August 5 Monday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote the aphorism about improving bad liquor to Mr. Martin [MTP]. See index for other aphorisms or maxims.

Sam also replied to the July 30 from W.J. Phelps, by writing instructions to Lyon on the bottom and right margin of Phelps’ letter.

a conversation with nearly any publisher would prob convince him that no person who is not a pub can teach a pub anything valuable about his trade or can furnish him an idea about it which is new & has not been prayerfully examined previously. It would take me too long to write out an explanation of why there is not a cheap Tom Sawyer, but if he will consult a publisher the publisher will be able to furnish the explanation by word of mouth at small cost in the matter of time [MTP]. Note: above Sam’s writing are three lines of shorthand symbols.

Sam also gave an aphorism to Miss Dorothy Quick, who had arrived for a five-day visit with Sam: “Consider the proportion of things: it is better to be a young june-bug than an old bird of paradise. / Affectionately Yours….” [MTP].

Emily Ford for the Girls’ Friendly Society Vacation House, Huntington, L.I. wrote a respectful begging letter to Sam [MTP].

Charles J. Langdon wrote to Sam, acknowledging receipt of Sam’s share of taxes on the Buffalo property; he offered congratulations on his English honors [MTP]. Note: Charley’s letters were usually brief.

Carlo Paladini, journalist, wrote from Italy to send his article translating Sam’s London speech, otherwise unspecified. He asked to hear from Sam and for an American flag, for which he’d reciprocate [MTP].

F. Rossi wrote from San Jose, Calif. to send Sam “a small photo of a document bearing the name of the Signorina America Vespucci, which you may recognize as an ancestor of Americus” Vespucci [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd. Aug 22, ‘07”; copy of the small photo is barely legible and in the file, dated 1266.