October 15 Thursday – Sam’s original guestbook contains the following names for this date, which do not appear in the new guestbook, transcribed after Dec. 28: Kate V. Saint Maur, The Maples, Redding; Vida C – – ly Sidney, Siasconset Mass.; Fanny Sanford Shaw, Redbank, N.J. [Mac Donnell TS 5, 7]. Note: p. 6 is left blank.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mrs. Crane went away today—but not before I had discovered another of AB’s indiscretions. He has had letters written from Mrs. Clemens to Mrs. Crane in his possession for over a year. The King’s anger burned furiously, so he bade me go to the telephone and demand those letters. I did so—with Benar standing beside me so to courage me up, and Paine said “certainly” and they came up with Sanford the Grocer [MTP: IVL TS 71].  

Hill writes: “Paine appeared to be vanquished and Miss Lyon the victor in their power struggle, with Ashcroft on her side. But Clara Clemens had not yet chosen to exert her authority over her father” [208-9].

W.H. Holmes, Jr. wrote for Public Schools, Westerly, R.I. to inquire if Sam was “open to engagements for lectures” [MTP].

Ezekiel Leavitt wrote from New Haven, Conn. to ask Sam’s permission to translate his autobiography into Yiddish; he was sending under separate cover his book, Songs of Grief and Gladness, as well as a booklet, “Education and Psychology” and would be “very happy to have your opinion about them” [MTP]. Note: Leavitt’s book is not in Gribben.

The Taunton, Mass. Post Office sent a postcard notifying Sam that his letter to Mrs. Georgia C. Taylor remained undeliverable [MTP].

John C. Brownbridge wrote from Durham, England to ask Sam for “some small materialhelp” being unable to work at hard manual labor and being “stone deaf” [MTP]. Note: MLH:

“Mr. Clemens regrets”