July 16 Wednesday – Unable to interest John Russell Young in a quick trip to Hartford, Sam may have been on his way back to Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y. and his family — MTNJ 3: 562n253 states he “did not return to Onteora until 30 July.” The following letter from Livy shows he was not yet back at Onteora, and that he planned to go to Hartford with Frank Fuller. Sam’s letter referred to is not extant, but it was likely written on July 14 or 15:

Youth Dear:

Your letter has come saying that you & Mr. Fuller go to Hartford the next day. Am sorry that I did not send your yesterday’s letter there because I am afraid you will not get it. I thought you would telegraph me when you expected to go there, so that I could know where to write you. Has Mr. Fuller any idea of helping you with the machine? Do write me more particulars. Do you think that by any possibility Saturday can bring you here? I do hope so, we so long to see you and yet I hardly expect it and of course do not desire it unless it is best all around.

Mr. Mathews has sent you a large book of 484 pages on tennis. I suppose he thought you did so well with the work on piquet that he would give you another to master. Write me just how you are feeling, so that I may know too how to feel. We are all well and getting on very nicely, but we shall be mighty glad to get you back. Have you any plans about when you can come?

I enclose a line to Katy will you please give it to her? If you are feeling a little bit of a let up in your poverty I wish you would get yourself a half dress suit, you need one so much & your old one is not good fitting. If you could have one that was not so heavy it would be better.

I love you my own darling pet and now I must go to luncheon with the chicks.

Yours Always With Deepest Love, Livy L. C. [The Twainian 35.6 (Nov.-Dec. 1976), p.1]

Note: The book: John Moyer Heathcote’s Tennis (1890). Alternate title, Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Rackets, Fives.

Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam that CY had sold only 23,000 copies in seven months, which was far below Sam’s “traditional” minimum of 40,000. Further, increased transportation efficiency in the US was contributing to the phasing out of subscription sales in favor of sales in the trade. (See Hall to Sam Nov. 29.)