July 24 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Charles Webster.

   Yes, I received & banked both of those checks—and then forgot it.

   Damn that Bliss statement. I forgot to return it to you—I wish you had sent me only a copy. I have left the blamed thing in my portfolio of business letters under the table in the billiard room at home. If you shall find that you need it, write George Griffin, “(with S.L. Clemens”) & he will find it in the pocket marked “K.”

   I was not intending to take Pamela’s Watch stock—that is, I didn’t want to take it. It is located too far from home, for one thing.

  We all stood the trip first rate. Jean has been having a hard and somewhat dangerous teething time, but it doing first-rate, now.

  Orion is quiet again. It is a waste of time to bother about him & his performances [MTBus 191].

Sam also wrote to Howells, responding to his letter of July 14 from Toronto, where he was visiting his father before sailing to Europe on July 22. Sam thanked him for his help in excusing him from another invitation by Charles Eliot Norton, who wrote his understanding of the matter July 18. Howells had also conveyed an offer by the Madison Square Theatre Mallory brothers for a play collaboration idea of Sam and Howells’. Sam called them “godly thieves,” (Marshall Mallory was the owner of the Churchman Weekly, a religious publication) and that they had not written, but:

“…no matter about that: you write the play & send it along—there’s plenty theatres besides the Madison, & I’ll not sell it for nothing.”

Baby Jean was “nearly well, at last” [MTHL 1: 411-12]. Note: See note 2 in citation for explanation of Mallory brothers previous sins.

James R. Osgood wrote enclosing $300 check from Harpers for use of “McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm” for their Christmas ed. [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Harper to use Burglar article 6 months”

Charles Webster wrote two plus pages on publishing details, enclosing “Morgan’s report” which he planned to submit to Osgood [MTP].