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