP].

July 10 Monday – Sometime during their stay in Sanna, Sweden (through Sept 27 ), Sam wrote a postcard to Poultney Bigelow, who had encouraged them to take Jean to Sanna, where he had experienced a cure from dysentery.

“We are well satisfied, & very glad you put us up to it. / Hope you are all having a good time. Are you still as brisk & healthy as when I saw you last? / SLC” [MTP].

July 10 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Haig, 7 Brook st (just around the corner.) / A.D. Provand, M.P. 2 Whitehall Court SW / The pocket-mine (or Frenchman’s Tunnel) in 1855. The 3 meet there again, aged 75) & strike it rich. But the girl, oh where is she? Chapparal quail” [NB 43 TS 21].

Will M. Clemens replied to Sam’s objections in his June 6 reply.

July 11 Tuesday – On July 18 Sam would write in his notebook that daughter Jean had taken a week of “Kellgren’s Movement Cure,” which puts her initial treatments to this day [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: On Sept. 15 he wrote to his nephew Moffett that Jean “began here on the 11th July…”

July 11 Wednesday –At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Brander Matthews.

My souls, I’m glad to see you!

But look here—I’m to come in to London & dine with my old friend J.Y.W. MacAlister (20 Hanover Square) & he is inviting Bronson Howard.

Can’t I come after dinner to the Savile Club, & fetch MacA. With me, & have a smoke? [MTP].

July 12 Wednesday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote out his daily routine to daughter Clara, who had remained in London to continue her voice lessons: “Hell, July 12/99 / (Sanna Branch), Sweden”

This is the daily itinerary:

July 12 Thursday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to James R. Clemens.

Those were the best Indian cigars I have smoked outside of Calcutta. Won’t you please order 100 to be sent to me at above address, & the bill for the same.

We of the family send warm greetings to you & Mamma Caroline & Muriel. I suppose you are flown from London by this time, but I expect this to be forwarded… [MTP].

July 13 Thursday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton in London in care of Chatto & Windus.

So you sail Sept. 1st —and we shan’t get a glimpse of you two, for which we are very very sorry. We are here till October taking the Swedish movement-cure. I am taking it myself, for the mental & physical refreshment it furnishes, though there’s nothing the matter with me. We left Clara in London (c/o Chatto & Windus); she will sail for here July 28.

July 13 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “House Commons tea with Provand, M.P., 4. / Dine at MacAlister’s. / After dinner, take Mac to Savile Club, 107 Piccadilly, W. & smoke with Brander Matthews & Bronson Howard & Austin Dobson” [NB 43 TS 22]. Note: See July 11 for Bronson Howard info. Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921), English poet and essayist; two volumes cited by Gribben, p. 196

July 14 Friday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote to Robert Lutz, sending him the finished biographical sketch which his nephew, Samuel E. Moffett had completed from Sam’s draft. Sam informed him it would be published in the 22-volume Uniform Edition of his works. “It is plenty long enough, & I shall be glad to see it take the place of the longer one you are now publishing” [MTP].

July 14 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “In afternoon Mac & wife & Saml Bergheim will drive out to Dollis Hill” [NB 43 TS 22].

At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to F.S. Higman, London, that he had “quitted the field” for lecturing, “permanently” [MTP].