Vol 3 Section 0042

A Woman’s Part in a Revolution by Natalie Hammond (Mrs. John Hays Hammond) , p.152 carries a description of Mark Twain’s visit to the prisoners in Pretoria, May 23, 1896 (see entry) [Tenney 26-7: The Twainian (Jan-Feb 1958, p.1-3)].

Cheiro’s Language of the Hand included a plate on p.167 of Mark Twain’s right hand, showing the lines. “Cheiro’s reading is not given, but MT’s response to it is on the second page of the Appendix (p. 224)”

[Tenney: “A Reference Guide Second Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1978 p. 169]. See entries MTDBD Vol. 2 on Cheiro.

Kings of the Platform and Pulpit by Melville D. Landon (“Eli Perkins”) included, “Mark Twain: Biography and Reminiscences,” p. 348-51. Anecdotal recollection by R.E. Morris of Hannibal. Tenney questions some of the references given [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Third Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1979 p. 185].

American Humourists, Recent and Living, by Robert Ford, London (1897) contains a chapter on Mark Twain (written in 1895; p. 32-60) and eighteen other humorists. Ford calls Artemus Ward “the foremost of American humorists, and the founder of a school which Mark Twain has continued and carried to unparalleled success…is far more able, more literary, more intellectual of the two…” Ford also claimed that Sam’s 1872 lectures in London had not caused “any particular stir, such as was created by Artemus Ward” [Google books online: accessed Sept. 18, 2010]. Tenney: “In a conventional discussion, much of it quotation from MT’s works, says he is indebted to Artemus Ward for his comic style of exaggeration and feigned solemnity, though ‘far more able, more literary, more intellectual.’ ‘He occupies a greater space in literature…being far and away the more accomplished man of letters, having a wider sweep of mental vision, and possessing a much more vividly imaginative intellect’” [MTJ Bibliographic Issue Number Four 42:1 (Spring 2004) p.7].

Famous Authors and the Best Literature of England and America, by William Wilfred Birdsall and Rufus M. Jones included “Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain),” p. 507-511. “A laudatory, conventional, and party accurate brief sketch of MT’s life and works precedes “Jim Smiley’s Frog” (only the frog tale), an excerpt from GA, and MT’s speech on “The Babies” (incomplete) [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fourth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1980 p. 173].

Sometime before Apr. 3, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), German composer, pianist, wrote to Livy in

German expressing regret that he would be unable to accept their invitation for Sunday [MTP]. Note:

Brahms would die in Vienna on Apr. 3.

1896- 7 Winter – Several write-ups of an anecdote exist for James Abbott McNeil Whistler being taken in by Mark Twain over a painting. This by Wientraub places it during this winter and does not see it as their first meeting, as some do:

In the Fitzroy Street studio that winter Whistler had few visitors. He was still not ready for them. But there was one he did permit, an American then living at 23 Tedworth Square, Chelsea, whom almost no one knew as Samuel L. Clemens. “I was determined to get the better of him, if possible,” Mark Twain recalled. He put on his “most hopelessly stupid air,” and drew close to a canvas on which Whistler was working. “That ain’t bad,” he said. “It ain’t bad; only here in this corner”—and he pointed to an area of the picture with his finger—“I’d do away with that cloud if I were you.”

“Gad, sir,” Whistler cried out, “be careful there. Don’t you see the paint isn’t dry?”

“Oh, that don’t matter,” said Twain. “I’ve got my gloves on.” And after that they got along well together [430].

January – Sometime during the month Sam inscribed a copy of JA to Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob (1841-

1917), English architect, engineer, and writer; active in India:

SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.