July 20 Friday – In New York at the Players Club, Sam wrote to Livy, relating the events of the previous day, July 19 (see entry). Plans to go to Fairhaven with the Rogers family had to wait till H.H. Rogers returned from Washington. The weather was reasonably comfortable. He succeeded in reading daughter Clara’s “Sanskrit letter.”

It is a first-rate letter, a felicitous letter, & I am mighty proud of Clara. Proud of grit, too & her energy. Those are great & valuable qualities — & how they do pay the possessor! / It almost makes me cry to think that Susy & Jean are not with her. It is such a pity. Susy could do one hour’s climbing a day for a while; then 2 hours; then three; & inside of 30 days her health would be perfect.

In the margin of the first page Sam wrote that he would send Clara’s letter to Sue Crane, and tell her not to forget to return it [MTP].

In the evening Sam went to the Oriental Hotel in Manhattan Beach to be with the Rogers family, sans Henry [Jan. 23 to Robinson].

Edward “Ned” Bunce wrote to Sam, the letter not extant but mentioned in the July 23 to Livy.

Henry M. Alden for Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam

My Dear Clemens,–I have read the manuscript you left with me. From the first it put me under a spell, and held me there to the end. It seems to me a masterpiece in this field of writing. I feel sure of one thing, however, if it is to be published in serial form, the story should be completed [MTP].