Preface to a World Tour: DBD

The Clemens family had been living in Europe since June of 1891 in an attempt to economize. Mark Twain had not escaped the wrath of the “Panic of 1893”, a period of economic depression in the United States. Five hundred banks closed, 15,000 businesses failed, and numerous farms ceased operation. The unemployment rate reached 25% in Pennsylvania, 35% in New York, and 43% in Michigan. Soup kitchens were opened to help feed the destitute. Facing starvation, people chopped wood, broke rocks, and sewed by hand with needle and thread in exchange for food.

May 18 Saturday – The S.S. New York arrived in New York at 9 a.m. with the Clemens family aboard. [N.Y. Times, May 18, 1895, p.6 “Incoming Steamships. To-day, (Saturday) May 18”; NB 34 TS 9; MTHHR 134]. Note: the latter source says the family “went immediately to Elmira,” but Sam wrote Frank Mayo on May 19 and gave a curtain speech on May 22; his first letter from Elmira was May 24 to J.B.

May 19 Sunday – In New York at H.H. Rogers’ office, Sam wrote to Frank Mayo, asking for three tickets to the PW play. Evidently he’d asked for two prior to this, his first request not extant:

I made a mistake. I wanted to ask for 3 seats for Miss Harrison, instead of 2. If not too late, won’t you mail 3 to her, Care H.H. Rogers, 26 Broadway?

May 20 Monday – The Boston Daily Globe, p.5 ran an unsigned New York interview done with Sam at the Everett House (not in Scharnhorst):

IT PAYS TO KICK.

Mark Twain Says So in All Seriousness.

Believes in Complaining to the Responsible Head.

Cites Discourtesies in Our Every Day Life.

Approves of Reform and Tells How to Get Redress.

“I Suppose We Are Born Timid,” He Says.

May 22 Wednesday – In New York Sam gave a curtain Speech for Frank Mayo’s production of Pudd’nhead Wilson at the Herald Square Theatre. The New York Times reported it on May 23. See also Fatout, MT Speaking 276-8, based upon the N.Y. Herald’s May 23 article. The former:

MARK TWAIN IN THE PLAYHOUSE

May 23 Thursday – This is the probable day that the Clemens family continued on to Elmira. The May 26 to Rogers reveals they did not go directly to Quarry Farm.

Bainbridge Colby finalized the contract with Harper & Brothers for a Uniform Edition of Sam’s works. H.H. Rogers handled many of the details, and the contract bore his signature as Sam’s attorney. The contract was delivered on July 26, 1895 [MTHHR 155n1].

May 24 Friday – In Elmira Sam responded to James B. Pond (Pond’s letter not extant), attempting to “strike out something definite and get down to business” on the American leg of the world tour. Sam numbered eight conditions and offers: He would give Pond a fourth of the profits except in San Francisco, where Sam wanted four-fifths. Wherever he talked outside of San Francisco he must talk two nights, “so as to practice two readings & give Mrs.

May 25 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote a short paragraph to Franklin G. Whitmore in Hartford, asking him to “look out for a package for Mrs. Clemens, & lay it away.” The package for Livy was coming from Paris addressed to Whitmore and contained “a couple of waists….made out of old dresses…& of course are not dutiable” [MTP].

Sam’s notebook reveals a response from Pond to his May 25 telegram: “His reply, by telegraph, May 25. ‘Terms accepted. See letter’” [NB 34 TS 10].

May 26 Sunday – In Elmira Sam wrote to his brother Orion. This letter is not extant but was quoted in a June 17 to Samuel Moffett from Pamela Moffett.

May 27 Monday – The Clemens family moved from Elmira to Quarry Farm [May 26 to Rogers].

May 30 Thursday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to Henry M. Alden of Harper & Brothers:

May 31 Friday – The Boston Daily Globe, p.6. ran “MARK TWAIN’S KEEPER,” a good natured spoof about an imaginary interceptor of his invitations.

Isaac Answers His Invitations and Says Mr. Clemens is Sick.

Mark Twain once expressed a desire to attend the annual dinner of the Gridiron club of correspondents in Washington; but when an invitation was sent him, his regrets were received by return mail.

June – At Quarry Farm, Livy wrote to Chatto & Windus: “Your check for two thousand three hundred and nineteen dollars is safely rec’d. / Thanking you for it — and also for your kind wishes… ” [MTP].

June 1 Saturday – Arthur Reed Kimball’s article, “Hartford’s Literary Corner,” ran in Outlook, p.903-6, including pictures of Mark Twain, Charles Dudley Warner, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and their homes; also a picture of Richard E. Burton. Kimball noted that Twain was considerably more than a jester [Tenney 24].

June 2 Sunday – At Quarry Farm Sam sent a short note to Franklin G. Whitmore, enclosing an envelope to assist him in finding the package of two “waists” for Livy made from worn out dresses. Sam noted the package would be addressed in the same way [MTP]. Note: Evidently, the package had gone astray.

June 3 Monday – At Quarry Farm, Dr. Theron Augustus Wales lanced Sam’s thigh carbuncle [June 4 to Rogers; MTHHR 165n1 identifies the doctor].

June 4 Tuesday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

Well, I am a pretty versatile fool, when it comes to contracts, and business and such things. I’ve signed a lot of contracts in my time; and at signing-time I probably knew what the contracts meant — but 6 months later everything had grown dim and I could be certain of only two things, to-wit: 1. I didn’t sign any contract; 2. The contract means the opposite of what it says.

June 8 Saturday – Clara Clemens’ 21st birthday.

June 9 Sunday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to James B. Pond, listing many, but not all, of the stops for the American leg of the reading tour. He didn’t think they needed a circular (one was made anyway, see Lorch, p.189) and saw it as an unnecessary expense [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, glad that the William Wander “piano business is settled — & so well settled, too.” He also addressed the water bill paid up and supposed John Day had paid his share.

June 11 Tuesday – In Elmira at Quarry Farm, Sam wrote to nephew Samuel Moffett. He’d heard from J.B. Pond that San Francisco was out for the tour:

June 13 Thursday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to John D. Adams of Harper & Brothers The proof he’d received of “Mental Telegraphy Again,” which would run in the Sept. issue, contained no errors. Because he could not read segments of JA before they appeared in Harper’s Monthly, Sam supposed that the chapters XII and XV, which he thought would appear in the August or September issues, might be read in Australia in mid-Sept.

June 15 Saturday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

Since writing a P.S. to Miss Harrison a minute ago, your note has come and I am very glad you are back. Also, this mail has just brought a notification from Pond that he has got my first reading postponed a week; therefore we shan’t have to leave for Cleveland till Monday July 15. This ought to give me a chance to run down and see you and the Harpers a moment, about the 10th or 12th, or along there.

June 17 Monday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to James B. Pond, having received a copy of the circular. He felt it was a good circular, “very good indeed.” He had questions about wanting to do a second reading in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He asked Pond to send a copy of the circular to R.S. Smythe, Melbourne, “& tell him we don’t go to Frisco because nobody there in mid-summer” [MTP].

June 18 Tuesday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to Frank Hall Scott, president of the Century Publishing Co.

I am at last able to take my attention from my pains & discomforts for a moment & do some thinking, preparatory to answering your two long-neglected letters [not extant].

I have a thought; & as a result I am convinced that the magazine articles are impracticable. Let us give up the idea.

June 19 Wednesday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to John Horne of Glasgow, Scotland.

I find it thoroughly entertaining. Moreover, I thank you very much for the pleasant attention of giving me the front seat.

I once made a valuable collection of autographs myself — without knowing I was doing it.