October 24 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
Thank you very much, & I hope to take advantage of the invitation.
I want Mr. Rogers to buy & try the Arnold electric vibrating machine—for sale cor. 38th & 5th ave.,—& you must try it too. It seems to do all that the human massager does with his hands— & more, & better, & pleasanter, and simpler, & more effectively. It stops headaches for Miss Lyon & cures & limbers lame & stiff backs for me. It claims to ease all sorts of pain, & I judge it can do it, for it stirs up the circulation quite competently—& that is really the essential function of osteopathy & kindred treatments.
It costs but little, & I am convinced you will like it, & prosper by it. / Yours as always … [MTHHR 655].
Insert: 1913 Ad on the Arnold Vibrator.
Sam also began a letter to Frances Nunnally that he added to on Oct. 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31.
Here is the Oct. 24 segment:
Yes, keep the Easter holiday in mind, you dear Francesca, & don’t let any of those mates of yours persuade you to go home with them. No, come here! And persuade your mother to come with you; she will be needing a change from the Georgian gentle climate by that time.
Come, dear, let’s make a bargain—like this: if your mother can’t come with you, I will send Miss Lyon for you; then, later, I will go down & see you graduate. That will be one journey for me, & I am just old enough & rickety enough to dread two journeys. I do dearly want to be there when you graduate; & I am not going to miss it for any light matter.
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The first shadow has fallen upon the Aquarium—Margaret Illington is very sick. I am speaking for all the members, & sending her their sympathy & good wishes.
Some of those photographs came out so-so. Two of you are better than any of the others, but not so good as they ought to be. I will enclose copies. The best one is to be enlarged for my room. That is the one I want the ribbon-bows for—please don’t fail to send them when you are done with them, dear [MTP]. Note: Margaret Illington Frohman.
Sam also began a letter to Margaret Blackmer that he finished on Oct. 29. [one page missing]
Dear heart, you wouldn’t let me go to the gorge that Monday morning & recover the lost section of the cup, & now—oh dear, the place is all covered deep with fallen leaves. As soon as we got back from New York we went to the gorge, & Ashcroft & Miss Lyon shoveled the leaves away & hunted a long time, but there was no result, & I was so sorry. I ought to have made you stay back, that day, while I went down & got it; but you were a disobedient angel- fish, & you wouldn’t stay back. You’ll have to be tried for this. [one page missing]
Send me a kiss. No, bring it. / Lovingly, /S L. C., Curator [MTP; MTAq 221-22].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “The King is in bed doing a copyright problem” [MTP: IVL TS 75].
Will F. Bromley wrote a short note from Clark Falls, Conn. to Sam, enclosing a clipping from the Saturday Evening Post of Feb. 15, 1908, which he thought “may bring a moment of amusement…” [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Oct 27 / 08 MLH; Mr Clemens has seen the clipping but thanks you for sending it”
James H. Roberts wrote from Hartford to Sam. Roberts was administrator of his uncle’s estate (James D. Willard) and had “for sale several hundred copies” of Twain’s portrait. “Could you make use of them?” [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov 3. 08.” [ MLH]
W.B. Miller wrote for the International Committee of YMCA, enclosing printed material (not in file) and a request for donation [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Oct 27 / 08 MLH”