December 31 Thursday – Sam noted:
I’m out of the woods. On the last day of the year I had paid out $182,000 on the Grant book and it was totally free from debt [Salsbury 216 from Harpers].
William C. Prime wrote from NYC. “I heartily appreciate your great kindness. I would much rather call on you at your convenienc, than to give you the trouble of fulfilling an appointment at meine [MTP].
December, late – Fishkin refers to Sam speaking for Yale’s Kent Club, Yale Law School, New Haven, Conn., but does not give a date or a topic. Warner T. McGuinn introduced Sam [103-4.]
During this period, Susy Clemens began a biography of her father. The unfinished work was later included as part of Twain’s Autobiography.
Ledger page Heading: S. L. Clemens in a/c with Chas. L. Webster & Co.
Sam wrote on back: “close of account up to beginning of Grant book. Dec. 31, ’85” [MTP 1885 financial file].
to amt drawn mdse charged to apr 1st 1885 3499.55 by mdse 3646.43
Wm. Hammersley 3500
W.D. Howells 2000 Col. From notes & open a/c
mdse& trip of FJH to hartford 83.41 outstanding apr 1st 85 to date
karl Gerhardt on note of Woodruff 1205 less amt pd
mount morris bank to your credit July 24th 3000 Orion Clemens 34926.23
rent #658 B’way
checks to balance 52448.66 Amt paid
E & DE New York Dec 31st 1885 Karl Gerhardt
on Note Goodwin Bros
65736.62 65736.62
Editor’s note: The close of 1885 is a propitious division for this work, both in number of pages and in the life of Samuel Clemens, who was at the highest point of his success, with several best selling books behind him, immense success with the release of Grant’s Memoirs, and the future pregnant with possibilities as a publisher and writer. In February of 1886 Julia Grant received the largest royalty payment ever made in U.S publishing history. All told, some $450,000 would eventually be hers. Sam’s reputation was never stronger. In the days ahead, he would face losses, bankruptcy, tragedy and bitterness; but as the sun set on 1885, Sam had obtained wealth, respectability, the love of a devoted family and close friends, plus the admiration of millions at home and abroad.
I am frightened at the proportions of my prosperity.
It seems to me that whatever I touch turns to gold.