February 26 Friday – In Berlin at the Hotel Royal Sam wrote to Samuel S. McClure. Webster & Co. had forwarded McClure’s cable from London asking for a “letter at once,” which Sam took to be one a syndicate letter. His illness kept him from correcting or dictating it further, but he felt it “pretty plainly written,” and promised to mail it the next day.

By the doctor’s orders I leave Monday [Feb. 29] for the Riviera to get back my strength. Shall arrive there in 3 or 4 days. Meantime my address will be “Care Drexell Harjes & Co Paris.” I’m going to have a long holiday from writing now. / You’ll find the letter in the usual big blue envelop. Truly Yours, SL Clemens [MTP].

Sam’s notebook:

Day before yesterday [Feb. 24] the Emperor made a speech (as Markgraf of Brandenburg) to the little Brandenburg parliament assembled here at a banquet in the palace. Complained sharply of the “Nörgler” (grumblers) who are dissatisfied with the government, & suggested that if they don’t like the way things are they’d better “shake the German sand out of their slippers & leave.”

The speech made a great stir. That & the odious (proposed) Schulgesetz & the lack of bread & work resulted in a mob gathering in front of the palace yesterday, (of people out of work.) They uttered revolutionary cries. Bakers’ bread was distributed to them, but they threw it away.

At Jean’s school this morning the children were forbidden to speak of the matter, but said they’d tell her out of school.

Crowds of the proletariat drift up & down the Holy Land to-day. But the Emperor rode out as usual, & after him I saw the whole force of royal carriages following — apparently all the royal women & all the children have turned out to show that they are not afraid [NB 31 TS 31-2].