April 9 Sunday – Sam’s notebook in N.Y.: “Sunday 9th Dined with Mrs. Ratcliffe” [NB 33 TS 6].

In Venice, Livy wrote to Sam. Jean suffered from a cold with a bad cough, and could not adventure in the gondolas. They expected to return to the Villa Viviani in Florence on Wednesday, Apr. 12. A bundle of newspapers from various places had come for Sam, and Livy was upset by the contents of some:

When I opened the bundle there was a paper folded and marked in such a way that it could not escape me. The items that were marked made me sick, sick. They were slurs at you. I mention the fact because I want to know if there was any reason for their being made. Two or three of them were with regard to Mr. Daggett and his work on Hawaii, saying that Daggett had written a delightful charming book on Hawaii but that he had never rec’d anything for it, that although the first edition was all sold, by a curious course of figuring you represented that the book was in debt to you and you would not get out another edition. That now that there was so much interest in Hawaiian matters the book would be of great interest, but that you would neither sell the plates nor get out another edition, that you ware a good hater, a bitter, jealous man, etc. It makes me so desperately unhappy I could lie down and cry my eyes out when there is any word said against you. Another remark was that you parsimony is growing more pronounced as you grow old. I write this for two reasons, first if Mr. Daggett has never rec’d any returns for the book and therefore some reason to feel that he has not been justly treated, do write him a letter, one of your good letters such as only you can write and tell him how and why it is. If he wants to get out a new edition can not you do that or sell him the plates or whatever there is that he wants. Second, Do be careful in your dealings with people with the magazines and all that you do not drive too close a trade with them. Be generous, my darling, even if we are as poor as church mice. Don’t let anyone have the chance to say that you look too carefully after your own interest [The Twainian Nov-Dec 1977 p.3]. Note: See Hall to SLC on the Daggett matter Nov. 22, 1890.