July 28 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Helena Gilder (Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder).

Dear Mrs. Gilder—I can see by Clara’s letter that she was standing in deep need of mothering, & that in the nick of time you fulfilled that gracious & beautiful office & tided her over the hard place—& by her words I see that she is very grateful, & I hope that you will see by mine that I am, also. She feels the weight of an anniversary just as her mother did before her, & she “had been really ill with depression for some time, & was reaching a point of desperation” when you called her. That was a good thought, & I am glad it came to you.

I have been here 59 days, & can show 70 full days’ work for it—which shows that I have hardly been outside the house [That is, in working hours.] I do really go out feeding, very often, evenings, & once I came near going to church. I think it was in May, but it might have been June. They took up a collection [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: This afternoon we went down to a delightful little play, given in Mr. Joe Smith’s “Teatro Bambino”. It was just Mr. Smith and children—3 pairs of dear boy twins and little Margaret Pearmain. After the pretty little play the guests wandered to the garden, such a pretty garden with real Italian trimmings. Lucca Della Robbia copies, and a font and a shrine to the virgin. All very lovely. At the play Mr. Clemens sat in a tiny box next to Mrs. Jack Gardiner. Later I talked with Col. Higginson and Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart. Col. Higginson is a stately figure—with the calmness of memory you have of Emerson. He’s of that school, and 83 years old [MTP TS 82-83]. Note: Lucca della Robbia (1399/1400- 1482), Italian sculptor from Florence. Albert Bushnell Hart (1854-1943), historian, prolific writer, educator. He became known as the “Grand Old Man” of American History, and a devoted friend of Theodore Roosevelt. See one book listed in Gribben, p. 297.

Henry Copley Greene wrote from Sanderstown, R.I. to Miss Lyon, thanking for the $600 check for rent of his Dublin house for May through July. Did she know if Sam wanted to return to the house for the next summer? [MTP].

On or after this date in Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon responded for Sam to Greene, on his July 28 letter.

M . Clemens wishes me to thank you for your very kind note, & to tell you how glad he is to know that there is a possibility of his having your house another summer. Of course he cannot tell what his plans may have to be by that time, but he hopes that you will give him the refusal of the house if you decide not to come here yourselves [MTP].