July 30 Thursday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to George W. Reeves, real estate agent for Hoyt & Co., N.Y.
I return the interview. It is the usual thing—made up out of whole cloth by the bastard son of a prostitute who wrote it.
I enclose receipt for $200—Mr. Gardiner’s third rent-payment.
Also, a note to Mr. Nichols which you can use if you like. It ought to have something libelous added, but I am going away in October, & could not be here to defend the suit. I doubt if he likes me. I said some irreverent things about those Tarrytown estate-milkers that serve in the tax-corral, & I thought he seemed hurt. I thought perhaps he belonged—was one of the official bunco-steerers himself, maybe [MTP]. Note: Charles A. Gardiner had leased the Tarrytown house and would purchase it. It seems strange that Reeves would have shared an interview with Clemens, especially one he found objectionable; the date and nature of it is unknown.
Samuel E. Moffett wrote to Sam.
My Dear Uncle, / I’m asking another little favor. I am anxious for Mary to get out a little more and meet people—she has been so shut up with sickness in the family. She is also interested in art, as you know. John De Witt Warner has put us both up for membership in the National Arts Club, which admits both ladies and gentlemen, but it is necessary to have a second for Mary. Richard Watson Gilder is a member. I think he has met Mary, but I would rather not ask him myself to second her. If you would drop him a line making the request it would be all right, and I should be a thousand times obliged [MTP]. Note: Sam enclosed Moffett’s letter to Richard Watson Gilder on Aug. 1.
Sam’s notebook: “Am. Pub. Co’s 1/2 yearly check, $ 2414.25. Mailed it to Guaranty Trust & notified Miss Lyon. / Hillcrest 3d month paid (rent) $200.00. Endorsed it to Sue” [NB 46 TS 22].
July 30 on or after – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam responded to a July 29 royalties letter sent to Livy by Frank Bliss [MTP]. Note: This is dated July 29 or after by the MTP, but it’s doubtful mail from Hartford to Elmira was delivered the same day, so here it is judged to be July 30 or after.
Livy also wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
It was four weeks yesterday since we had the delightful trip down the river in the yacht. It seems to have been my first entering into the world after my long seclusion. It was so great a pleasure to see you and Mr Rogers once more that it makes the memory of the day a pleasant one. The rest of the trip was very tiresome—the heat and dust of the train seemed unendurable after the yacht. I tried to turn and send a waving greeting back to you as we left the yacht but it seemed almost impossible to turn as the men carried me away. [MTHHR 535]. Note: Livy thanked Emilie for the flowers sent to her sickroom last winter and asked after Emilie’s mother.
Chatto & Windus’ Jan. 1, 1904 statement to Clemens shows 1,500 2s.0d. copies of HF were printed, for a total printed to date of 38,000 [1904 Financials file MTP].