Vol 3 Section 1114

Muriel M. Pears wrote from North Wales to Sam. “I thank you for letting me share your Circle’s knowledge of the gentle and beautiful passing of an exquisite soul. Surely that was your reward for your years of perfect companionship and tendance, that she went happily, unfearing in sweetest lightness of heart…God spared her the worst of agonies.” After waxing eloquent about death for a page or so, she advised him she was staying with her Aunt in Norfolk, Conn.; she described the surroundings extensively [MTP].

November 12 Saturday – Henry W. Fisher (Fischer) wrote to Sam, enclosing a clipping (in German) that he felt “shows that the people of Vienna have not forgotten you.” Did he get the books sent on Apr. 12 on William II? Private Lives of William II and his Consort and Secret History of the Court of Berlin by Henry W. Fischer, (pseud. Ursula, Countess von Eppinghoven) [MTP; Gribben 231].

November 13 Sunday – Margaret Jenkins wrote from London a delayed message of condolence to Sam, delayed only by lack of an address. She added, “Norbury is going to American this week, & hopes to have the pleasure of seeing you” [MTP]. Note: William Brabazon Lindsay Graham-Toler, 4th Earl of Norbury

November 14 Monday

November 15 Tuesday – Edwin Frost for the Society of Sons of Steerage wrote from Providence, R.I., to announce a dinner in honor of Thomas Nelson Page , on Nov. 21 at 10 p.m. “The unusually late hour has been selected in order to allow Mr. F. Hopkinson Smith, who is engaged earlier in the evening, to be present” [MTP].

Charles J. Langdon wrote a short note to Sam, enclosing some article of praise for Mark Twain (not in the file, but written at the top “Estimates of M.T.” [MTP].

James Douglas Campbell for the Plasmon Co. of America sent Sam notice of a special meeting called by the board of directors, to consider the financial situation of the company; to elect a new board; to alter bylaws; to take other acts deemed necessary [MTP].

November 16 Wednesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote a letter of recommedation for

Madame Hartwig:

To whom it may concern:

I desire to recommend Madame Hartwig to my friends & the public as a teacher of singing & as a concert-vocalist. She has lived for fifteen years at the court of Roumania, & she brought with her to America an autograph letter in which her Majesty the Queen of Roumania cordially certified her to me as being an accomplished & gifted singer & teacher of singing, & expressed a warm hope that her professional venture among us would meet with success. Through absence in Europe I have had no opportunity to test the validity of the Queen’s judgment in the matter, but that judgment is the utterance of an entirely competent authority—the best that occupies a throne, & as good as any that sits elsewhere, as the musical world well knows—& therefore I back it without hesitation, and endorse it with confidence.

I will explain that the reason her Majesty tried to do her friend a friendly office through me instead of some one else was, not that I was particularly the right or best person for the office, but because I was not a stranger. It is true that I am a stranger to some of the monarchs—mainly through their neglect of their opportunities—but such is not the case in the present instance. The latter fact is a high compliment to me, & perhaps I ought to conceal it. Some people would. (S.L. Clemens) Mark Twain [MTP].

Polk Miller (1844-1914), merchant and entertainer, left a note to Sam. “Simply called to pay my respects. If any

trouble to see me, please excuse yourself. With best wishes” [MTP].

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