July 22 Wednesday – In Kittery Point, Maine William Dean Howells wrote to Sam, needling him about a book lent.
One of the times when I was fool enough to come out and comfort you in your last sickness, I brought a book and read some sketches out of it to you; but instead of considering the peculiar make of miscreant I was dealing with, and keeping it chained to my wrist, I actually left it with you. It was called “Every One his own Way,” and Miss Edith Wyatt wrote it. I know that I cannot appeal to any high principle in you; but is there no crevice in your brazen armor through which one can get a borrowed book out of you? Try and think, and if you find one let me know. That book was very precious to us all, especially Mrs. Howells—the only Howells you fear, because she isn’t a real one, perhaps.
Howells had heard from his son John Howells that Livy was well again. When did the Clemenses start for Florence? He wished they were going along. Currently he suffered from “a high old bilious colic” [MTHL 772-3]. Note: Edith Franklin Wyatt (b.1873) Every One His Own Way (1901) [Gribben 790]. Sam answered on July 25.