Vol 3 Section 0565

The Phrenological Journal and Science of Health ran an anonymous article, “Mark Twain—The World’s Greatest Humorist. Twenty Reasons Why We Say So. From a Personal Examination,” p.103-6. Tenney: “Source: Reprinted in Madeline B. Stern, ‘Mark Twain Had His Head Examined’ (1969)” [34].

Book Buyer, ran an anonymous article p.179. Tenney: “Anecdote concerning an MT lecture introduced by a local minister’s lengthy prayer….Includes photograph of MT, facing p.179” [34]. The same publication, p. 196-201 ran “Mark

Twain: More than Humorist” by R.E. Phillips, p. 196-201. Tenney: “Praises his keen observation and his dedication to ‘justice, absolute democracy and humanity’ in a discussion of MT as a serious writer’” [35].

Elbert Hubbard’s article “Heart to Heart Talks with Philistines by the Pastor of His Flock,” ran in The Philistine, p. 146-9 and contained a Mark Twain anecdote [Tenney 35].

April 1 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “11 p.m. Bliss and Gibman. Dinner–Poultney” [NB 44 TS 8].

At 1410 W. 10^th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote again to Laura F. McQuiston in Fort Hancock, N.J.

I judge that nothing is going to come of this matter. At least it looks so unpromising—& also so silly & so cheaply visionary—that I think it wisest to return your husband’s letter to you & drop the enterprise for the present. This young woman’s glib shop-talk & psychic slang exasperate me, & at the same time make me laugh. The resulting fruit is prejudice.

Sam confessed he was in bed with rheumatism and had been “these seven days”; he could not see Mrs. Koller if she came, but would look at the letter she mentioned. He suggested McQuiston could destroy Mrs. Koller’s letter, that he wouldn’t need it [MTP]. Note: Rheumatism or no, Sam did speak on Mar. 30, the only time in the past week he did so.

Elisabeth Marbury, Twain’s drama agent, wrote to Sam that she’d been delayed in obtaining a copy of PW, but as soon as she got one would have a MS made, “together with a copy of the existing contract for the production of the piece next season” [MTP].

At 1410 W. 10^th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to J. Henry Harper in N.Y.C. “Good. Then I shall expect you at noon tomorrow. I can’t come to you, for I am laid up with rheumatism” [MTP].

In the evening Buffalo Bill Cody brought his Wild West show to Madison Square Garden. His show included fourteen Boers and 22 members of the Strathcona Horse Group imported from South Africa. A parade on April 1 of the show’s elements went along 27^th Street to Madison Ave. to 24^th Street to Lexington Ave. to 59^th Street to Fifth Ave. to Waverly Place, to Broadway, to Astor Place, to Fourth Ave. to the Garden. The New York Times, Apr. 1, p.9, “Buffalo Bill is Here,” announced that Mark Twain would be at the performance this evening. Did he go in spite of his rheumatism?

Augustus T. Gurlitz, Sam’s N.Y. attorney, wrote two letters to Sam. In the first Gurlitz reported that Harpers did not have the copyright papers for LM, as it was published by James R. Osgood in Boston. In the second letter he advised that the Kipling suit “comes up next Monday. I should like to have your testimony in the case….It will be impossible to establish the rights of authors unless they are ready to help each other when attacked” [MTP].

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