May 16 Saturday – The Boston Journal Supplement, p.1 published an interview of Sam by Edward W. Bok, “Literary Leaves: ‘Mark Twain’ to Live Abroad for Two Years.”
New York, May 15 — In about three weeks Mark Twain will sail for the other side, not to return to American for two years. The humorist’s family will go with him, and, after a month or two of travel, they will seek some secluded and remote French village, where the following two years will be spent. “The children,” said the humorist to me a few days ago, “will have their tutors; Mrs. Clemens will enjoy the luxury of a complete rest from housekeeping and kindred evils, while I want nothing but my pipe and my pen. I have no special literary plans in mind, but shall probably do a little something. No, no, I shall not take the ‘Innocents Abroad’ again; that would mean too much travel, and I can’t do what I did years ago. We are going to live in quiet fashion, somewhere away from everybody, where no one knows us, and enjoy each other’s company.” Passage was engaged some time ago on the French Line by the party under fictitious names, and perhaps the captain of the French steamer sailing from this port on June 6 will learn, from this paragraph, for the first time of the genial company which will be among his passengers [Scharnhorst, Interviews 130].
Note: this was reprinted in the Washington Post, May 31, 1891, p.14 “Lazy Mark Twain” and credit given to the New York Commercial Advertiser. A long paragraph was added about his home life. No credit was given to Bok or the Boston Journal Supplement.
William Hamersley wrote to Sam that he “could no longer delay the collection of my personal loan to you, due the first of last July. Please send me your check for $2500…or sign and return the enclosed sixty-day note for the amount. One or the other I really must have” [MTP].
Charles J. Langdon wrote to Sam: “On my return I find your letter of May 13th enclosing check for $3000 which I have deposited, to Livy’s credit, in my general account with the Chemung Canal Bank.” Langdon reported his wife Ida to be in bed, “very much reduced in strength,” but not critical [MTP].
James W. Paige wrote to Sam that his letter of May 13 just received; he’d forward it to Mr. Mallory as Sam requested [MTP].
J. Jay Watson, director of the Watson Musical Conservatory in N.Y.C. wrote to Sam, asking what was wrong with the American Publishing Co. — they might republish the book, Successful Folks, “making lots of money with it. Can’t you stir them up with a long pole?” Watson referred himself to John L. Knight, Supt. Of the N.Y. Herald [MTP].