June 11 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson, trying to cheer her up; she was discouraged “after a long hard siege of work,” as he put it. He regretted his “foolish letter” to her, and acknowledged that her “nerves would be worn” from her “long toil.”
That I should vex you, or pain you, of all persons—you know I would not do it purposely; you must surely know that. Take heart. / Sincerely …. Are you obliged to do the work now? Might not a month’s rest be an advantage to you & to it, too? Even if you resent this suggestion I have to take the risk & make it. And at least I mean it in good part. I would say three months if I dared [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. this day included: The beautiful morning—Noble situation of the house—Its one defect, loneliness—The visit of the deer—Sympathy with Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden—Eruption of Vesuvius—Earthquake in San Francisco [MTP: Autodict2].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Tonight when Nancy Brush was here, Mr. Clemens read aloud “Red Dog”—Kaa’s eyes were like “stale opals”—such a good description, he said. I wish Kipling could hear him read those masterpieces & see him read them, for it is a satisfying sight.
Today at half past five Mr. Clemens called me & read to me a fable he has written a short time before. He had concocted the fable in bed this morning, very early, & later he read the fable again to Nancy & Jean. It’s about the animals looking in a mirror to see a beautiful something, but each one saw only a reflection of himself & accused the house cat & all the others of lying [MTP TS 81; noted by Gribben 381]. Note: “Red Dog” by Kipling, who’s phrase was (“the light seemed to go out of his eyes and leave them like stale opals”
William Dean Howells wrote from Kittery Point, Maine to Sam, giving him the full particulars of the Furness story: “Mrs. Fiske, who recalled the facts to Pilla, was here yesterday, and repeated them to me” [MTHL 2: 809-10]. Note: See June 9 from Howells.
Harper & Brothers wrote to Isabel Lyon. “We are in receipt of your letter of June 8 and have sent the 2 copies of EVE’S DIARY. /Harper’s Magazine for December 1902 has been out th of stock for several years. We shall, however, endeavor to purchase a copy for Mr.Clemens…” [MTP].
Roi Cooper Megrue for Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Sam. “I have your letter of June 8th regarding Mr. Ducquois’ application to dramatize “The Californian’s Tale”. I will write Miss Marbury about it and am sure we will be able to arrange satisfactorily” [MTP].
June 11 ca. – In Dublin, N.H. Sam gave instructions to reply to the June 9 from D. Willers: “Tell him to go” [MTP].