June 7 Wednesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to J. Henry Harper: “Please hand to bearer & charge to me, paper copy of your ‘Rudiments of Manners,’ also paper copy of your ‘How to Conceal Mental Vacancy & Seem Intelligent’” [MTP]. Note: Hill points out this sarcasm as one of Sam’s “savage moods” and “disbelief in the Harper integrity” [112].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today came a letter to me from Santissima [Clara]. A letter clamouring for news and talking of the concert tours she wants to make next winter. A great faith has come to Santissima. She had to reach out to something in her grief—a woman has to. She can comfort others perhaps, but she cannot comfort herself and she has to reach out for the help that is in the eternal. Perhaps a man doesn’t need it—I don’t know—be can shield and comfort and protect a woman, he’s shelter and comforter and protector by his right and instinct—the woman who hasn’t that human protector has got to turn to the spiritual one—and Santissima turned. She has such a pure beautiful flame burning out of her soul, and so much soul and intellect. I am allowed now to write to her.

This afternoon at five o’clock as I sat in front of the fire with a big book, Mr. Thayer arrived and I flew to let him in through the big window and then when he had commented quasi apologetically, and utterly lovingly upon his queer Canadian boots—I went to tell Mr. Clemens that he was here and soon the talk began. Mr. Clemens truly says of him that “he is a gem and included in the rent”. He is a delight, full of soul, intellect, great humanness, magnetism and great lovableness too. Jean started him on his bird subject, and he talked about birds and skunks and deer, etc. Saying a heap of rememberable things, and then regretting that he’d been started, for he really came to hear Mr. Clemens talk. But do we ever do what we think we’ve come to do? [MTP TS 63-64].

Ralph P. Buell wrote from NYC to thank Sam for “the many pleasant hours” spent reading his books. His query had to do with Sam’s remark of the brothers and sisters of Christ—what was his source? [MTP].