Vol 3 Section 0515
In answer to his inquiry, I told him I thought the authors had made & printed other translations in their private press in Springfield, or were purposing to do it [MTP]. Note: Gribben identifies the work as Frederic Whitmore’s A Florida Farm [764].
Sam’s notebook: recorded from conversation: “Kate Douglas W—‘I’m a lady, & I have to be so d—d
particular’ / Charley Clark’s boy, Horace & the wh— [whore]” [NB 44 TS 3; Gribben 768] Note: Kate
Douglas Wiggin (Riggs). Written by another hand on the TS: “episode earlier about fire in whore house?”
The N.Y. Times, p.17, datelined Washington, Jan. 12, Special to the Times, ran “Miss Clemens’s Debut” about her singing debut in Washington, D.C., but gave a date of “next Friday,” which was Jan 18. For whatever reason the performance was actually on Jan. 22, a Tuesday. See entry.
January 14 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Boston, Aldrich ‘Murray Hull [sic Hall]’ has gradually 6 bastards put upon him by the courts—some on no good evidence but his lecherous character” [NB 44 TS 3]. Note: Murray Hall was a woman who masqueraded as a man for over 25 years, married two women, worked tirelessly for Tammany Hall, and generally fooled everyone until her death (at an estimated 70 years of age) on Jan. 16 [NY Times, Jan. 19, 1901, p3. “Murray Hall Fooled Many Shrewd Men.”
Sam and Livy planned to travel to Boston and a visit with Thomas Bailey Aldrich and family, returning
on Jan. 17 [Jan. 5 to Gurlitz; others]. Note: the trip likely took place, since no outgoing letters are extant from Jan. 14 to 18, and NB entries seem to confirm; Fatout lists a Jan. 16 Boston dinner speech for Sam.
January 15 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Why’dn’t you go to hell? There’s no Irish there. / Corey & portraits of Lincoln & Washington. / Won’t you for Christ’s sake pass the butter / Hit him for pie” [NB 44 TS 3]. Note: William Ellis Corey (1866-1934), capitalist and steel executive, who began his career at age sixteen and in 1903 succeeded Charles M. Schwab as president of U.S. Steel 1903-1911.
The New York Times, p.5, “Lincoln Birthday Address,” announced that Henry Watterson was to be the chief speaker at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 11 and that Mark Twain was to introduce the speakers. Watterson was a cousin by marriage of Clemens.
January 16 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Rogers’s man who had slept in fertilizer & stunk the car. / Junkman, Waterbury, & dial. / Boston Tavern Club / Corpse & guns. / Howells. Time, 7—will go at 9.15” [NB 44 TS 3].
Fatout lists a dinner speech by Sam at Tavern Club in Boston. He does not furnish the text or the subject, however the above NB entry suggests some and gives the standard late time for Sam to arrive [MT
Speaking 668]. Note: see entries Vol. I for the Club.
January 17 Thursday – The planned date of return from Boston to New York. Sam, however, traveled either this day or Jan. 18 to Washington, D.C., the purpose of his trip not known. Sam’s notebook does not have an entry for either this day or the next.
January 18 Friday – Sam went to Washington, D.C. purpose not known.
January 19 Saturday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. where he gave a brief interview reported in a special to the New York Times for Jan. 20, p.1.
MARK TWAIN ON HAZING.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.