Vol 3 Section 0400

[Skinner Auctioneers, Oct. 30, 2005 Sale 2300, Lot 98]. Note: Thanks to JoDee Benussi. The date of Sam’s “conversation” with Harvey is not given, but on Apr. 25 Sam disclosed to Bliss that “Col. Harvey has been here.”

Note: George Brinton McClellan Harvey (1864-1928) was managing editor of the NY World until 1899, when he became editor of the North American Review, which published Sam’s Autobiographical segments in 1906 and 1907. He became president of Harper & Brothers in 1900 (Nov. 16) at the urging of J.P. Morgan who was the company’s major creditor. Harvey and H.H. Rogers negotiated long-term contracts for publishing Mark Twain’s works. He was often called “Colonel,” due to a brief staff position in N.J. state government when he was 21. See NY Times article Nov. 16, 1899.

Charles Frederick Moberly Bell, editor of the London Times, wrote to Sam.

Your letter was attended to in my absence and the Associated Press were given a proof of your report soon after 11 oclock.

I was delighted with your paper and only wish I could hope that your views were likely to prevail….[MTP]. Note: misdated Mar. 4 by Bell.

Sam’s notebook: “Marchesi’s concert” [NB 43 TS 6a]. Note: Blanche Marchesi (1863-1940), Clara Clemens’ voice teacher for a brief time in London.

April 5 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Sir Richd Farrant, Rowton Houses, 5 pm / Breakfast, 9.30. Lord Avebury (formerly Sir John Lubbock), 2 St. James’s” [NB 43 TS 6a]. Note: Richard Farrant ( 1836-1907), acted with Lord Rowton to establish the Rowton Houses in 1896. At his death he was the Treasure of the University College, London.

At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote a postcard to Kingsland Smith: “Ah, but I am too

old for junketing, & too busy more’s the pity…” [MTP: American Art Assoc. catalog, 3 Mar. 1925, Item 96].

Sam also inscribed a copy of TS to an unidentified person: “by / Yours Truly / Mark Twain / London, Apl. 5,

1900” [MTP].

Sam’s notebook: Clemens looked forward to meeting Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913), author of Ants, Bees, and Wasps, etc. (1882), when he was scheduled to breakfast at Lubbock’s London address on St. James Square [Gribben 428; NB 39, TS 40].

Frank Thomas Bullen (1857 -1915) wrote from Camberwell S.E., London, to thank Sam for the inscription from his pen, which he wrote: “is wealth itself” [MTP]. Note: see Gribben p.110; Sam wrote on the env. “Bullen author ‘The Cruise of the Cachelot’”. The Cruise of the Cachalot Round the World after Sperm Whales (1898). The inscription from Sam was not identified.

Maurice MacMillan of MacMillan & Co. wrote from London to Sam.

Allow me to congratulate you on your most interesting important statement before the copyright select committee. I am sure that everybody who is interested in literature is indebted to you for speaking out on this subject. … If you could get some fellow authors to agitate for perpetuity in copyright. I do not feel that the prospect is so hopeless as does Lord Knutsford. But he & the other noble Lords on the committee are not perhaps open to the reception of new ideas. That is not their business or their raison d’etre [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Write the Gutenberg letter & send cheque to Goerz”. For the Gutenberg letter see June

       entry.

April 6 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Ward’s studio, 11 a.m. / Goerz, Savoy 6.45 German play” [NB 43 TS 6a]. Note: in his Apr. 9 NB entry he lists “Ward the artist—sit for portrait.”

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