December 29 Saturday – At the “Country Club” (Quarry Farm) in Elmira., Sam wrote to James B. Pond. “We are on the way to New York. Any morning that you would like to talk, I am on deck at home at 10.30, but writing wastes time, for manifestly it accomplishes nothing. / Yours…” [MTP].
Irving S. Underhill wrote from Buffalo, N.Y. to Sam.
December 30 Sunday – The New York Herald ran a facsimile of Twain’s handwritten salutation from Mark Twain that had been sent originally to the Red Cross Society, and returned at Sam’s request. The facsimile published was dated Dec. 31, 1900; the copy to the Red Cross Society was originally dated Nov. 29, 1900, for use in a series of watch-meetings on New Year’s Eve, organized by the group’s manager, Frank D. Higbie, nephew of Calvin H. Higbie, Sam’s old mining partner.
December 31 Monday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Abner Cheney Goodell in Salem, Mass., who had written praise of his N.Y. Herald “salutation” of Dec. 30.
Another Lawsuit – Anti -Imperialist, Anti-Doughnut – Sitting in Darkness “Women Should Vote”– Clara’s Washington Debut – Speeching & Feeding Demonizing Missionaries – Albany for Osteopaths – Witness for Kipling - “The Lair” Repose at Saranac Lake – Old Debts Never Die – Pallbearer for J.D.F. Slee Kanawha Cruise to St. Johns – Lyncherdom & Double-Barrelled – America’s Cup Acorns & Fusionists – Yale Gives Litt. D. – Suing Newbegin Co.
January – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Ira L. Smith in Hopkinsville, Ky. stating that the Library of Literature was wrong and Review of Reviews was right: “I was born in the village of Florida, Mo.” [MTP].
Lecky writes that Sam’s short essay, “History 1,000 Years from Now” (the title is Paine’s), “may well have been the germ of ‘Eddypus,’” and that it was written this month [Fables of Man 386-7].
January 1 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Cable address of Leigh Hunt: Pukchin Chemulpo Corea / Joe Jefferson Dundreary’s dogs” [NB 44 TS 2]. Note: Leigh S.J. Hunt (1854-1933), educator and publisher, by this time had become a multi-millionaire through tax-free gold mining concessions in Korea.
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
56 Consolidated Gas of NY 12.81
January 2 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Rose’s address: 45 W 46th” [NB 44 TS 2].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz: “Please send me the name & address of the man whose letter (from Florida) I sent you yesterday” [MTP]. Note: the man was Justus S. North, of Welaka, Fla.
January 3 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Rogers dinner P O R T R A I T” [NB 44 TS 2].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz, with afterthoughts about the possible copyright and trademark suit against Butler Brothers of Chicago [MTP].
January 4 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz: “You must do all things according to your judgment, & not ask for mine” [MTP: Sotheby’s, New York catalogs, 11 Dec. 1990, Item 382]. Note: Sam wrote three postcards on three consecutive days to Gurlitz.
Sam also wrote to Charles Major in Shelbyville, Ind.
January 5 Saturday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz. “Yes, I can testify for Kipling after Jan. 18. I leave on the 14th for Boston to visit Thos Bailey Aldrich…& return Jan. 17” [MTP]. Note: at this point Sam’s trip to Washington D.C. on Jan. 19 had not been foreseen.
January 7 Monday – Sam’s notebook lists readings Sam gave for the H.H. Rogers family: “Watermelon / Dead Man (window-sash) / Mexican Plug / Old Ram / Intermish of 10 or 12 m. Ornithorhyncus & poem / Xning Story German Lesson / Began 8:45; ended 10.10 / 1 hr 25 m / Pieces not used: Interviewer / Duel / Golden Arm / Whistling” [NB 44 TS 2]. Note: no doubt certain guests were also there.
January 8 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to retired General Oliver O. Howard, founder of Howard University. Howard had been Supt. Of West Point in 1881-2.
