Vol 3 Section 0639
William Peterfield Trent’s article, “A Retrospect of American Humor,” ran in the Century, p. 45-64.
Tenney: “A very general discussion of a number of humorists, including MT; includes drawing and photograph of MT” [35].
November 1 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Gerding. — Sam Moffett Lincoln Bank” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: Charles Gerding, Jr. obtained a judgment against Isaac K. Funk of Funk & Wagnalls publishing. Funk had reorganized the Eastern Tennessee Land Co. in 1894, which had originally been formed in 1889 to establish a prohibition settlement. Charles Gerding, Sr. was at one time employed by the Co. and helped Funk reorganize the company but was not reimbursed $5,000 in Harriman Northeastern RR bonds as promise. He then sold his claim to his son, who filed suit and obtainted judgement for $6,804 [NY Times 28 Jan 1889, p.2.] Sam Moffett had recently investigated the Clemens’ family’s eastern Tennessee Lands (see Sept. 15 entry), and judged they still had mineral rights on 1,500 acres. Moffett likely discussed the Gerdings with Sam.
In Riverdale, Sam wrote to Helen Louisa Stokes (Mrs. Anson Phelps Stokes, Sr.)
It is too bad that I bothered you about the coat. I would have kept still, but I supposed I should only be bothering the care-taker.
I called yesterday at your New York house in the hope of finding Mr. Stokes at home, but was disappointed—the workman were in possession—trying to pull the house down, I thought, but I was afraid to try to stop it without authority.
My best time on that great New Haven occasion was in your house, & I desire to say my sincerest best thanks, Mrs. Stokes, for your kind hospitalities [MTP].
Sam also wrote to an unidentified man, declining an invitation as he lived “too far from town for much going” [MTP]. Note: This note listed as Nov. 1901 or 2, and similar to a form letter Sam wrote in pencil sometime this month.
Beatrice M. Benjamin (1889-1956) wrote from Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY to Sam, enclosing a picture she’d taken of him at Fairhaven and one of herself. “Do you recognize me in the Puritan dress?” [MTP]. Note: H.H. Rogers’ granddaughter was now 12 years old.
November 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduce a speaker?” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: may refer to Nov. 7.
November 3 Sunday
November 4 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Magnus Gross, declining an unspecified
request: “for I am loaded to the Plimsoll mark, & mustn’t add an ounce to my cargo” [MTP]. Note: This may have been Magnus Gross, public school principal, in 1905 the President of the New York City Teachers’ Organization. The plimsoll line is the marking on a ship’s hull that shows how low or high the ship is resting in the water, in this case the high mark.
November 5 Tuesday – Election Day, New York City: The Fusion Ticket won Victory in the election, with Seth Low elected by a plurality of 33,000. William Travers Jerome was also elected District Attorney. This was a big defeat for Tammany Hall.
November 5 after – Sam’s notebook:
Well, we have removed the chains from the limbs of every man in N.Y.; & if ever a man allows them to be put on him again he will deserve to land in his corner of the summer resort of the long Hereafter—early!
….
As between living in N.Y. under Tammany & in hell under Satan, I know of no choice.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.