Mark Twain's Birthday Honoree Banquet

64a. Delmonico’s NYC 1905. Mark Twain.jpg
64b. Delmonico’s N1C 1905. Mark Twain.jpg

Creator

Delmonico's

Title

Mark Twain's Birthday Honoree Banquet

Coverage

New York City

Date

December 5, 1905

Description

Mark Twain’s seventieth birthday party at Delmonico’s was national news. The attendees were equally divided between men and women, including the 32-year-old writer Willa Cather. The bill of fare is illustrated with comic sketches by cartoonist Leon Barritt (1852-1938) depicting the guest of honor at the successive stages of his career. The dinner was hosted by George Harvey, the owner and editor of Harper’s Weekly which published a special supplement with photographs of the 170 guests sitting at tables.