February 24 Tuesday – Fatout lists a speech at the William Dean Howells dinner in Boston for Sam on this day, but gives no particulars and none were found [MT Speaking 672].
Sam’s notebook: “Submerged fame” [NB 46 TS 11].
Rogers dictated a letter to Sam.
I have your letters, and will make the appointment for the review of the article in the “Cosmopolitan.” I note what you say in regard to jury duty, and will endeavor to get you relieved.
February 25 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss on the bottom left corner of Rogers’ Feb. 24 letter: “I have this moment telephoned Mr. Duneka and asked him to send you an authorization to use the ‘Russian Passport’ in your forthcoming volume, and he said he would attend to it at once. Go ahead and put it in” [MTHHR 519n2]. Note: Bliss questioned whether he would be allowed to include “The Belated Russian Passport” in Vol. 23 of Mark Twain’s autograph edition of works.
February 26 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. acknowledging receipt of a MS for a play [MTP].
Hamlin Garland wrote from NY to Sam, that he’d paid the driver “amply” and that they enjoyed the visit to Sam’s house, “There was only one person lacking—Mrs. Clemens,” and he hoped that warmer weather might bring her relief [MTP].
February 27 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a good night note to Livy. “Feb. 27—p.m. The ashcats have gone their rooms; I have come to mine; the day is done, it is time for reading, smoking, reflection, sleep—with you for text & undertone, dear sweetheart, whom I love—& so, with a kiss, & another, & others, beside, Good night & pleasant dreams. / Y” [LLMT 342].
February 28 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.
Consound it, Clara tells me the Rices are coming here to dinner Tuesday Evening March 3, an engagement 2 weeks old, & swears she told me of it at the time–which is mere sickroom veracity; she never told me till to-day.
I am sorry to miss going with you to see the General, & so is Mrs. Clemens.
February 3 Tuesday – Sam wrote check # 30 to American Plasmon Co. for $10,000 for a total of $25,000 as he had subscribed [NB 46 TS 5]. Note: canceled check survives.
J.C. Woodbury wrote from NY to Sam, enclosing a list (not extant) of Christian Science books.
Woodbury suggested days he was free, should Sam want to confer. His phone was Riverdale 1182 [MTP].
February 4 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to Livy.
February 5 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote per Isabel Lyon to Howard E. Wright, enclosing the following cablegram: “Plasmon Co. London / Am greatly alarmed by letters charging criminal concealments upon the directors. What is the explanation[?]” Sam had heard nothing from Samuel Bergheim, the London director, and suggested leaking the cable to the press. He thanked Wright for obtaining Hillier’s name and address [MTP]. Note: Sam had begun to smell a rat in the Plasmon Co.
February 6 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
“Yes, dear Mrs. Rogers, Sunday the 15th , that is the date. If you will be good enough to telephone me an hour before you leave home I will roust out the Riverdale ambulance so that you won’t have to walk up from the station” [MTHHR 518].
Sam also wrote to Samuel M. Bergheim, enclosing a copy of the cable shared with Wright on Feb. 5.
February 7 Saturday – Albert Levering’s article “The Man Who Corrupted Eddyville. Being Some Account of the Troubles which Beset Mark Twain During His Quest for Mrs. Eddy’s Book,” ran in Harper’s Weekly, p.215. Tenney: “A cartoon sequence in which several Christian Scientist booksellers and Mary Baker Eddy herself refuse to sell or give a copy of Science and Health to MT, who appears disguised as various characters from his books” [38].
February 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote per Isabel Lyon to William Dean Howells. “I don’t hear anything from anybody about the “Tom Sawyer” play. In the meantime has Paul Kester ever looked at the “American Claimant” as the basis for a play? [MTP; Not in MTHL].
Sam’s notebook:
January 1 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added to his long Dec. 31 letter to Joe Twichell:
Jan. 1’03. The doctor did not stay last night. Just as I was beginning to dress for dinner Livy’s nurse came for me, & I saw the patient 4 minutes. She was in great spirits—like 25 years ago.
She has sent me a New-Year greeting this morning, & has had a good night.
January 10 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mr. Dole (the identical language used in Jan. 9 to Hirsch) declining an invitation and citing Livy’s health [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Frederick W. Peabody.
But aren’t you going to lend me those scraps & scribblings of Mrs. Eddy’s which you offered to lend me? I find I can’t buy such things. I have tried; the Bargain Counter will not take my money—imagines it is spiritual money, but it is not.
January 11 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to Elisabeth Marbury’s Jan. 10 by writing in the bottom left corner of her letter: “quite willing but must / first know in writing if / Mr. Dillingham is willing. / Communicate with Mr D. & ask him” [MTP].
January 12, before – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to David A. Munro for the North American Review.
Private. If McCrackan appears in the March Number, the above blank should be filled with “April.” I think he is commanded from Goddlemightyburg, up there at Concord, to keep out entirely. Have you heard from him, as to his intentions? [MTP].
January 13 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon. Wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore [MTP].
Mr. Clemens tells me to write you that “Mrs. Clemens says to sell the house for any thing you can get for it—”
Mrs. Clemens is making visible progress; her pulse has gone down to 87 and stays there, and Mr. Clemens sees her once a day for ten or fifteen minutes.
Jean is very much better, but is not yet allowed to sit up [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Rice, 6.16 train” [NB 46 TS 5].
January 14 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to Livy.
Livy dear, there’s a new effect—the sea has come ashore. Water, blown by the wind is crinkling curves & long lines, is frozen white, & a stretch of it is the slope of the grassy hill gives the aspect of a section of green sea with wimpling white-caps chasing each other over it.
I love you dearheart, I love you dearly. / Y
Rice was lovely, and (as Henry Robinson said about Charley Clark) “as funny as a frog” [LLMT 341].
January 15 Thursday – At night in Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to Livy:
Ship ahoy! helm-alee! hard aport!—There, steady! let her go off a point!—luff, & bring her to the wind! I’m reading before-the-mast sailor-yarns, dearest, & am full of the salt sea & the great winds & the wonders of the deep. They couldn’t understand me at dinner, they are land-lubbers & ignorant. Sleep well, dearest of the dear—I love you [MTP].
David A. Munro wrote to Sam.
January 16 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison.
The Plasmon Co will send you some Plasmon stock for me. That is what I had to have $10,000 for, & that is why I sold the Union Pacific pf. Do not conceal it from Mr. Rogers. He will think it an unwise investment—still, I want him to know. I shan’t conceal any of my performances from him.
January 17 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow.
January 18 Sunday – The New York Times, p.21, “Autographs at Auction” reported various letters sold and prices. Two of Mark Twain’s letters sold:
January 19 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to David A. Munro, editor of the North American Review to remind him that if McCrackan’s article wasn’t included in the March issue, then Sam wanted to be in it himself [MTP].
January – The North American Review included the second installment of Mark Twain’s series, “Christian Science II” (p.1-9) written in 1897-8 in Vienna. The installments ran monthly From Dec. 1902 through the Apr. 1903 issue. A book would result from these articles, though Harpers would delay it till 1907.
January 2 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
January 20 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to General McCook about Jean and Katy Leary arriving in Old Point Comfort, Va. on Jan 24.
Greeting & salutation to the ladies, & to you, upon whom be peace!