November 7 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Harry Rogers at Mr. Benjamins, 46 E 74th 4.30. / Send de luxe— lower than Charley to Miss Mary Benjamin,—write a note” [NB 43 TS 28].

Henry Huddleston (Harry) Rogers, Jr. married Mary Benjamin [MTHHR 743]. Note: Sam’s NB entry reveals he attended the wedding at the Benjamin home, and gave a deluxe set of his books.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton.

November 8 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Victor Mapes play—Empire Theatre—2 p.m. / 2 p.m. Mr. Rogers & Chester Lord” [NB 43 TS 28]. Note: The matinee four-act play, “The Tory’s Guest,” which, according to the NY Times, p.7, Nov. 9, “was performed by pupils in Mr. Sargent’s American Academy of the Dramatic Arts” [Gribben 450]. Gribben mentions two other plays by Mapes, but the one above played on the same date as Sam’s entry and at the same theater.

November 10 Saturday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to John Brisben Walker, that Livy and the girls had hired a motor car (“mobile”). He then faced the modern problem of how to get a taxi in New York City when one was needed:

The world does move! Mrs. Clemens & the girls have gone off in a hired mobile to the theatre in Harlem. She & I went to Harlem in a coupe three days ago, with a poor tired horse who made less than 4 miles an hour, & it is a pity for the horse that has converted the woman.

November 11 Sunday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Robert Underwood Johnson of Century Magazine.

“You’d much better come here—to-morrow before 12 noon—my den is sacred from interruption from 10.30 till 12 daily. But if you can’t, I’ll look in at the Century during the week” [MTP].

November 12 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Press Club 116 Nassau st. / Evening – 9 p.m. / Saml A. Wood Chn House Com. [circled]” [NB 43 TS 28].

At 9 p.m. Sam made three speeches at a reception of the New York Press Club, 116 Nassau St. From the New York Times, Nov. 13, p.14:

RECEPTION TO MARK TWAIN.

Humorist Entertained at the New York Press Club.

November 13 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “3.30 Col Harvey at 26 B’way” [NB 43 TS 28]. Note: George B. Harvey at H.H. Roger’s office.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Thomas Bailey Aldrich, thanking him for sending a copy of Aldrich’s speech for the Nov. 11 Lotos Banquet in Mark Twain’s honor.

November 14 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: names a comedy play by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, whom he’d met at a dinner for Sir Henry Irving in London on June 9: The Gay Lord Quex: A Comedy in Four Acts. N.Y . The full NB entry:

Sam’s notebook: “Gay Lord Quex—Wednesday—Box—or billiards? Ask R & the Rices & telephonegraph. /

Mrs. Clemens & not the Rice’s—dinner 6.45. / Dine with Mr. Rogers” [NB 43 TS 29].

November 15 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Society of American Authors / Delmonicos 8.30 / Mr. John J. Rooney 66 Beaver st. Rooney will call for me at 8.15 / No public mention to be made” [NB 43 TS 29]. Note: see the “public mention” made by the NY Times later in this entry; no mention made of Rooney in the article.

November 16 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.

Frank Doubleday (whom you know well) of 111 East 16th street, got this furnished house for me, & I am immensely obliged to him. Therefore I want to present him with a set of the Ordinary Uniform edition of my books….

November 17 Saturday – Sam was in Princeton, N.J.. staying with the Laurence Hutton’s. He attended the Yale-Princeton football game. Sam’s NB 43 TS 29 cited the game this day. The New York World, p.3 reported on the event the following day, Nov. 18; in part:

“THIS BEATS CROQUET,” SAID MARK TWAIN AT FOOTBALL GAME.

Sees Yale Whip Princeton, but “Roots” Vigorously for the Tigers.

November 18 Sunday – Sam was in Princeton, N.J. staying with the Laurence Hutton’s [NB 43 TS 29].

On letterhead sporting “PEEP O’DAY / PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY,” (Laurence Hutton’s home) Sam wropte to William Webster Ellsworth.

Dear Mr. Ellsworth:

I’ve thought of a couple of guests, if you like:

Joe Jefferson

Gen. C.J. Langdon.

The latter’s address is Elmira, N.Y.

Brother-in-law of mine / Sincerely Yours / SL. Clemens [in left lower corner:] OVER

[verso]

November 19 Monday – At Princeton, N.J.. Sam wrote to Channing H. Cook with the American Plasmon Syndicate asking that two pounds of Plasmon be sent to Laurence Hutton since he had been at Hutton’s for two days and eaten up all his supply [MTP].

