June 2 Tuesday – Sam left the Harvey residence in Deal, N.J. and returned home to New York at noon. Before leaving, he settled on the name “Innocence at Home” for the new home in Redding [June 3 to Clara].

At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Sturgis.

I am just back this moment, & find yours of May 27. I have been down in Jersey eight days, visiting around among my angel-fishes of that region, & have had a very good time indeed.

Oh yes, I have plans, but what disturbs me is, that they don’t seem to fit in with yours very well. About next Monday (June 8) I expect to pass through Boston on a visit to my daughter Jean at Gloucester, Mass., & I was planning to stop over, (in Boston) one or two hours, if the trains might permit, & run in & see you. But there are two maybe’s—1, Maybe the trains will connect too closely; & 2, maybe you will be gone to Woodstock. Then there are some more maybes—thus: 3: maybe after I shall have spent a couple of days in Gloucester, the return trains may connect less closely in Boston; & 4, maybe you will be back from Woodstock by that time. And so I am going to hope for a glimpse of you in that Gloster trip somewhere. Meantime I will wait & see what happens. / Lovingly … [MTP; MTAq 166-7].

Sam also wrote to Helen S. Allen.

I have been away, 8 days, Helen dear, visiting a couple of my angel-fishes at Deal Beach, New Jersey, & we had fine times together. But through being away, I missed a girl’s-school musicale at Irvington-on-Hudson where another angel-fish was to perform (Margaret Blackmer of the “identification-shell.”) I lost my half of the shell in Bermuda at the Officers’ Mess dinner, but it has been found & is on its way to me now.)

The new country-house is finished (its name is “INNOCENCE AT HOME”), & we shall occupy it two weeks hence. In succession these following angel-fishes have promised to visit me there: Irene, & 3 Dorothys.

The Aquarium contains 12 fishes, & 4 of them are named Dorothy. If you come to New York before December I require  you to give me the pleasure of a visit there. Please do not forget. When I reached home yesterday I found letters from 6 of my 12. I am beginning the answers now, & they will all be finished before I stop.

(I am glad you had such a happy time at the fancy-dress party, & I thank you ever so much for the pictures. Max takes well. I think you are best in the large group.) Miss Lyon kept her promise to send you some pictures I believe. I will ask her when she comes; (she has gone to Innocence at Home on furnishing-business. Goes every 2 or 3 days, & is desperately busy.) / Very lovingly … [MTP; not in MTAq].

Sam also replied to the May 30 from Dorothy Quick, revealing his plans to move to Redding, Conn. 

You dear little Dorothy, I am so glad to hear from you. No, I haven’t been sick, I have been away, eight days, at Deal Beach, arranging a lot of matters with my publisher. I am home now for a week, then I am going to Gloucester, Mass., to spend a few days with my daughter Jean, who has taken a house near there on the sea shore for the summer. After that I shall run back to New York & then up-country to the new house. It will be ready for us by the 15th or 20th of June, we think. By & by you & your mother must give us a visit there, when we get things well going. Miss Lyon & I will do our very best to make it pleasant for you. Promise me you will come, dear.

I hope you will have a splendid good time at Commencement. I expect to arrive at Gloucester about that date.

Clara is singing in London, & I judge by the cable-news that she is having a very satisfactory time.

Miss Lyon sends you lots of love, & I send you lots & lots of mine. / SLC [MTP; MTAq 165-6].

Eleanor L. Nicholas wrote a begging letter from NYC to Sam asking him to “send all you can spare” so she might afford to move [MTP].

Francis Ram wrote from London to Sam. It seems the first page of the letter, an unflattering assessment of Queen Victoria, is missing. Enclosed is a newspaper clipping, May 25, from the London Times, that Ram responded to: “Mark Twain on Queen Victoria.” Ram claimed Victoria at one time had broken another woman’s heart [MTP].