The introduction to CHAPTER 1 of MARK TWAIN'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH HENRY
HUTTLESTON ROGERS from UCal Press (1969) describes Mark Twain's personal
physician Dr. Clarence Rice introducing Clemens and Rogers in September
1893. On the evening of September 15, 1893, Clemens wrote his daughter
Clara --

"The best new acquaintance [H.H. Rogers] I’ve ever seen has helped us over
Monday’s bridge. I got acquainted with him on a yacht two years ago [MTP]."

See the above entry online at the Elmira resources for MARK TWAIN DAY BY
DAY. (Vol.2, Section 15.)
https://daybyday.marktwainstudies.com/vol-2-section-0015/

If Clemens's memory is correct, the initial meeting would have been onboard
a yacht in 1890-1891.  If someone wanted to trace back through the MTDBD
resource, they may be able to pinpoint that particular yacht trip -- where
it was from and who was aboard.

(As an aside -- Dr. Clarence Rice's daughter would later marry critic Van
Wyck Brooks.)

In MARK TWAIN AND HENRY HUTTLESTON ROGERS: AN ODD COUPLE by Earl J. Dias,
(1984) Dias states Rogers had "read much of Clemens' work, had once heard
him lecture and had a particular fondness for A CONNECTICUT YANKEE." Dias
does have notes on sources,  However, he does not source this particular
statement. Dias worked closely with the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, so
an inquiry to a reference librarian or archivist there may reveal something
more regarding Rogers's prior knowledge of Twain's works.

The most extensive and earliest biography of Rogers is by Elbert Hubbard
written in 1909 for a journal article and later collected in LITTLE
JOURNEYS TO THE HOMES OF GREAT BUSINESS MEN, Volume 25.  It does not go
into detail on Rogers's acquaintance with Clemens.

Barb


On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 2:39 PM Matthew Seybold <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> On several occasions between 1893 and 1909, Clemens described Rogers as his
> "best friend." I remember very clearly that Rogers was not an avid reader
> of Twain's books, but I don't remember exactly what he knew of his work
> prior to their becoming friends. Vaguely I seem to recall he might've seen
> one of the ill-fated plays. In any case, the place to turn is certainly the
> Twain Project's edition of their letters, which can be borrowed from the
> Internet Archive if you cannot find it elsewhere. - MS
>
> *Matt Seybold, PhD*
> Associate Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
> Scholar-in-Residence, Center for Mark Twain Studies
> Editor, MarkTwainStudies.org
> Host, The American Vandal Podcast
> <https://marktwainstudies.com/the-american-vandal-podcast/>
>
> Peterson Chapel Vestry, Cowles Hall
> [log in to unmask]
> MattSeybold.com
> <https://www.elmira.edu/>
>
>
> On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 3:20 PM DM Sataari <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Twain and HH Rogers did have mutual acquaintances and moved within
> similar
> > social circles, so it is quite likely that they may have crossed paths at
> > some point, but there's no evidence I can find of Rogers specifically
> > attending one of Mark Twain's lectures prior to their introduction by
> Rev.
> > Twichell around 1890.
> >
> > I hope someone can prove me wrong!
> >
> > On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 2:53 PM Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I have a vague recollection that HH Rogers had attended one of Mark
> > > Twain's lectures prior to their being introduced.  I'm curious as to
> the
> > > accuracy of this and if so when and where that lecture occurred.
> > >
> > > --
> > > /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
> > >
> >
>