June 23 Friday – The Clemens family had decided to go to Sanna, Sweden to pursue treatments for daughter Jean from famous osteopath, Jonas Henrick Kellgren
Sam purchased tickets on this day for the family to depart in a fortnight
Sam’s notebook: “Görtz [Goerz] the Spalding[s], 9 Harley Gardens SW” [NB 40 TS 56].
June 23 Saturday – The New York Times article, “New Volumes of Fiction,” included a section, “Stories and Essays by Mark Twain,” p. BR1, which gives insight into the regard the nation held for Mark Twain at this time:
June 24 Saturday – Frank N. Doubleday and Edward W. Bok stopped by Sam’s hotel in the morning with a cable from J. Henry Harper wanting to publish a 75 cent edition of Tom Sawyer. He had no objections but referred him to H.H. Rogers [June 25 to Rogers; Aug. 3 to Rogers mentions Bok was along]. , At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote to William Knight. (1837-1916).
June 24 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall—8 o’clock. / Percy Fitzgerald. / (Dickens Club.) / Lord James of Hereford / Lord Acton / Mr. Birrell, M.P. / Mr. H. Dickens, Q.C. / Marcus Stone, R.A. / Call Bergheim / Halsey” [NB 43 TS 18].
During their stay at Dollis Hill, Sam resumed work on “The Chronicle of Young Satan” that he’d begun in Vienna [F. Kaplan 579].
June 25 Sunday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, heading it “Prince of Wales Hell of a Hotel”:
June 25 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “TEA. H. of C T. / Penley, Grt. Queen St theatre? / Plasmon 12? / TEA with Provand M.P. See 27th. / MacMillan 52 Cadogan Place (8—then theatre ” [NB 43 TS 18]. Note: Alexander Dryburgh Provand (1839–1915), Scottish Liberal Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown (1886-1900).
June 26 Monday – Samuel E. Moffett for the N.Y. Journal wrote to Sam, enclosing a printed bio sketch of Mark Twain. Moffett apologized for the delay on revisions; some question had arisen as to the proper length. He discussed Twain’s ancestor research on Gregory Clement and on the Lambtons. Moffett felt the bio still seemed very “short and bald” and “a lot more personal details ought to be worked in, but Mr.
June 26 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “ McClure—to meet Philpots? No answer? / The Halls— 10 p.m. / Muriel Elliot, 3 p.m. / Concert. ? / 8 Salle Erard 18 Gt. Marlboro st W. / PLASMON 11 Cornhill, 12 noon. ” [NB 43 TS 19].
June 27 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dine with Mr. White (where?)” [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: likely Frank Marshall White, journalist.
Leila Gittings wrote from Upper Falls, Maryland to Livy, seeing by the papers that the Clemens family had left Vienna and were in London. Was that preliminary to returning to America? [MTP].
June 27 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “J.L. Adams & Mr. Cadenhead 11. / Mr. Provand, M.P. Will meet us in the Lobby 4 to 4.30. / Tea on House of Commons Terrace. / Mrs. Hincks, 7.30? / Central London RR Opening. Meet in the Booking Hall at the Bank Station at 2.30. Train leaves at 3” [NB 43 TS 19].
June 28 Wednesday – In London, England Sam wrote a PS to his telegram (not extant) to Mr. Massee (possibly George Edward Massee (1850-1917), principal assistant at Kew Gardens and internationally known scientist—specifically a mycologist and lichenologist—and President of the British Myological Society from 1850-1917) [MTP]. Note: this mis-dated in file as 1907; It may also be 1900.
June 28 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Thursday 12? / Skrine, dinner—hour not specified” [NB 43 TS 19].
John Y. MacAlister wrote to Sam on The Library letterhead, where he was editor.
June 29 Thursday – In London, Clara Clemens wrote for her father to Bram Stoker that the family’s plans had changed, and they were not able to make the trip back to America with the Stokers [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Thursday, New Vagabonds at King’s Hall, Holborn Restaurant, 7 for 7.30” [NB 40 TS 57]. Note: see below:
Fatout writes of Sam’s speech at the New Vagabonds Club, followed by some excerpts:
June 29 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister’s June 28: “I quite agree with your above suggestions, & say yes, & many thanks to you” [MTP].
Fatout lists a speech for Mark Twain at the Lord Mayor’s Luncheon, London [MT Speaking 667]. Sam’s notebook lists the event but lines it out: “LORD MAYOR’S lunch—1.30—? / Savoy—dinner. Dillingham, C.B.?”
