New York City 1900-1901

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 – 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 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 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].

January 22 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Be at Helmer’s, 5 p.m. & wait for Mr. Rogers / Dr. Rice’s 7.45 Carriage at 7.35” [NB 44 TS 4]. Note: Clemens and H.H. Rogers had an appointment at Osteopath George J. Helmer’s, Madison Ave. and 31st Street [Jan 21 to Rogers].

January 23 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam began a reply to Joe Twichell that he finished Jan. 24. (Twichell’s incoming not extant, yet from Sam’s text we can deduce at least some of the subject matter of Joe’s letter).

Certainly. I used to take it in my coffee, but it settled to the bottom in the form of mud, & I had to eat it [Plasmon] with a spoon; so I dropped the custom & took my 2 teaspoonfuls in cold milk after breakfast. …

January 24 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam finished his Jan. 23 to Joe Twichell, confirming that Livy approved of Joe staying with them; asked for a day or two notice should he come.

January 25 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “University Club 5th Ave & 54th St Supper & music 9 p.m.” [NB 44 TS 4].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote on a letter in French from H. Montheré (Nov. 6, 1900) to Chatto Windus. Montheré had requested translating rights to RI.

January 26 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “New York Theatre—box (?)” [NB 44 TS 4]. Note: see insert ad for New York Theatre, Broadway at 45th Street.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to William Oliver Fuller, Jr. (b.1856), journalist, author, lecturer, editor of the Rockland (Me.) Courier-Gazette, humorous writer for various N.Y. papers.

January 27 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “64 W. 104th” [NB 44 TS 4].

January 28 Monday – Sam’s notebook:

January 29 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.

Dear Joe,—

I’m not expecting anything but kicks for scoffing, & am expecting a diminution of my bread & butter by it, but if Livy will let me I will have my say. This nation is like all the others that have been spewed upon the earth—ready to shout for any cause that will tickle its vanity or fill its pocket. What a hell of a heaven it will be, when they get all these hypocrites assembled there!

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 31 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving S. Underhill. “Friday. Dear Mr. Underhill: will you call at my house at 10.30 a.m. to morrow or Sunday or Monday & talk about this” [MTP]. Note: Since Jan. 31 was a Thursday, either Sam had the day wrong or this is miscataloged.

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].

June 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlottesville, Va.?” [NB 44 TS 11].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to R.G. Newbegin of R.G. Newbegin Co., distributor for Mark Twain’s Uniform Edition.

June 10 Monday – Sam likely returned to New York City this day.

June 11 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer at 19 Union Square, N.Y.C., asking her to come the next day at 10:30 a.m. [MTP].

June 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Augustus T. Gurlitz, forwarding Eli Perkins’ June 9 letter:

I have received the complaint and will chance its being everything it ought to be for just now I cannot get time to read it. Enclosed is a letter just received from that blatherskite Eli Perkins [see June 9] which I shall not answer. If you wish to answer it all right. If you can make him useful in any way you perceive he offers the opportunity [MTP].