January 9 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Harvey 1 PM / Lawyer’s Club / Harmsworth. / Carriage will call at 12.30 / Prof. Sloan, 8 o’ck / 109 E. 69th” [NB 44 TS 3].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to nephew Samuel E. Moffett on Solon Robinson’s letter of this date. Robinson was seeking heirs of John M. Clemens, Jr., a nephew of John Marshall Clemens. “You answer him if you like, Sam,—I lack interest” [MTP].
January 10 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Rogers, reading See preceding page for result. / Filipine article, 5,000 words. Paid for, Feb. 8,—$1120” [NB 44 TS 3]. Note: the paid-for item likely added later, but may have been the projected date.
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to an unidentified man. “I may have visited the Lake, but I think not. In any case I did no writing there” [MTP].
January 11 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Boudinat Keith 3 or 4 Carnegie Hall” [NB 44 TS 3].
January 12 Saturday – Sam met with William Dean Howells as mentioned in his Jan. 13 to Harriet E. Whitmore. See entry.
January 13 Sunday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mary Nash Hubbard in Hannibal, Mo.
“I remember the wedding very well, although it was 50 years ago; & I wish you & your husband joy of this anniversary of it” [MTP]. Note: Mary was the sister to William H.C. Nash of Hannibal (b. 1829), a childhood friend of Sam’s [MTL 1: 246n4].
January 14 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Boston, Aldrich ‘Murray Hull [sic Hall]’ has gradually 6 bastards put upon him by the courts—some on no good evidence but his lecherous character” [NB 44 TS 3]. Note: Murray Hall was a woman who masqueraded as a man for over 25 years, married two women, worked tirelessly for Tammany Hall, and generally fooled everyone until her death (at an estimated 70 years of age) on Jan. 16 [NY Times, Jan. 19, 1901, p3. “Murray Hall Fooled Many Shrewd Men.”
January 15 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Why’dn’t you go to hell? There’s no Irish there. / Corey & portraits of Lincoln & Washington. / Won’t you for Christ’s sake pass the butter / Hit him for pie” [NB 44 TS 3]. Note: William Ellis Corey (1866-1934), capitalist and steel executive, who began his career at age sixteen and in 1903 succeeded Charles M. Schwab as president of U.S. Steel 1903-1911.
January 16 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Rogers’s man who had slept in fertilizer & stunk the car. / Junkman, Waterbury, & dial. / Boston Tavern Club / Corpse & guns. / Howells. Time, 7—will go at 9.15” [NB 44 TS 3].
Fatout lists a dinner speech by Sam at Tavern Club in Boston. He does not furnish the text or the subject, however the above NB entry suggests some and gives the standard late time for Sam to arrive [MT Speaking 668]. Note: see entries Vol. I for the Club.
January 17 Thursday – The planned date of return from Boston to New York. Sam, however, traveled either this day or Jan. 18 to Washington, D.C., the purpose of his trip not known. Sam’s notebook does not have an entry for either this day or the next.
January 18 Friday – Sam went to Washington, D.C. purpose not known.
January 19 Saturday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. where he gave a brief interview reported in a special to the New York Times for Jan. 20, p.1.
MARK TWAIN ON HAZING.
Calls West Point Cadets Who Indulge in it Cowards.
Special to the New York Times.
January 20 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Fifth Ave Synagogue About 8.30 o’clock—Meyer / 150 girls—4 type, now 21 in a year. Carriage at 8” [NB 44 TS 4]. Note: Nathaniel Myers (1848-1921), corporate attorney, and President of the Hebrew Technical School for Girls [obit: NY Times, 31 Aug. 1921, p. 9].
The New York Times, p.4 ran this brief announcement:
Mark Twain at Temple Emanu-El.
January 21 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “ ‘Name the greatest of all the inventors. Accident’” [NB 44 TS 4].
Livy and Clara Clemens left New York bound for Washington, where Clara would debut as a singer on Jan. 22 [Jan. 21 to A. Langdon]. Note: They returned back to New York on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. probably right after Clara’s performance [Jan. 22 to E. Rogers].