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].
Back to Riverdale DBD
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!
January 21 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Robert (not further identified) about a court case, unspecified.
There was a charge against me.
One witness was called.
That witness testified.
That settled it.
Counter testimony not desired.
And not asked for.
Case closed. Verdict rendered.
Isn’t it funny? Doesn’t it dazzle? Do you believe God could beat it for intelligence? Right offhand, I mean, & without calling in help?
January 22 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Why be vain of your lineage? All human beings are despicable— emperors & other slaves alike. / Man measures himself by his giants” [NB 46 TS 7].
January 23 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Thomas Bailey Aldrich’s Jan 22.
January 24 Saturday – Harper’s Weekly ran an anonymous article, “More from Mark Twain about Christian Science,” p.145. Tenney: “Summarizes from the current North American Review the second installment of MT’s writing on Christian Science” [38].
Sam’s notebook: “Send John to 7.11 to bring the Count? / Col & Howells / [Horiz. Line separator] / Prof. B.E. Martin & the etchings / [Horiz. Line separator] / Corpse & box of Guns” [NB 46 TS 8].
January 25 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to Livy.
Jan. 25. / Dearest sweetheart, it is a most fine & delicate snowfall & beautiful to watch as it sifts down through the naked branches. And Blennerhasset is enjoying it—goes tearing along the high limbs like a shuttle; & carrying on most gaily. Good-morning, dearest dear heart, I love you dearly. / Y.
January 26 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to Livy.
January 27 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to Harper & Brothers’ Jan. 26 inquiry:
I can’t tell very much about the Christian Science volume yet. Because of my interest in it, and of the richness and prodigality of the materials it keeps growing on my hands, and as I like the job I do not try to discourage it.
Sincerely Yours
P.S. I have several applications for this book, one with a guaranteed sale of so many copies. I like that idea, and I wish you would do some ciphering on it yourselves [MTP].
January 28 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.
P.S. Livy had a slight backset yesterday, so the doctor has just told me he is going to shut off my daily visit for a few days & then reduce it to 8 or 10 minutes a day. It will distress her, & may have an ill effect at first, but later results will show the wisdom of it no doubt.
January 29 Thursday – At 7:30 in N.Y.C. Sam joined a birthday party for H.H. Rogers at the Rogers home. Rogers was 63 [MTHHR 518n2].
Sam’s notebook : “Marquis Lorne, Princess Louise, Prince of Wales (Homburg), Emperor Germany, [Emperor] Russia, [Emperor] Austria” [NB 46 TS 9].
January 30 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Butters, Wright & Kelsey arrive 7.11 p.m. / First visit of these thieves? / [Horiz. Line separator] / We go to the Grand Duchess’s palace to sign the visitor’s book—& what happened!” [NB 46 TS 9]. Note: Sam recalled Feb. 1898 mixup—see Feb. 3, 1898 to Twichell for the story.
Frank Bliss wrote from Hartford to Sam, enclosing a statement (not extant) and draft for $3,375.14 for royalties to Jan. 1 [MTP].
January 31 Saturday – William Oliver Fuller, Jr. (J.O. Fuller, Jr.) wrote to Sam from Rockland, Maine. “Mr Aldrich has sent me your letter commenting upon the newspaper clipping I mailed you. I gather from your letter that you were not pleased with my sorry attempt to joke. The thing on my part arose out of our visit to Mr. Aldrich some months ago and the subsequent fooling over lost umbrellas and slippers—which possibly you recall.” Fuller felt that if he had overdone the joke, then he was apologetic [MTP].
February – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied with one line to Frederick A. Duneka: “This is a most dam good Conclusion—put it in, Duneka / SLC” [MTP].
Prof. William Milligan Sloane wrote from NYC to Sam. “I want you here on March 5th at one o’clock to lunch with Sidney Lee and I want you very badly. Do come, there will be some of your best friends.” Hearing “conflicting accounts” of Livy, Prof. Sloane hoped she was no worse but much better [MTP].
February 1 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
Mrs. Clemens’s delight in those magnificent roses reached standard. I know it would when I saw them downstairs. I promised to thank you for them the first thing in the morning, & send you her love.
February 2 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y.: Sam’s notebook: “33d wedding anniversary. I was allowed to see Livy 5 minutes this morning, in honor of the day. She makes but little progress toward recovery, still there is certainly some, we are sure” [NB 46 TS 9; also MTB 1195].
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:
February 10 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. Only the envelope survives, but the subject matter was undoubtedly the same as he put to Howells on Feb. 9 [MTP].
February 11 Wednesday – Edward Bergiz wrote from Kivik, Sweden to Sam asking for his “monogram” [MTP].
Frederick A. Duneka of Harpers wrote to Sam.
“There should be an interval of six weeks between the receipt of a MS. and the publication of the book. This can be cut down, of course, but not very much. It is wise to issue the Christian Science volume not later than the last of April. Will this impose too great a burden upon you [?]”[MTP].
February 12 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote a spoof to Sam of a dream he’d had: