October 18 Wednesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara at 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y.
It shall be just as you prefer, dear heart. If she is in the house from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m., I think that that will answer my needs. It will be best to tell her when you see her, no doubt. Clara dear, assume full and sole authority in the house. Require that all complaints be brought to you—none to anyone else. Allow no one but yourself to scold or correct a servant. All of this is for Jean’s sake, and to keep her out of trouble—particularly with Ugo. I do not think she has trouble, now, with the others.
It delights me to know you are so happy and contented, and able to work, and I hope there will be no bar to your going to Hackensack.
I said a cordial yes to MacAlister, but I added no condolences, because I had already telegraphed Col. Harvey to attend to that for me.
A kiss and a hug and a good-bye, dear, it is dinner time. / Father [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Harper’s Weekly Editor, a letter which ran Nov. 4:
DUBLIN, N.H., October 18, 1905.
To the Editor of Harper’s Weekly:
SIR,—Equal Laws for all. It is good in theory, and I believe it would prove good in practice, if fairly and dispassionately tried. The law dresses a convict in a garb which makes him easily distinguishable from any moving thing in the world at a hundred and twenty-five yards, except a zebra. If he escapes in these clothes, he cannot get far. Could not this principle be extended to include his brother criminal the Overspeeder, thus making the pair fairly and righteously equal before the law? Every day, throughout America, the Overspeeder runs over somebody and “escapes.” That is the way it reads. At present the ’mobile numbers are so small that ordinary eyes cannot read them, upon a swiftly receding machine, at a distance of a hundred feet—a distance which the machine has covered before the spectator can adjust his focus. I think I would amend the law. I would enlarge the figures, and make them readable at a hundred yards.
For overspeeding—first offence—I would enlarge the figures again, and make them readable at three hundred yards—this in place of a fine, and as a warning to pedestrians to climb a tree. This enlargement to continue two months, with privilege of resuming the smaller figures after the first thirty days upon payment of $500. For each subsequent offence, reenlargement for six months, with privilege of resuming the smaller figures upon payment of $1000 at the end of three. With auto numbers readable as far as one could tell a convict from a barber-pole none of these criminals could run over a person and “escape.”
Two months ago a touring mobile came within an indeterminable fraction of killing a member of my family; and its member was out of sight-range before the sharpest eyes present could make it out, it was so small and the spectators so dazed by momentary fright. I have had two narrow escapes in New York, and so has everybody else. None of us has succeeded in capturing the auto number. I feel a sort of personal interest in this suggested reform.
I am, sir,
M. T. [MTP].
Sam also sent a telegram to Miss A. Watson in care of H.H. Rogers, 26 Broadway, N.Y.:
“Please don’t draw the check at all find I shall not need it. S L Clemens” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: This wonderful month is drawing ever nearer its end.
Mr. McAllister [sic] has cabled from London asking the right to represent Mr. Clemens at Henry Irving’s funeral and present a wreath, and he is to do it.
I piled up 172 little pincushions on the bed today. 172 [MTP TS 108]. Note: John Y.W. MacAlister.
My dear Mr Clemens
Katy Leary wrote to Sam from 21 Fifth Ave. N.Y.
Your rooms will be all ready for you on the 25th ; the rooms are papered; we have only to lay the carpet in your bedroom and put the things to rights; the down stairs is all ready; you can come any time after Wednesday next[.] We shall be ready and glad to have you here[.] Miss Clara seemes like her old self she is happy in her work and the fixing up of the house [.]
I think it will be lovely this winter [MTP]. Note: Sam enclosed this letter in his Oct. 19 to MacAlister.
Ambrose Lee wrote again to Sam, explaining his reason for desiring an interview—that was to “suggesting to you a subject for an article…relates to the dwellers in the N.Y. City Tenement Houses, & is full of pathos, humor & philosophical & sociological interest….” Lee wanted no consideration for providing the information he’d obtained as a supervising inspector of the tenements. On or just after this day Isabel V. Lyon responded to Lee’s Oct. 18 note: “Mr. Clemens thanks you very much, but he doesn’t get half time enough to write the things he wants to & so mustn’t add anything” [MTP].
Sylvia Platt wrote from NYC to thank Sam for writing in and sending a book (unspecified) [MTP].
William Wilson wrote from Boston to ask Sam if “a little corner” might be kept for them in his plans for next week, though they were liable to be introduced to him at the College Club on Tuesday. “…a good deal has transpired since we saw you eight years ago!” He wished to spend an hour “sharing an evening meal, smoking and talking of Mrs. Clemens & Clara and many things where sympathy is strong” [MTP].
