July 24 Sunday – In Elmira Sam wrote his mother, Jane Clemens about being away for daughter Jean’s seventh birthday in two days; teaching a new dog to “let the cats alone” and how they’d love to visit but “it’s a long way, & even the dead can’t travel in such weather, without spoiling.” His paragraph about Jean is revealing:

Jean has got a good head, but she is as dull at learning as I was — & am. She can spell — that is, as well as her mother or her aunt Sue — but children are born that far along. She reads German at 7 as well as the other children did at 5, but has no chance at English yet, to speak of. Tolerably good at arithmetic. Her mother has taught her, every day since she was weaned; but she will pass largely into the governess’s hands in the fall. Jean is an expert on animals, at any rate — she has Clara’s gift and interest in that line [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Mollie Clemens, responding to her letter. He had made “mighty progress” with his book but did not want to “divulge the name or subject” of it yet (CY). He wrote of “creations of Ma’s fancy,” — a horse and carriage and “even the iste coachman.” Sam wrote of a necessary business trip the following day:

But I have to lose the present week, in New York & Hartford, on business. If I could buy said week, & remain at work here I could afford to pay $3,000 for it. All send love to you all. Sam [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Charles Webster, but addressing it “Dear CLW & Co:” — possibly because Webster was growing worse from his neuralgia and Sam wasn’t sure he would read the note. He provided George W. Cable’s address, acknowledged receipt of a $641 check from American Publishing Co. And agreed that it was a “good idea to facsimile that Preface to Library of Humor” [MTP].

Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that he’d just received his telegram (see July 23) and did not think it necessary for him to come to Hartford unless of course he wanted to. “The work will go on at P&W I believe…please telegraph me upon receipt of this letter.” Hall thought the expenses for the motor this month would be greater [MTP].