December 26 Sunday — Sam drafted instructions to a printer for a card he wished printed for answering the many dozens of letters that poured in expressing sorrow and condolence upon the death of Jean Clemens.
TO ALL FRIENDS WHO HAVE S.L. CLEMENS STORMFIELD, DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH |
Somewhat after this date he sent this card to many friends and associates. The following survive—to: Lilian W. Aldrich, Grace E. King, Marguerite Schmitt, Frank J. Sprague and Harriet Sprague, Bram Stoker, John L. RoBards, Josephine S, Hobby, Charles J. Langdon and Family, Mary E. Moffett, Elisabeth N. Fairchild, Virginia Frazer Boyle, Margaret Blackmer (postmarked Jan 15, 1910), Paul Kester (Postmarked Jan. 17, 1910), Helen Keller (Jan. 26, 1910 from Bermuda), Katherine B. Clemens (postmarked Mar. 16, 1910) [MTP]. Note: many more were likely sent to those whose letters and telegrams during this period are listed.
Paine writes of this day’s activities:
Next day [Dec. 26] the storm had turned into a fearful blizzard; the whole hilltop was a raging, driving mass of white, He wrote most of the day, but stopped now and then to read some of the telegrams or letters of condolence which came flooding in. Sometimes he walked over to the window to look out on the furious tempest. Once, during the afternoon, he said:
“Jean always so loved to see a storm like this, and just now at Elmira they are burying her.”
Later he read aloud some lines by Alfred Austin, which Mrs. Crane had sent him lines which he had remembered in the sorrow for Susy:
When last came sorrow, around barn and byre Wind-careen snow, the year’s white sepulchre, lay, “Come in,”’ I said, “and warm you by the fire”; And there she sits and never goes away.
It was that evening that he came into the room where Mrs. Paine and I sat by the fire, bringing his manuscript.
“I have finished my story of Jean’s death,” he said. “It is the end of my autobiography. I shall never write any more. I can’t judge it myself at all, One of you read it aloud to the other, and let me know what you think of it. If it is worthy, perhaps some day it may be published” [MTB 1551]. Note: Alfred Austin (1835-1913) [Gribben 35].
More letters and telegrams of condolence were sent by:
| Mrs. Patrick McAleer Elizabeth D. Bacon for Woman Suffrage John Kendrick Bangs Carroll Beckwith Edward Burk Elisabeth and Marion Cheney Leila H, Cheney Esther E, Clemens Marie H. Clemens Wong Sun Yun Clemens Susan L, Crane Susan B, Curtis Cleveland Hoadley Dodge Frederick A. Duneka S.K. Frantz Mary L., Fretwell Helena Gilder Jeannette L. Gilder Bertha Good M.J. Goodwin Jerry B, Graham S. Green Emma R, Guild Bridget W. Guinness (telegram) | Norman Hapgood Katharine I. Harrison Josephine S. Hobby Jeanette Keen Benjamin Kimball Seth Low John Y.W. MacAlister (telegram) James F. Mallinckrodt W.W. Murray Alice W. Pearmain Alice R. Porter Julia H. Pullen (telegram) Jeannie D. Rice William H. Rideing Clara L. Spaulding Isidor Straus Charles R.Titus John P. Vollmer Blanche Von Schulenburg Mary A. Waite Elizabeth Wallace Leona B. Ward John E. Wayland [MTP]. |
Clemens A.D. for this day is listed by MTP.