October 12 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam added to his Oct. 11 to Mary B. Rogers.
Next Day, 11a.m.—Friday.
What a useful creature you are, Saccharin! When I’ve lost my sleep & can’t dictate coherently & have to quit trying, I can turn for relief to you—I can entertain myself with scribbling incoherently to you, & you have to put up with it. Clara likewise.
Do you know, I’m practising for winter in the matter of clothes. Miss Lyon has ordered a very long gray overcoat to hide them when I am outside—on the street. The night of the great storm I drove to the village through the deluge & talked, in the basement of the church, to a housefull of wet farmers & their families (it’s a gratis monthly function instituted by the ladies of the church) all clothed in sombre colors; & my spectral costume was the only cheerful object in that place. I meant to explain my clothes, but as I was passing to the platform Miss Fanny Dwight—summer-resorter, friend of ours, a person of extraordinary taste & wonderful judgment—halted me & whispered, “Mr. Clemens, you look just too sweet for anything!” I whispered back, “Miss Fanny, I was going to explain & justify these clothes, but in my opinion they don’t need it now.” My, but some girls do have the clear eye! Isn’t it so, Spontaneous C?
2 p.m. I’ve lost it! What shall I do? It was more butter . . . But never mind, I will think it up & tell you.
I’m lying abed to-day. I dictated only 10 minutes this morning—the mill wouldn’t go. I’m going out to dinner. But this is a special & beloved friend—otherwise I would keep my pledge.
I’m almost afraid to send you that Westminister. But I’ll do it, & you must forgive me. Which reminds me that you intimate that you came near not sending your letter, because of the pencil, etc. You mustn’t even think such criminal things! No matter what you write them with—a nail, if you choose—they’ll answer, don’t you doubt it [MTP].
Sam also replied to the Oct. 3 of O.W. Norton.
I am just leaving for home after the summer vacation—viz., 21 Fifth Ave. New York City A The right address for your book when you send it; & thank you for it now in advance.
I’m not the least troubled about that mistake! You are the only bugler that will ever see the tale, & the rest of our 83,000,000 will never suspect that I’ve made a blunder. Next time, I’ll make a bugler do anything a 60-piece orchestra can, & you will see that the public will take it at par. When you get to be 70 you’ll know the human being as well as I do. / Sincerely Yours ….
I am writing a sea-tale in which I make a sailor fall from the garboard-strake & break his neck.
You’ll see that a few profane & unreasonable salt-water experts will shed tears when they read about it [MTP].
Sam also replied to a (not extant) from Rudolph Foster, secretary White House, Washington, D.C. to decline an invitation from the President, as he was “bound by a New York engagement” for “that date” [MTP].
Sam also wrote a “Lobbying Letter” to Success Magazine.
There must have been a mistake. When asked for the use of my name in a good cause, I always say yes, but on the condition that I shall not be called upon at any time to do anything. And so I am a sleeping official on many a list. If I should try to do things in one case, I could not in fairness say no in the others, therefore I say no in every case. I have much work of my own to do, & not many months remaining to do it in, for I shall soon be needed in Heaven or elsewhere; wherefore I must confine myself strictly to my own work henceforth.
If I consented to the use of my name in the present case & forgot to add the usual “provided, etc.” it is my fault, my blunder; nevertheless—I beg of you—do not put me on any committees or expect of me any service, for I am 71, & henceforth shall devote such leisure moments as I can spare from more serious concerns, to prepare to meet – – – I do not quite know whom – – – but that is a detail which is not important & can be left to accident & circumstance. But I hope to be ready [MTP].
Plans were changed for move back to 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. for the winter some ten days earlier than planned. Packing for the began in earnest in the afternoon. In the evening Sam went to a dinner party at Franklin MacVeagh’s and wore his white suit [Oct. 13 to Mary Rogers].
Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: James Redpath and the jayhawker chief at the Press dinner in Boston [MTP Autodict2].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: The King came out of the study this morning with his gentlest smile on his face saying “Tell Agnes Repplier to go to Hell.” and I said “Yes, I will.” She is the president of the Contemporary Club of Philadelphia & is inviting him to go there & speak before that club & what others—Mr. Dana—couldn’t do a year ago, she is confident that she can do now. But it is as the King says—she’ll have to “go to Hell.”
The dictating didn’t work again. The King had a good night & wakened refreshed, but when he was about a quarter through his breakfast his eyes rested on some uncollected auto-ms. which he picked up & before he knew what he was about he was at work upon forming interlineations, forgetting his breakfast entirely & so stopping the proper working order of his “whole damn system.” When Miss Hobby arrived he tried to dictate, but it wouldn’t come. He walked up & down the living room—finally he said, “I wish Paine were here, he’d know the name of that damn jay hawker.”
The country is beautiful, but we don’t go out much, the winds blow so hard up on these Wuthering Heights, as the King calls this place, that to be out in it makes any tired nerves more ragged yet. But we’re going home to N.Y.
Tonight the king dined with Mr. MacVeagh. I was invited too—but I could not go—a home engagement [MTP TS 134]. Note: Repplier invited Clemens on Sept. 7.
Alice W. Pearmain wrote to Sam, offering various news about Benjamin Howe, about to be engaged. Alice was building her country house and also building at Redding, Conn. Howe had heard that Sam was to build in Redding—was it true? If so, Howe wanted to be allowed to give an estimate—she gave his address and phone in NYC [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Mrs. Pearmain’s letter—preserve it. It contains Mr. Benjamin Howe’s addresses.