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/
>> > > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
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