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/ >