April 5 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to Franklin G. Whitmore.
Our common everyday & absolutely unavoidable expenses are now $4,000 a month. For the Lord Jesus H. Christ’s sake sell or rent that God damned house. I would rather go to hell than own it 50 days longer. / Yours ever …
P.S. By gosh, I was mistaken! I multiplied the expenses by 2. I find they are only a trifle, if anything, over $2,000 a month. So I am comfortable & satisfied, now, & I intend to remain so. I shan’t look at those damned bank-books again for 7 years [MTP].
The wife of John Kendrick Bangs died. He remarried a little over a year later, on Apr. 27, 1904. Trombley makes much of a “crush” Isabel Lyon had on Bangs, claiming she was “attempting to establish romantic relationship” with him [MT’s Other Woman 26-7]. Note: Trombley cites Isabel’s diary, but doesn’t detail what she calls Lyon’s “best efforts” to romance Bangs, nor does she cite times they were in each other’s company.
Helen Keller wrote a lovely letter of appreciation to Livy for the words and letters of Sam.
A word from one of the dearest men in the world has put the thought in my heart to write to you. Mr. Clemens told me of your long illness in the letter I received from him a short time ago, and I write to say that you both have my loving sympathy in your troubles. I have not seen you; but because I know and love him, I feel very tenderly towards you. I remember with a glow of joy the Sunday morning we spent together last April when I was at Princeton, I remember how he talked, and I listened delightedly with the ear behind my fingers, and every word he said imaged his great, loveable personality and brilliant thought. He spoke of you many times in a way that made me want very much to see you [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. to Clara: “Can your mother be permitted to see this letter, you rat? / Vater”