It shall be just as you prefer, dear heart. If she is in the house from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m., I think that that will answer my needs. It will be best to tell her when you see her, no doubt. Clara dear, assume full and sole authority in the house. Require that all complaints be brought to you—none to anyone else. Allow no one but yourself to scold or correct a servant. All of this is for Jean’s sake, and to keep her out of trouble—particularly with Ugo. I do not think she has trouble, now, with the others.
It delights me to know you are so happy and contented, and able to work, and I hope there will be no bar to your going to Hackensack.
I said a cordial yes to MacAlister, but I added no condolences, because I had already telegraphed Col. Harvey to attend to that for me.
A kiss and a hug and a good-bye, dear, it is dinner time. / Father [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Harper’s Weekly Editor, a letter which ran Nov. 4:
DUBLIN, N.H., October 18, 1905.
To the Editor of Harper’s Weekly:
SIR,—Equal Laws for all. It is good in theory, and I believe it would prove good in practice, if fairly and dispassionately tried. The law dresses a convict in a garb which makes him easily distinguishable from any moving thing in the world at a hundred and twenty-five yards, except a zebra. If he escapes in these clothes, he cannot get far. Could not this principle be extended to include his brother criminal the Overspeeder, thus making the pair fairly and righteously equal before the law? Every day, throughout America, the Overspeeder runs over somebody and “escapes.” That is the way it reads. At present the ’mobile numbers are so small that ordinary eyes cannot read them, upon a swiftly receding machine, at a distance of a hundred feet—a distance which the machine has covered before the spectator can adjust his focus. I think I would amend the law. I would enlarge the figures, and make them readable at a hundred yards.
For overspeeding—first offence—I would enlarge the figures again, and make them readable at three hundred yards—this in place of a fine, and as a warning to pedestrians to climb a tree. This enlargement to continue two months, with privilege of resuming the smaller figures after the first thirty days upon payment of $500. For each subsequent offence, reenlargement for six months, with privilege of resuming the smaller figures upon payment of $1000 at the end of three. With auto numbers readable as far as one could tell a convict from a barber-pole none of these criminals could run over a person and “escape.”
Two months ago a touring mobile came within an indeterminable fraction of killing a member of my family; and its member was out of sight-range before the sharpest eyes present could make it out, it was so small and the spectators so dazed by momentary fright. I have had two narrow escapes in New York, and so has everybody else. None of us has succeeded in capturing the auto number. I feel a sort of personal interest in this suggested reform.
I am, sir,
M. T. [MTP].
Sam also sent a telegram to Miss A. Watson in care of H.H. Rogers, 26 Broadway, N.Y.:
“Please don’t draw the check at all find I shall not need it. S L Clemens” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: This wonderful month is drawing ever nearer its end.
Mr. McAllister [sic] has cabled from London asking the right to represent Mr. Clemens at Henry Irving’s funeral and present a wreath, and he is to do it.
I piled up 172 little pincushions on the bed today. 172 [MTP TS 108]. Note: John Y.W. MacAlister.
My dear Mr Clemens
Katy Leary wrote to Sam from 21 Fifth Ave. N.Y.
Your rooms will be all ready for you on the 25th ; the rooms are papered; we have only to lay the carpet in your bedroom and put the things to rights; the down stairs is all ready; you can come any time after Wednesday next[.] We shall be ready and glad to have you here[.] Miss Clara seemes like her old self she is happy in her work and the fixing up of the house [.]
I think it will be lovely this winter [MTP]. Note: Sam enclosed this letter in his Oct. 19 to MacAlister.
Ambrose Lee wrote again to Sam, explaining his reason for desiring an interview—that was to “suggesting to you a subject for an article…relates to the dwellers in the N.Y. City Tenement Houses, & is full of pathos, humor & philosophical & sociological interest….” Lee wanted no consideration for providing the information he’d obtained as a supervising inspector of the tenements. On or just after this day Isabel V. Lyon responded to Lee’s Oct. 18 note: “Mr. Clemens thanks you very much, but he doesn’t get half time enough to write the things he wants to & so mustn’t add anything” [MTP].
Sylvia Platt wrote from NYC to thank Sam for writing in and sending a book (unspecified) [MTP].
William Wilson wrote from Boston to ask Sam if “a little corner” might be kept for them in his plans for next week, though they were liable to be introduced to him at the College Club on Tuesday. “…a good deal has transpired since we saw you eight years ago!” He wished to spend an hour “sharing an evening meal, smoking and talking of Mrs. Clemens & Clara and many things where sympathy is strong” [MTP].
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