June – Sometime during the month Sam inscribed two photographs to Katharine Boland Clemens:“with the love of her cousin,” and “with the love and affection of her cousin” [MTP]. Note: Katharine married Sam’s cousin James Ross Clemens.
Sam also wrote an inscription to John Garth. “In reverent memory of John Garth, and in unbroken friendship of 55 years, June, 1902” [MTP].
June 2 Monday – In Hannibal, Mo. Sam had breakfast at the home of Colonel and Mrs. Hatch [Sorrentino 21].
Sam’s notebook: “Miss Lakenan, 10 a.m. will call with a carriage. / Mr. Crookshank’s house—reading. / Wister will call at 5.30 / Supper before at George Clayton’s / The girl was lost in the cave—they only find bones, —sweetheart of Bates” [NB 45 TS 15]. Note: the last a story idea.
As in the above NB entry, Fatout lists Sam’s giving remarks at Mr. Crookshank’s (Cruickshank) home in Hannibal for some 300-400 people [MT Speaking 670; Sorrentino 21].
June 20 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to an unidentified person.
June 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears, mostly about the Juggernaut Club of females he had never met. Did she “want to see the Constitution Laws of my Club of which you are the Member for Scotland?” He added family plans and a political bit.
June 22 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Memorial Services / Amos J. Cummings,—afternoon. / Carnegie Hall / James J. Murphy / 216 E. 11th” [NB 45 TS19]. Note: Amos Jay Cummings (1838-1902), US Representative of New York, died May 2. Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, journalist, served in Congress until 1894. The New York Times, June 23, p. 9 reported a full hall at Carnegie:
June 23 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to the June 19 of Harry Leon Wilson in the editorial rooms of Puck, N.Y.C.
“Read it? Indeed I will, & with great pleasure. We are packed up, now, & shall sail for York Harbor on summer vacation to-morrow morning. But the book will go thither. I went to Harper’s to-day to get it, but I had too many bundles, so I told them to ship it to me. With many thanks for the book, …” [MTP].
June 24 Tuesday – The Clemens family, sans Clara, who was in Europe, left Riverdale on Rogers’ yacht, the Kanawha, for York Harbor Maine . H.H. Rogers was not along but put his yacht at their disposal in order to make the trip a comfortable one for Livy. Sam sent the Plasmon Co. a postcard with the new address and a request for Plasmon biscuits and cocoa to be sent there [Christie’s London Auction Nov. 12, 2007, Sale 5141, Lot 145].
June 3 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Guest of E.W. Stephens. / Publish ‘Herald’ / Walter Williams, Editor ./ Columbia, Mo. / James Thayer Girauld, Secy P.B.K. will elect me honorary member” [NB 45 TS 16]. Note: P.B.K. =Phi Beta Kappa. Paine gives E.W. Stevens [MTB 1172]..
Livy’s diary: “The Misses Dodge here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
June 4 Wednesday – In Columbia, Mo., The University of Missouri conferred an honorary Doctor of Law degree, LL.D., upon Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Paine writes of the ceremony:
June 5 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “J. Ross Clemens / 110 N. 8th st. St Louis / smoker. / Rochambeau reception./ Mayor Wells. / The stolen watermelon. & skiff” [NB 45 TS 16].
Livy’s diary: “Mrs Orton Bradley & Mildred Holden here for tea, beside Mrs Whitmore” [MTP: DV161].
In Columbia, Mo. Sam wrote to Charles E. Still. “I remember you very well, & I wish I could accept your kind invitation, but my time is filled up & I am obliged to deny myself the pleasure” [MTP].
June 6 Friday – Paine writes of Sam’s appearances in St. Louis:
June 7 Saturday [estimated date location as label was in a dangling PDF box]
Sam’s notebook: contains a reference to a song, “When I am Gone,” and his intention to use the song in his next Tom and Huck story [Gribben 759; NB 45 TS 16]. Note: In London in 1897, Sam had recalled this song when thinking of Susy’s death [NB 39 TS 58].
Livy’s diary: “Julie & Ida came & spent the night—, dined with us & breakfasted Sat. morning” [MTP: DV161].
June 8 Sunday – Clara Clemens’ 28th birthday.
