Vol 3 Section 0514
January 12 Saturday – Sam met with William Dean Howells as mentioned in his Jan. 13 to Harriet E.
Whitmore. See entry.
Clara Clemens’ future husband, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, had arrived in America in the fall of 1900. He stayed at the Brevoort House during his stay in New York, where
he gave several recitals, including Nov. 11, 1900 and this performance (see insert ad). Clara writes that it was “only a stone’s throw” from his hotel to their house on 10th. Did she attend this particular recital? Evidently she did, or was impressed by the reviews. She writes:
In this, his first American season, Gabrilowitsch’s success was planted for many years to come. He received the spontaneous title of “Poet of the Piano” from more than one newspaper critic, and
such phrases as the following give an idea of his reception in New York as elsewhere:
“Seldom has Mendelssohn Hall been so storm-swept by applause as it was after Gabrilowitsch’s playing of the first movement of Chopin’s B-flat minor Sonata; the grandest, most emotional work ever written for the piano; the storm and stress, the grandeur, the passion of this superbly inspired music were there; it was the real Chopin, the greater Chopin, the many, strong, robust Chopin” [My Husband, Gabrilowitsch 16].
Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Rogers, 7 p m” [NB 44 TS 3].
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Check # Payee Amount |
[Notes] |
Self 125.00
January 13 Sunday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mary Nash Hubbard in Hannibal, Mo.
“I remember the wedding very well, although it was 50 years ago; & I wish you & your husband joy of this anniversary of it” [MTP]. Note: Mary was the sister to William H.C. Nash of Hannibal (b. 1829), a childhood friend of Sam’s [MTL 1: 246n4].
Sam also wrote to Nathaniel Meyers (1848-1921), President of the Hebrew Technical School for Girls,
where Sam would speak on Jan. 20: “Very good—Sunday, Jan. 20,—8.30 p.m.—You gather me (& maybe Mrs.
Clemens) in at 8. / I’ve got a subject!” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Edward W. Ordway (b.1864), secretary of the Anti-Imperialist League (prior called,
American League of New York City).
“Yes, I shall be glad to be a Vice President of the League—a useless because a non-laboring one, but prodigally endowed with sympathy with the cause” [MTP].
Note: Ordway helped create the Philippine Independence Committee in 1904. This is the date sometimes cited for Sam joining the League. Ernest H. Crosby was the president of the New York chapter; Carl Schurz, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Van Dyke vice presidents. See Dec. 11 entry.
Sam also wrote to Harriet E. Whitmore (Mrs. Franklin G. Whitmore).
I saw Mr. Howells yesterday, & he was fervent in his praises of that translation. He hopes to find a chance to print a word about it bye & bye.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.