Vol 3 Section 0644
“I feel drawn to King Edward because he has an acute sense of humor. It is a good thing to have in a monarchy. There is a legend that the peasants, after the battle of Boswell’s Field, found a rosebush on which there were two roses, one white, one red. And they grew together; the white taking on the blush of the red. The one was of Lancaster, the other of York. Since then, at times whenever England has been threatened with war with a friendly nation, this double rose has appeared, and its fragrance has gone over England and war has been averted.
HIS TRIBUTE TO HENRY VIII.
“I have always leaned toward the Edwards, but I have admired Henry VIII. He was a great King. I would like to do myself as he did. He married pretty nearly every one who came along.
“A King has a pretty difficult time of it. He is subject to temptations. So am I. But I get no credit for resisting.
“They taxed my head once in England. I mean my literary producing structure. I think they taxed it as gas works. I don’t know what else. I wrote the good Queen a friendly letter about it. I said, ‘I don’t know you, but I’ve met your son. He was at the head of a procession on the Strand and I was on a bus.’
“Years afterward at Homburg I met the Prince of Wales. We had a long walk and talk together. When shaking hands goodbye, he said, ‘I am glad to have met you again.’ That made me feel very sorry, for I feared he took me for some one else, perhaps Bishop Potter, and I told him so. Then he said, ‘Why, don’t you remember when you met me on the Strand and I was at the head of a procession, and you were on a bus?’ “
November 10 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Return—11.35—12.30. / Bram Stoker, lunch Irving, dinner, 7, Players—Riggs Last train, 10.45” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: entry suggests Sam stayed in town after the King’s Birthday celebration at Delmonico’s, had lunch and dinner, and took the last train back to Riverdale.
November 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Jos. Johnson—10-11. / What is the difference between an optimist of 50 & a fool? Do not know of any” [NB 44 TS 17].
November 12 Tuesday – W.B. Forster Bonall (Borrill?) for The Echo (London) wrote to Sam: “Would you mind if I interviewed you from a distance about humor?” He was trying to make his paper pay but admitted “it’s hard work” [MTP]. Note: “last name doubtful”
November 13 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Anti-Imp. League—501-Fifth Ave, cor. 42d—4 p.m. rooms of Mr. Forney” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: Sam attended a meeting of officers of the Anti-Imperialist League of New York. His participation is also mentioned in a news release about the meeting circulated later by Edward W. Ordway [Zwick
email Oct. 20, 2007].
November 14 Thursday
November 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Carey & portraits of Wash &c. / Why’nt you go to hell?—no Irish there
/ A lie is an abomination [U] / Faith is believing what y’ know ain’t so. [U] / The callant died [?] / Pate de fois gras / May yr hon live till y’ collect it. [C] / The lost trunk—French [C] / What streets have you? [U] / We’ll see two cubs—
/ He won’t let me go to par when he can get me at 30 off. [U] / Lightning bug & lightning / Josh” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: All above items save the last were lined through; an editor’s note at the right margin: “C & U [marks made at right of each item] represent specimens of conscious & unconscious humor” See Nov. 18 & 19 NB entries, where Sam discusses conscious and unconscious humor. Likely William Carey.
November 16 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Fuller.
“With the enfeebling big adjective squelched & the commendation strengthened by the substitution of a smaller one I think the remark will now do to print.
“Excuse brevity & haste—I am crowding a piece of work to a finish today” [MTP].
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.