December 6 Monday — In Hamilton Bermuda Sam replied to a non-extant letter from daughter Clara.
Clara dear, I am very glad to hear that Ossip is improving. It constitutes happiness for both of you, Jean allows me to stay here till the 18, & I am glad, for here I do not look at the newspapers when they come—not from purpose or principle, but because I feel no interest in news. I do not seem to be in the world or of it at all. Its affairs are not mine, Never in my life before, perhaps, have I had such a strong sense of being severed from the world, & the bridges all swept away. Even the billiard table has no interest for me. Paine & I have played only once. I lie abed until past noon (breakfast in bed.) I am the guest of the Allens; they wouldn’t let me remain at the hotel—for which I am very thankful. For you can’t make a home out of a hotel, & I can’t be completely satisfied outside of a home. This one numbers 6 members, & is just the right size: Mr. & Mrs. Allen, Helen; a cat, a dog, & me. We drive 3 hours, afternoons; after dinner I help Helen get her lessons; she goes to bed at 8 & the rest of us at 9.
That dear Jean misunderstood me about the checks, but I have been explaining, this morning.
With great love to you & Ossip, & lots & lots of happiness— / Marcus [MTP].
Sam also wrote to daughter Jean.
Oh, you dear rascal, to reproach me so, & break my heart when I didn’t deserve it! Bless you, I didn’t distrust your intentions, & as for your honesty, I couldn’t impeach it. No one can do that. You misquote me, dear, & you misunderstood me. I said “pay the servants & the butcher”—meaning, pay anybody who needs his money, but leave the other bills unpaid till I return. As for pocket money for you, it escaped my mind—I want you to have that, of course. I sent a rectifying cable to you immediately, so as to extinguish your inconveniences as quickly as possible.
Dear heart, I do trust you & I can’t bear to have you think I don’t. I could distrust your judgement (& my own), but not you.
I am very very very glad I can stay till the 18th—the change of scene & conditions makes a wholesome change in my mental-will. I have seldom thought of the Ashcrofts; & as for news of the great world, it does not interest me. The Times & the Herald have lain at my elbow 2 days, now—unopened. The sight of a newspaper stirs not a single quiver of interest in me.
You speak of a letter from Peter Dunne. I think you may send me that kind of letters—friendly letters & letters from friends, of an unirritating sort. I could answer some of them here—& if too lazy to do that, I could have the pleasure of reading them, anyway.
I hope you & Bébé will have a good time, & that you will continue to be unlonely.
Yes—get the muff & boa for my xmas to Katy. I shall be back in time to hand out the other xmases to the household.
The Allens won’t let me stay at the hotel, so I have given up my room there. They are lovely, the Allens. I see Paine every day—& most of the day.
If you get this letter in time, you must tell me to thank Helen & her parents for giving me such a delightful home. It certainly is delightful.
With lots & lots & lots of love— / Father [MTP].