January 11 Tuesday - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in West Redding, Conn,
Dear Paine,— Again I am living the ideal life & am immeasurably content. There is nothing to mar it but the bloody-minded bandit Arthur, who still fetches & carries Helen. Presently he will be found drowned, Claude comes to Bay House twice a day to see if I need any service. He is invaluable. There was a military lecture last night at the Officer’s Mess, Prospect, & as the lecturer honored me with a special & urgent invitation & said he wanted to lecture to me particularly, I being “the greatest living master of the platform-art,” I naturally packed Helen & her mother into the provided carriage & went.
As soon as we landed at the door with the crowd the Governor came to me at once & was very cordial, & apparently as glad to see me as he said he was. So that incident is closed. And pleasantly & entirely satisfactorily. Every thing is all right, now, & I am no longer in a clumsy & awkward situation.
I “met up” with that charming Colonel Chapman, & other officers of the regiment, & had a good time,
Commandant Peters of the “Carnegie”’ will dine here tonight & arrange a private visit for us to his ship, the crowd to be denied access. / Sincerely Yours, / S.L.C. [MTP: Paine’s 1917 Mark Twain Letters, p. 837-8; & marks replaced]. Note: Claude, Sam’s servant, likely stayed at the Hamilton Hotel. See Jan. 10 entry for D. Hoffman’s excerpt and Clemens’ relief about a breach of etiquette.
January 11-20 Thursday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in West Redding, Conn. .
Dear Paine—
I want Helen to have the bicycle the thieves restored to the garret. Will you please send it according to the directions supplied by Mr. Allen in the accompanying letter. If you can pay the transportation costs in advance, I shall be glad.
Also, will you tell the Harpers to send all books through the firm mentioned by Mr. Allen. Then we shan’t have any trouble about getting them promptly.
I hope you are all well. I would rather be here than anywhere else. / Sincerely Yours / SLC [enclosure missing] (MTP).