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Subject:
From:
Barbara Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 26 May 2023 06:45:14 -0500
Content-Type:
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Scott -- the Earl Dias biography does state Rogers did attend a lecture.
Unfortunately, he doesn't source the statement.  Rogers's papers -- any
that still exist -- may be at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven.

https://millicentlibrary.org

Barb

On Fri, May 26, 2023 at 2:06 AM Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> My interest is not so much on when the two men became acquainted but if
> Rogers had ever attended one of Twain's lectures prior to their
> meeting.  I have a very vague recollection that Rogers did attend a
> lecture at some time.  What prompted my interest was Twain's lecture in
> Titusville in February of 1869.  Rogers, at this time was partners with
> Charles Pratt, Charles Pratt and Company.  Rogers was actually working
> out of Brooklyn but still had strong interest in the oil producers in
> Oil City, near Titusville.  Rogers had lived in McClintocksville, near
> Oil City, from 1861 to 1866, and is known to have had business in Oil
> City as late as 1872.  Oh well.  Just some speculation that such a
> connection is possible.
>
> On 5/25/23 19:52, Barbara Schmidt wrote:
> > I just checked Clarence Rice's biography as reprinted in TWAINIAN over
> > multiple issues in 1974 (reprinted from KANSAS CITY STAR, November 1925).
> > Rice dates his friendship with Clemens dating from 1885. Thus, Fears
> > appears correct in stating Clemens was referring to the first meeting
> with
> > Henry Rogers (aboard a yacht)  dating the first meeting earlier than the
> > September 1893 date when Rice introduced them.  Again, a thorough search
> > through MTDBD at the Elmira website might provide the clues about the
> yacht
> > trip.
> >
> > Barb
> >
> > On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 4:37 PM Barbara Schmidt<[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> In looking at that entry in MTDBD again --
> >>
> >> "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]."
> >>
> >> I realize the bracketed name [H. H. Rogers] was the guess of the editor
> --
> >> David Fears.  Clemens may have been referring to Dr. Clarence Rice as
> the
> >> person helping him over the "bridge."  Until one reads the entire
> letter to
> >> Clara, it seems possible he could be referring to either Rice or Rogers.
> >>
> >> Barb
> >>
> >> On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 4:12 PM Peter Messent <
> >> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Just a note. I went to the Millicent Library and was disappointed by
> the
> >>> Rogers material they held there - and as far as I could judge, nothing
> was
> >>> kept from me. But my sense from reading Dias is that material in the
> >>> Millicent has been removed since he (Dias) did his research and
> certainly
> >>> Rogers's interests and doings seem to have been well protected by his
> >>> descendants. But I would be interested in others' experiences.   Pete
> >>> Messent (author of MT and Male Friendship)
> >>>
> >>> Peter Messent (Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham)
> >>> Bargate House
> >>> Oak Tree Court
> >>> Tollerton
> >>> Nottingham NG12 4HJ
> >>> U.K.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ________________________________
> >>> From: Mark Twain Forum<[log in to unmask]>  on behalf of Barbara
> Schmidt <
> >>> [log in to unmask]>
> >>> Sent: 25 May 2023 08:24
> >>> To:[log in to unmask]  <[log in to unmask]>
> >>> Subject: Re: HH Rogers
> >>>
> >>> 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/
> >>>>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee
> >>> and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
> >>> message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and
> >>> attachment.
> >>>
> >>> Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not
> >>> necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email
> >>> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored
> >>> where permitted by law.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> --
> /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
>

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