Sam returned to N.Y.C. He had a “delightful companion” on his trip back, a Mr. Palmer, whom he wrote of to Hutton on Nov. 21 (not further identified).

November 20 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Grape-fruit. prepare it / 19th Cent. Club / Sherry’s, 5th Ave & 44th. 8.30” [NB 43 TS 29].

At 14 W. 10th Street in New York Sam wrote to John Kendrick Bangs.

My wife has Aldrich’s speech locked in her desk, & she is out; but when she returns it will be mailed to you.

I am glad to have the other boys say things, but I’ll keep still & let on to know nothing of the pleasant conspiracy [MTP]. Note: See Nov. 13 entry.

November 21 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton in a playful style that bespoke of his mood.

November 22 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “The Monterey, 351 W. 114th & Columbus Avenue. Cars pass door. But can go by 6th ave Elevated & get off at 116th. Then take 116th surface cars down Manhattan Avenue & pass the door. / Sam Moffett dinner 6.30. / 2 p.m. at the Greenwich Savings Bank—6th ave & 16th. / Harsen Rhoades” [NB 43 TS 29-30].

November 23 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Flagg. 10.30. / Mrs. Van Rensalier afternoon / Mrs. Ed Hewitt

Carriage will come at 4” [NB 43 TS 30]. Note: either Charles Noel Flagg, artist, or John Henry Flagg, author.

The New York Times, p. 7 ran a follow-up to Sam’s run-in with the cab driver who overcharged Katy Leary:

MARK TWAIN IS AVENGED

One False “Cabby” Learns the Power of His Wrath.

—————

HIS LICENSE IS RECLAIMED

November 24 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Flagg, 10.30. / Lunch with Brander, 681 West End Ave / Big tea Gabrilowitch. / Billiards—night—Mr. Rogers” [NB 43 TS 30].

According to Sam’s Nov. 21 note to Rogers (and above NB entry) Sam played billiards with H.H. Rogers and Dr. Clarence C. Rice at Rogers’ home this evening.

The New York Times, p.6, ran an announcement of an English lecturer whom Mark Twain would introduce on Dec. 12:

November 25 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Roosevelt Robinson, lunch—meet H. Cabot Lodge. / 422 Madison Ave” [NB 43 TS 30].

November 26 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “See Col. Harvey” [NB 43 TS 30]. Note: in view of the letter below, perhaps Harvey was not available so he had to settle for a letter.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to George B. Harvey, President of Harper & Brothers, that “The terms proposed in your letter of recent date are satisfactory,” and also acceptable was the publication of Mark Twain’s memoirs “100 years hence” [MTP].

November 27 Tuesday – Livy’s 55th birthday.

Owen Wister wrote to Sam. “This morning I’m much astonished and pleased by an invitation to meet you at dinner next Tuesday. I’ve thanked Mr. Ellsworth, but must also thank you most heartily. Of course I’m coming—probably incognito in order to retain your permission to call upon you at 14 West 10th Street” [MTP]. Note: William Webster Ellsworth.

November 29 Thursday – Sam wrote his famous “Salutation-Speech from the 19th Century to the 20th” heading it “(For Red-Cross Watch -Night)”. After discovering that the Red Cross Society was doing advance advertising using his name he requested the piece be returned unpublished. He would then send it to the New England Anti-Imperialist League, and the New York Herald, dating it Dec. 31. It ran on Dec. 30 [Zwick, “Who Wrote the Couplet? etc.” MTJ 27.1 (Spring 1989): 34]. Note: See Dec.

November 30 Friday – Sam’s 65th Birthday.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C. Sam wrote a postcard to Richard Watson Gilder, editor of Century Magazine: “I am laid up, but some time when you drop in I will tell you what Harpers said” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to an unidentified woman, likely a neighbor, who complained about noisy boys gathering on his front steps.

December – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Eduard Pötzl in Vienna that he could not “write articles for anybody but Harper’s Magazine—it’s a contract.” Sam conveyed that they thought of and spoke of him often and sent Christmas greetings [MTP].

Clara Clemens wrote of her father’s new status as a sought-after sage on almost any topic and life in the 10th Street house:

December 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner 730 Mrs. De Forest / 7 Washington Sq. / Meet Artist Zorn & wife” [NB 43 TS 30]. Note: source indicates Livy made this entry. Anders Zorn (1860-1920) Swedish painter, sculptor, and printmaker, became internationally famous. His wife, Emma Amalia Zorn (born Lamm; 1860-1942).

December 2 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner—Mrs. Kate Douglas Riggs” [NB 43 TS 30].