June 3 Saturday – Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) died of double pneumonia. Sam had met him in Vienna.
Strauss’ widow on June 6.
In an interview with the London Daily Chronicle, “Mark Twain in London,” p.3, Clemens reported “he was in London to arrange for the publication of a twenty-two volume de luxe edition of his writings” [MTHHR 399 n2; MTCI 334-39].
June 3 Sunday – Whitsuntide (Pentecost) in London. Sam’s notebook: “1 Hamilton Place, Piccaly / Boating on the Thames. Herring. / Train 11. Paddington. / to Taplow—11 am arriving at 11.38. Fly waiting—the man will have white ribbon on his whip. / Dinner / Burford Bridge Hotel Dorking” [NB 43 TS 14].
Adele Chapin (Mrs. Robert Chapin) recalls Mark Twain coming by two days after their dinner where he met the artist James Abbott McNeil Whistler:
June 30 Friday – In London, Livy wrote for Sam to Andrew Chatto, asking details for a watch she’d rec’d and wanted to exchange for a fancier case. She also wanted to enclose a letter from Mr. Blair, which Sam wanted sent. Sam had been trying for two days to get down to see Chatto and expected to go in the morning, but thought Chatto might like to see the letter and consider it first [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Tea—Max O’Rell’s. Stanleys. 8 Acacia Road, N.W” [NB 40 TS 57].
June 30 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Edgerton-Castle, 2. Sloane Gardens (49) / To-day or / In A. Goerz & Co: 60 Roodepoort Cent. Dp” [NB 43 TS 19]. Note: Egerton. The Roodepoort address was S. Africa.
Rogers office sent Sam a statement showing $44,445.70 to his credit [1900 Financial file MTP].
June 4 Sunday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Sam wrote to Chatto & Windus, informing them of their sudden move to the coast in Broadstairs by order of Clara’s doctor.
June 4 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Chapin 8. If coming send no telegram. / Send congratulations to Miss Mai Rogers 26 E 57th—cable about noon. / CHAPIN—Dinner 8 pm” [NB 43 TS 14]. Note: Robert and Adele Chapin; Robert was US Consul in Johannesburg during Sam’s 1896 tour there.
In London, England Sam wrote a postcard to Franklin G. Whitmore.
June 5 Monday – In his June 6 to Rogers, Sam related showing Frank Bliss’ Canvassing book on the deluxe Uniform Edition to Andrew Chatto “a day or two ago”, “& he was vastly taken with it, & wants to put 1000 on the English market for me at 10% commission. I have asked Bliss what he will charge me for the volumes— suggesting cost, or thereabouts” [Note: more likely been a business day than a Sunday]. See also Apr. 25 to Chatto.
June 5 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Exhibition (medical) Queen’s Hall, top of Regent St—3 p.m./ Jim Clemens—dinner 7.30. 22 Queensberry Place, Cromwell Road / Jap show. Nottinghill Gate Coronet Theatre 2.30 p.m.” [NB 43 TS 15].
At 30 Wellington Court in London, Sam replied to an invitation by James Mark Baldwin to dine at one of the Oxford colleges.
Dear Professor Baldwin:—
I shall like it. It is so long since I was last in Oxford that all its features are grown dim to me; even Guy Faux’s lantern.
June 6 Tuesday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Sam wrote to Alice Learned Bunner (Mrs. Henry Cuyler Bunner) in New London, Conn., who evidently had written (not extant) asking permission to make a calendar from his Puddn’head Wilson sayings in FE:
Unfortunately I am this long time under promise to make a Puddn’head Maxim Calendar myself, & have been gradually adding to the original list of Maxims to that end. Maxims are a slow growth, & it will take me a year or two yet.
June 6 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “? Article Club Lord Suffield, Pr. Laurence Cowen, Sec. 6.30 for 7. Trocadero Restaurant. / Andrew Lang? / 36 Theobald’s Row with Spal—3 pm” [NB 43 TS 15].
June 7 Wednesday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Livy wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore because her husband had “so much writing to do,” and to send a bank draft (enclosed) if he needed money in July. She related money might be forthcoming “from a magazine article” before he needed it for the taxes on their Farmington Ave. house. Also, they expected more money July 1 from Frank Bliss. They still planned to return to London on Friday [MTP].