January 26 Tuesday – John R. Carpenter, executor of Mollie Clemens’ estate wrote again, this time with a copy of Mollie’s bequests to Sam, and the family, as well as a list of Ma’s things sent in May 1900 to Annie Moffett Webster, which included a “rosebud toilet seat” [MTP].
Edward St. John Fairman, in Florence, sent verses to Sam, including two to Andrew Carnegie [MTP].
January 27 Wednesday – In his Feb. 17 to Duneka Sam wrote that his sketch “Sold to Satan” was mailed to Duneka on this day, according to Isabel Lyon’s notebook.
January 28 Thursday – H.A. Lorberg wrote from Portsmouth, Ohio to Sam, sending a photo for Mark Twain’s autograph [MTP].
Hélène Elisabeth Picard wrote to Sam, assuring him that he never owed her a letter; that if she wanted to read him she could always get the Harper’s from her friends in NY; that she was horrified by the fire tragedy in Chicago. She also asked how to get an American book to translate into French [MTP]. Note: see Jan. 1 entry on Iroquois Theater fire, Chicago.
January 29 Friday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to John B. Stanchfield.
Your letter [not extant] came yesterday, & I thought the Butters proposal over. As I understood it, it was this:
He will restore to me the 250 shares which he stole from me—
Provided I buy some more (at a price above its value.)
I thought it over, & decided against it; & have now (3. p.m) sent to town a cable [not extant] to that effect which should reach Elmira this morning by 10 or 11.
January 3 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Villa Guicciardina / a Montughi” [NB 47 TS 2]. Note: Sam was already looking about Florence for a more suitable villa and this was likely one consideration. Following these two lines of entry was a list of items about the Villa that go down the page. Here they are listed, separated by commas to save space: “View, Bedrooms, Baths, W.C.’s, Sun-exposures, Exits, Water, Flowers, Stoves, Fireplaces, Dogs, Other noises, Stabling, Pigs rams chickens, Cows—milk” [TS 2-3].
January 30 Saturday – The New York Times, p. BR73 ran a squib, “A New Novel from Mark Twain”:
January, on or before Jan 4. – Edward B. Caulfield of the Italian Gazette and Florence Gazette wrote to Sam.
I believed you at once the other day, but I had not all my wits about me as I was thinking what a nasty bit I had just escaped.
I wanted to turn the tables thoroughly on the man who tried to do me that evil turn and so it was that I selfishly asked you to help me to that end: you were quite right to refuse.
January 5 Tuesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
I have finished the “Italian With Grammar,” & have cut it down a good deal. I believe it will now split in two in the middle conveniently & go into 2 numbers of the Weekly without taking up too much room. Jean will typewrite it soon, & send it along.
January 6 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Villa di Quarto / Calamity House would be a better name” [NB 47 TS 4].
Edward B. Caulfield of the Italian Gazette wrote to Sam, enclosing his card, and revealing the name of the “young idiot” who had sent verses signed “M.T.”—it was H. Langan Stuart. “He is a disgusting young brute who when faced with the affair gave me his ‘word of honour’ twice that he knew nothing of it” [MTP].
January 7 Thursday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
I have letters from England asking that the Dog’s Tale be issued in swell form & price & kept on view all the time & used as a present in holiday-time & out of it. One man (of manifestly fine judgement) says “It is already a classic, & will remain so. It stands at the head of the literature of its kind.”
January 8 Friday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
I see by the telegram in the “Nationale” that Joan of Arc was beatified day before yesterday, & that the Holy Father replied in person to the eulogy delivered by the Archbishop of Paris.
It may be that this event will presently start up a run of magazining concerning Joan. I being her American literary representative, & author of the first historical story in our late long list of that kind
June 1 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Commendatore Biagi with vice Chancellor—afternoon. Father Stiattesi has suppressed his fancy cocks & hens because they disturb Mrs. Clemens. He is the best man I know” [NB 47 TS 11].
June 10 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Livy’s last gift to the children was a pair of riding-horses—6 or 8 weeks ago.
Ugo (the butler) will sail with them for America from Leghorn June 22” [NB 47 TS 12]. Note: Ugo Piemontini.
Emily Gerard in Salzburg, Austria, wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Margaret Shaw Graham (Mrs. John C. Graham) of Louisville, Ky. wrote a letter of condolence to Sam. “I hope your brave heart will be your own comforter” [MTP].
June 11 Saturday – William Archer wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Gedney W. Bunce wrote to Sam. “I knew, loved & admired her” [MTP].
Odoardo Luchini wrote condolences to Sam and Isabel Lyon [MTP].
George Gregory Smith wrote condolences to Sam by way of Francis B. Keene [MTP].
June 12 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.
June 13 Monday – In the evening at the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Charles J. Langdon about transporting two horses, Livy’s last gift to her daughters, back to America.
June 14 Tuesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence, Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Raffaele Simboli. “You will understand that Mr. Clemens is not interested in anything at the present time, his house being a house of mourning” [MTP].
June 16 Thursday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske in London.
June 17 Friday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam sent a cable to John Y. MacAlister:
“Clara slowly recovering The rest well / Clemens” [MTP].
Thomas Nelson Page in York Harbor, Maine wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Emma B. Thayer and Abbott Handerson Thayer each wrote, from Monadnock, N.H., a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
June 18 Saturday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.
Dear Joe: / It is 13 days. I am bewildered and must remain so for a time longer. It was so sudden, so unexpected. Imagine a man worth a hundred millions who suddenly finds himself penniless & fifty millions in debt in his old age. I was richer than any other person in the world, and now I am that pauper without peer. Some day I will tell you about it, not now. / Mark [MTP].
June 19 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto Sam wrote to Charles J. Langdon.
June – The Critic for June, p.518-24 ran an illustrated (six photographs) article, “Mark Twain from an Italian Point of View” by Raffaele Simboli, correspondent for the Nuova Antologia. See Nov. 6, 1903 entry for excerpt. Included in the pictures was one of Jean Clemens on her white Italian saddle- horse (see insert), a gift from Livy, which would die in an August trolley accident in Lee, Mass. Also in this issue was Mark Twain’s “Letter to an Italian Editor,” p.
June 2 Thursday – Maria Fleischel, an admirer wrote from Spezia, Italy to Sam for his autograph [MTP].
June 20 Monday – Jean Clemens was ill, so Sam and Katy Leary remained with Jean at the Villa di Quarto for three hours. In the meantime the rest of the party (Isabel V. Lyon, her mother Georgiana Lyon, and others not named) left for the Hotel de la Ville in Florence. Jean “rallied” and the three arrived at the hotel “about 8 p.m.”
June 21 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Grozzini lives in the city. Goes to Mrs. Ross at 10 fr & cab hire—say 16 fr per visit. At night, 25 fr. / [Horiz. Line separator] / All arrived with the baggage at the Hotel de la Ville. First day of the sad journey home” [NB 47 TS 13].
At the Hotel de la Ville in Florence Sam sent the following form letter to those who had expressed sympathy for the loss of his wife:
TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME: