Thursday, April 5, 1906
Ellen Terry's farewell banquet, on fiftieth anniversary.--Mr. Clement's cablegram.--Mr. Clemens has fine new idea for a play; Mr. Hammond Trumbull squelches it.--Orion Clemens is defeated as Secretary of State.--At Mr. Camp's suggestion Mr. Clemens speculates unfortunately.--Mr. Camp offers to buy Tennessee land for $200,000.--Orion refuses.--Mr. Clemens just discovers that he still owns one thousand acres of the Tennessee land.--Orion comes East, gets position on Hartford "Evening Post."--After various business ventures he returns to Keokuk and tries raising chickens.
The other day I furnished a sentiment in response to a man's request--to wit:
"The noblest work of God?" Man.
"Who found it out?" Man.
I thought it was very good, and smart, but the other person didn't. . . .
Ellen Terry has been a queen of the English stage for fifty years, and will retire from it on the 28th of this month, which will be the fiftieth anniversary. She will retire in due form at a great banquet in London, and cablegrams meet for the occasion will flow in upon the banqueters from old friends of hers in America and other formerly distant regions of the earth--there are no distant regions now. The American cablegrams are being collected by a committee in New York, and by request I have furnished mine. To do these things by cable, at twenty-five cents a word, is the modern way and the only way. They could go by post at no expense, but it wouldn't be good form. [Privately I will remark that they do go by mail--dated to suit the requirements.]
Cablegram to Ellen Terry, London.
Age has not withered, nor custom staled, the admiration and affection I have felt for you so many many years. I lay them at your honored feet with the strength and freshness of their youth upon them undiminished.
MARK TWAIN.
She is a lovely character, as was also Sir Henry Irving, who lately departed this life. I first knew them thirty-four years ago in London, and thenceforth held them in high esteem and affection.
