Eighth Trip to Bermuda - DBD

April 1 Friday

April 1 ca. — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Joe Goodman: “Come on and visit me once before we get so old we can’t hear each other swear” [MTP: San Francisco Examiner, 22 Apt. 1910 ].

April 10 Sunday — In Bermuda, Sam continued reading Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy [ibid.]

April 11 Monday — In Bermuda, Sam finished reading Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy [ibid.]

Robert J. Collier sent a telegram to Sam: “Will have motor meet you Thursday morning hope you are feeling better Sallie sends love / Collier”’ [MTP].

April 12 Tuesday — Sam left Bermuda bound for New York.

April 14 Thursday — Sam arrived back in New York aboard the Oceana. The New York Times, p. 6, Apr. 15, reported his feeble health:

MARK TWAIN BACK IN FEEBLE HEALTH

Distinguished Author Returns from Bermuda in Weakened State from Heart Trouble.

CARRIED OFF THE STEAMER

Physicians Meet Him and He is Taken Immediately to His Home at Redding, Conn.

April 3 Sunday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to the Clowns of Barnum & Bailey Circus, who had cabled him this day asking him the following:

THE CLOWNS OF BARNUM AND BAILEYS CIRCUS RECOGNIZING YOU AS THE WORLDS GREATEST LAUGHMAKER WILL CONSIDER IT AN HONOR IF YOU WILL BE THEIR LUNCHEON GUEST AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN SUNDAY AFTERNOON APRIL THIRD AT TWO WILL YOU PLEASE ANSWER COLLECT BARNUM AND BAILEY [MTP].

Sam’s reply by collect cable:

April 4 Monday — Chauncey M. Depew wrote from Wash DC to ask Sam for an intro to a volume of his speeches, “no matter how short” [MTP]. Note: “Ans”

April 6 Wednesday— In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Charles T. Lark.

Dear Mr. Lark,

I have told Paine that I want the money derived from the sale of the farm, which I had given, but not conveyed, to my daughter Jean, to be used to erect a building for the Mark Twain Library of Redding, the building to be called the Jean L. Clemens Memorial Building.

April 9 Saturday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam inscribed his photo (1906 of him sitting up in bed reading) to Marion S. Allen (Mrs. William H. Allen). “To Mrs. William H. Allen, with the high esteem & guarded affection of / Mark Twain Bermuda, April 9/ 10.” [MTP].

Sam began reading Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Gribben quotes Paine:

Eighth Trip: Friday January 7 to Tuesday April 12, 1910

The Bermudian sailed on Wednesday. After the ship anchored at Hamilton on Friday, January 7, Clemens began the first of ninety-five days on the Islands, his longest stay. He wore a black mourning band on his left arm, and when he wrote Loomis that day from Bay House he used stationery bordered in black. “I have just arrived,” he said, “& am very much pleased with the weather.”

February 1 Tuesday -Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens: “I sent you a good batch of stuff yesterday & found your letter ...at the station this morning. Also a letter for you from Clara which is here enclosed,” He offered bank data, and opinion on numbering letter pages and a few other short remarks [MTP].

February 10 Thursday Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from Redding to Clemens: "Lounsbury thinks this man is going to take the Italian house at 5700.00, He will know in a day or two, and if he can, will close matters up this week or next”. He offered more details of costs and net [MTP]. Note: MT: “ans / approving / Feb. 14”

February 11 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote per Helen S. Allen to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.

Dear Mr. Paine, / Mr. Clemens wants me to tell you that he approves of your project and also the terms [in SLC’s hand: suggested. /Helen.

P. S. The plan which would leave me 80 acres strikes me pleasantly.

February 12 Saturday - Sam’s new guestbook:

The Danish-American (Independent Weekly) per Emil Opffer wrote from the Tribune Bldg., NYC:

February 14 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote a valentine poem to Helen S, Allen.

February 15 Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Thomas Lemuel James.

Dear General,

The parcel of money shipped to me per Wells Fargo, February 4 has not yet arrived. I thought I would mention this in passing. But I mention it mainly to put you on your guard against sending anything to Bermuda or elsewhere by any express company, because the persons connected with those companies have been dead 30 years. This often causes delay, / Yours always / ... [MTP]. Note: see Jan. 30 to James.

February 16 Wednesday — Matthias Hollenbeck Arnot, Elmira financier and friend of Clemens, died at age 78 in Elmira, N.Y, reportedly worth fifty million dollars. He took none of it with him [NY Times, Feb. 16, 1910]. Note: Arnot was a principal backer of Sam’s Paige Typesetter. See Vol. II.

Sam came down with a head cold that lasted four days [Feb. 20 to Leary].

Daughter Clara wrote to Sam. The letter is not extant but replied to in Sam’s Mar, 6 [MTP].

February 17 Thursday  - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam began a letter to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn. that he finished Feb, 18, which was in Helen Allen’s hand.

Dear Paine:

Let us not give up the tobacco forgery lightly. Even if Ashcroft could prove he was my authorized agent, he was still not authorized to use his authority to injure me & to steal £25 from me.

February 18 Friday - In Hamilton, Bermuda, Helen S. Allen finished Sam’s Feb. 17 to Albert B. Paine.

February — Sam’s contribution to the essays, “The Turning Point of My Life,” ran in this issue of Harper’s Bazar. This was a series of notable men who contributed individual essays on the theme. Hill writes of Twain’s contribution:

February 2 Wednesday — Maude Jordan wrote from London to remind Sam of her letter and photos send for autograph and had not heard back [MTP]. Note: ABP: “Mr. Clemens is not in America & is not expected before May—”

Florence Rice Knox wrote “In the Suez Canal” (most certainly on a vessel) to offer condolences [MTP].

Los Angeles Saddle Club per J.H. Coker wrote to ask for Sam’s likeness to frame for their library wall [MTP].

February 20 Sunday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Katy Leary.

Dear Katie: / I enclose page 1 of a letter just received from Mrs. Ossip. It troubles me because she seems to have gotten the impression (the superstition), that your authority as housekeeper is not supreme. But it is supreme, There is no housekeeper but you. No one but you has anything to do with the housekeeping. No one but you can hire or discharge a house-servant, or give to a house-servant an order not proper for a guest to give.

February 21 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Julia Langdon Loomis (Mrs. Edward E. Loomis)

Julie dear, bless your heart it was a pleasure to serve Jervis, not a trouble. Think what he & Edward are doing for me & mine, I don’t forget it, & I am very grateful for it.

February 22 Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam added to his Feb. 21 to daughter Clara,

February 23 Wednesday-In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam finished his Feb, 21 and 22 to daughter Clara, 117 W. 69 St. NYC c/o Miss Gordon.