June 9 Monday – Sam arrived home in Riverdale at 6 p.m. after a 30 hour trip from St. Louis [June 10 to James R. Clemens].
T. Shaw Hall, N.Y.C. paper dealer, wrote to Sam, recalling his “Golden Arm” story in Chickering Hall, which made a fat lady shoot “a foot and a half into the air” when he got to the punch-scare line. He enclosed a copy of an advertisement (booklet) and asked if Sam “possibly had some old jokes” he might offer for next year’s advertisement [MTP].
March 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Leave 9.14-ar. 9.40—be at 115 Broadway 10 a.m. testify before Commissioner Dulon (for Prussia). See 12 stories drawer. Waiting room. / Delmonico 44th St at 2 o’clock. Then 3 or 4 at Grand Central” [NB 45 TS 4]. Note: after testifying, Sam intended to luncheon then return home late in the afternoon.
South Jersey Republican – Hammonton N.J. March 1, 1902
March 10 Monday – The Hearst newspapers New York American and Journal and San Francisco Examiner and New York Evening Journal ran a story with Mark Twain’s reaction to a recent interview with Mrs. John Jacob Astor, before she sailed the morning of Mar. 8
[NY Times Mar. 8, 1902, p.7 “What isDoing in Society”]. She was quoted:
March 11 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mr Norman Hapgood lunched with us. Mr. Rondegger called” [MTP: DV161].
William Evarts Benjamin wrote from the Hotel Brighton, Atlantic City to Sam.
March 12 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook:
March 13 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Home. Noon. Leaving for the South. Shall consult Tom Reed & see if an action can be brought against Hearst [for the NY Journal abuses]. Left Jersey City 2.10 / Basket fruit from Mrs. Broughton & violets from Harry’s wife” [NB 45 TS 5]. Note: the Kanawha likely stopped at Jersey City to pick up Laurence Hutton. The party consisted of Laurence Hutton, H.H. Rogers, Clemens, Clarence C. Rice, Colonel Augustus G. Paine, Thomas B.
March 14 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlston, S.C. about 8 a.m. / Lighted at the Ponce de Leon” [NB 45 TS 5].
Sam’s ship log: “Nighted at the Ponce de Leon” [MTP]. Note: the “Lighted” in the NB may be a typo.
Livy’s diary: “Susy Twichell & her friend Mrs lunched with us; Florence Gay dined with us & spent the night” [MTP: DV161].
The men left the Kanawha at Charleston, and took the Florida Special train, where Sam wrote to Livy,
March 15 Saturday – At the Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Dearheart, we came to the hotel to dine & wait for the evening train; but concluded to stay all night, for which I was glad, as I was very tired. I was in bed & asleep by 8 o’clock, but the others went to some kind of a show, & Hutton did not get to bed till after midnight—& the show wasn’t worth it.
March 16 Sunday – At the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Livy darling, the whole multitude in this vast hotel wear Panama hats—& there isn’t one among them that is as fine as the one I left in Riverdale. I did not remember that I had such a thing until Rice inquired after it. He has lent me a nice soft hat to use until I can buy a straw.
March 17 Monday – At the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy. The men had just been notified of the Kanawha’s arrival in Miami, and so were “packing & rushing.” The sister of Mrs. Alice M. Ditson) as well as Col. A.G. Paine raved about the Hot Springs and told of a special train from N.Y. that arrived there overnight; he felt they should try it for Livy’s gout. In his prior letter Sam gave Livy a Havana address c/o H.H.
March 18 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “All morning at Miami. Visited Mrs. Whitehead (Lucy Page) / Anchored outside about 4” [NB 45 TS 6]. Sam’s ship log: “All the morning at Miami. Anchored outside about 4” [MTP].
On board the Kanawha in Miami, Fla., Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin, H.H. Rogers’ granddaughter.
March 19 Wednesday – On board the Kanawha, in Miami, Fla., “at anchor, waiting,” Sam wrote to Livy.
“Livy, darling, we did not get away this morning, but are lying far out in a brilliant & beautiful light green sea, the loveliest color imaginable. It was stormy outside, but it is no longer so, & the pilot says he will sail now, in a little while” [LLMT 335].
Sam’s notebook: “Sailed in afternoon after 3. Beautiful green sea—then blue. Susy’s birthday” [NB 45 TS 6].