May 22 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

We’re up in the hills now. All of us but Santissima. A little note this morning from Miss Gordon says that she [Clara Clemens] is improving wonderfully after her operation. Fighting a headache, I am too dull to write what was in my mind.

This evening after dinner Mr. Clemens read the ms. he worked on all day. A cholera microbe’s own story of microbe life in a human being. It is a marvellous imaginative scientific little story. With his acute eye that little microbe sees undreamed of wonders and kingdoms in the body of the dirty Russian Tramp that he inhabits. I asked Mr. Clemens how long he’d been turning those marvellous imaginings over in his mind, and he said that the idea had been there for many years—he tried to work it up from a drop of water and a scientist with a powerful microscope; but it wasn’t right. He had to become the microbe, and see and think and act and appreciate as a microbe. He truly said to Jean that it isn’t a story for babes. But it will delight physicians and bacteriologists. Oh he is such a marvel, such a marvel [MTP TS 59-60].

William Evarts Benjamin wrote to Sam, enclosing another $250 check released by the Title, Guarantee & Trust Co. relating to the quitclaim deed on the Tarrytown property. The trolley co.was to have removed the offending tracks by May 1 [MTP].

Miss Edith Hulbert wrote from NYC to Sam, requesting an interview for the purpose of arranging a play for his JA. She was writing at the request of Mrs. Dunlap Hopkins [MTP].

C. Brereton Sharpe wrote to Sam for the Plasmon Syndicate, Ltd., London, sending the latest report issued by the Company as Ashcroft had requested. Divendends were to be reinvested in the operation [MTP].

Roy W. Van Hoesen wrote on The Office letterhead (Franklinville, N.Y.) to Sam. “We have a half-tone engraving of a little hut in which it is reputed you wrote ‘Roughing It,’ at Aurora, Nevada. / Should you favor us with a little comment in reference to it I am sure it would be appreciated by the readers…” [MTP]. Note: the magazine advertised, “Published to the advantage of progressive office men.” Also seen as Van Haesen.