Vol 3 Section 0388
giant was fed into the presses [106]. Note: Perlman goes on to relate that Shinn did not realize his mistake until he saw Twain “Standing upon the deck of the S.S. Minnehaha at Cherbourg” a year later.
In his Apr. 7 to John Brisben Walker, Sam confessed investing $23,000 (£5,000) in Plasmon “A month ago,” or early March (see below). In his Apr. 8 and 9 to Rogers, Sam wrote he first used Plasmon, then called “Vienna Albumen” to cure dyspepsia (indigestion) in 1897 in Vienna.
The Plasmon Syndicate in America would give way to the Plasmon Company of America in the spring of 1902. See entry.
March 1 Thursday
March 1-15? 1900 – Sam wrote to the Secretary of the London Anti-Vivisection Society secretary, to acknowledge his election as an honorary member: “I am glad of the honor, since I have no friendly feeling toward either ‘sport’ or vivisection” [MTP: NY Times Mar. 18, 1900 p.14, “‘Mark Twain’ on Sport and Vivisection”].
March 2 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam and Clara Clemens wrote to Mildred (Pilla) Howells, sending their approval and pride at her poem “The Particular Princess: An up to date Fairy Story,” which appeared in Feb. 17 issue p.144-5 of Harper’s Bazaar—Sam “choking up…& just damming away with a father pride…” and Clara “dammingly chokingly chucklingly sparkingly add my signature to the above”[MTP].
Sam also wrote a short paragraph to John Brisben Walker of Cosmopolitan.
“One thing didn’t occur to me: the Harpers are about to issue a book of mine with the Xn Science article as the title-giver. I can’t imagine that they would object to your republishing the article, but we never can tell what human beings will do…”
Sam suggested Walker write to Harpers about it, as he felt a republication of the Christian Science article would be “good advertisement for the book” [MTP].
Sam and Livy attended a private dinner party at the home of William Edward Harpole Lecky (1838-1903), with 24 in attendance, all Irish. Lecky, celebrated Irish historian, greatly influenced Sam’s thinking (see Gribben’s listing, listings MTDBD, Vol. 1 addenda and Vol. 2).
“One would have to travel for to match their ease & sociability & animation & sparkle & absence of shyness
self-consciousness. It was American in these fine qualities. This was at Mr. Lecky’s. He is Irish you know” [Mar. 4 to Twichell].
Rev. F.W. Mortimer wrote to Sam, pleading with him to act on the “dismissal of 3 maids” from the tea room of Harrod’s Store. Livy had been insulted by one or more of the store workers there. “The effect of our suggestion which of course was treated as a demand, was the immediate dismissal of the 3 maids in question….It
was Miss Penfold who called the other girl’s attention to the result of the manner of her receiving Mrs. Clemens…request or order.” Mortimer explained Miss Penfold’s income supported her widowed mother; she had no other income; an effort by Mark Twain would “reestablish Miss P. in her former place…this she certainly deserves, and to me, the circumstances demand it”[MTP]. Note: see Sam’s reply of Mar. 13.
March 3 Saturday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam gave a reading of a paper before the Copyright Committee of the House of Lords, arguing that perpetual copyright be given to authors.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.