June 16, 1904 Thursday

June 16 Thursday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske in London.

You have been a dear good friend to us, dear Mr. Fiske, & she loved you & honored you, & yours was always a welcome face to her. But I cannot write, I do not know how I even live; & Clara—why, Clara does not, she has lain ever since, smileless, tearless, saying nothing. It was such a crushing blow, & so unexpected. Livy was brightly chatting, five minutes before she died. [on right margin:] The flowers came, & were used [MTP]. Note: this letter was found in Fiske’s pocket after his death. See Nov. 3 from Horatio S. White.

S.M. Swales wrote a letter of condolence, what Sam noted on the envelope was a “Beautiful letter from a stranger” [MTP].