February 1 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Princess de Rohan / Villa Maria 5 p.m. / Rifredi / [Horiz. Line separator] / Telephone worked at 3 p.m., the first time since it first worked, New Year’s eve / [Horiz. Line separator] / Ordered suit for damages, through Mr. Cecchi & gave him my papers” [NB 47 TS 5]. Note: Clara’s note below reveals that Jean and Clara were likely accompanying their father to the Princess’ villa.
Note: Princess de Rohan was active in the early formation of London’s International Lyceum Club for Women Artists and Writers, founded June 20, 1904. She helped Constance Smedley (b. 1876), the founder, set up chapters in Europe. On June 9, Smedley wrote from Berlin about de Rohan, whom she described as “the most beautiful looking woman in a lovely pale blue frock, very young with snow white hair and covered with wonderful diamonds” [Lyceumclub.org: Accessed Oct. 22, 2010: “ ‘A World of Fellowship’:
The Founding of the International Lyceum Club for Women Artists and Writers,” Transnational Associations 1 (March 2005) by Grace Brockington].
Clara Clemens wrote a note to her father.
Father dear—If you want to skip to town to see a lawyer this morning, you better go as soon as you possibly can after your masseur is through and then return yourself from the lawyer in a cab Emilio can get for you— or would it do to go with me this afternoon at 2 and then we’ll send you back for Jean in a cab in time to go to Princess Rohan’s. Now be calm, father, and discuss this with me by note or any way that you like, but don’t bother Mother about it. Yours, / C.C. [MTP]. Note: see Feb. entry, note from Clara, about Sam seeing a lawyer. See NB entry above about Princess de Rohan.
E.C. Hebbard of Guaranty Trust of N.Y. sent Sam a printed form with check of $4.83 interest on Brooklyn Union Gas Co. Debentures [MTP].
Selina Solomans wrote from Florence to Sam, thanking him for his “kind note … sent me the other day.” Through his books she felt she knew him, and offered her sympathy for “the trial you are undergoing.” She assumed he was interested “of the scientific or psychological aspects of humor. Professor Everett of Harvard in his Essay on ‘Comedy’ declares that no adequate analysis has yet been made on the subject. Now, though a woman & a wild westerner, I am presumptuous enough to believe that I have done this, or at least a bit of original work on the subject.” Though not a writer she thought she might “secure” Sam’s “kind criticism” on her paper, a work of three years [MTP]. Note: The letter is torn in half lengthways. Charles Carroll Everett (1829-1900), Harvard professor, authored the 1888 book, Poetry, Comedy, and Duty.