October 13 Tuesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam added P.S. to his Oct. 12 to Doubleday:
P. S. Your letter has arrived. It makes me proud & glad—what Kipling says. I hope Fate will fetch him to Florence while we are there. I would rather see him than any other man.
We’ve let the Tarrytown house for a year. Man, you would never have believed a person could let a house in these times. That one’s for sale, the Hartford one is sold. When we buy again may we—may I—be damned.
I’ve dipped into Blowitz & find him quaintly & curiously interesting. I think he tells the straight truth too. I knew him a little, 23 years ago [MTP]. Note: Henri Blowitz (1825-1903), Bohemian journalist. In 1880 when Sam “knew him a little” he was the chief Paris correspondent for the London Times, most famous for the 1878 printing the Treaty of Berlin at the very moment it was being signed.
Sam also wrote to daughter Clara.
“Benny dear, I have been trying hard for two days, to get a ship for you for the 25th, but it is impossible. There is no ship for Italy on that date. So I am arranging for a tug—it is the best I can do. Dear child, don’t miss the tug. / Lovingly Yours” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to attorney Henry C. Griffin, Tarrytown about return of overpayment of taxes on the Tarrytown property. This letter is not extant but referred to in Griffin’s Oct. 15 reply [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Rented Hillcrest to Mr. Gardiner till Nov. 1/04 for $2,400. & extended to that date his option to buy for $52,000 cash (or $52,500, whichever it is.) Reeves, of Hoyt & Co 15 W. 42d st. / Carry letter & stock to Safe-Dep & examine 2 H – contracts” [NB 46 TS 26]. Note: George W. Reeves was Sam’s real estate agent. H contracts were Harpers. Charles A. Gardiner leased and then purchased the Tarrytown house
Sam also wrote to an unidentified person: “The photos have not arrived. The directions were very explicit—they were not to be to Elmira later than the 30th of September. If they are lost I cannot hold myself responsible. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain” [MTP]..
Sam also wrote to Harper & Brothers.
“I wish to thank you particularly for the volume III of Poultney Bigelow’s German History. I have not seen the other volumes, but I find this one thoroughly interesting. Am not aware that there is another German History that can be charged with having that quality” [MTP].
Frank N. Doubleday for Doubleday, Page & Co. wrote to Sam.
Many thanks for your appreciative remarks about “Country Life in America.” The price is $3.00 a year, therefore you get $1.00 back.
Did your boy get a copy of Kipling’s poems and de Blowitz? I would be almost ashamed to … your Kipling’s letter in which he refers to you, since he puts it so strongly—probably it is better to write it: “I love to think of the great and God-like Clemens. He is the biggest man you have on your side of the water by a damn sight, and don’t you forget it. Cervantes was a relation of his.”
I had a call yesterday from Mr. Gillette. I am going to try to follow out his ideas. He is certainly a delightful chap and I am obliged to you for introducing him [MTP].