Several biographers cite *Love Letters of Mark Twain *as source for the
Rogers having seen one of Twain's Sandwich Islands lectures. However, upon
a quick review of that source this morning, I failed to turn up the
relevant passage. Perhaps others will have better luck. It is also
available via Internet Archive. - 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 Fri, May 26, 2023 at 7:47 AM Barbara Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> 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/
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
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> > >>> and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
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> > >>> 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/
> >
>