July 14 Sunday – At Quarry Farm, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, declaring he’d “thrown up the Russell sponge,” meaning he was ready to compromise with Thomas Russell, printer, or pay him in full, the $5,046 owed. He reported Livy’s reaction to newspaper reports of his supplementary examination on July 11 at Stern & Rushmore’s office:

I found Mrs. Clemens in the deeps of despair and misery when I arrived, because my name had gotten into the papers in connection with the examination, and because I was not able to say Wilder would not try to attach the gate-money in Cleveland — which would start another newspaper-item afloat, whether he succeeded or failed. She was ill, over the situation, and I at once administered the only medicine that could stop her from getting worse. I said we would immediately compromise with Russell or pay him in full. Maybe I might be able to endure further annoyance, but she has reached her limit and is entitled to a release. So I have formally instructed Sterne & Rushmore to settle or pay in full, and draw on Mr. Langdon for the money. There is probably not enough in your hands for the purpose; so I beg you to invest what you can of it when you get a chance, — all but about $1500, which will be needed by Susy and Jean, for board, etc. [Note: William Wilder was Thomas Russell’s attorney].

Sam then told about seeing Charles E. Rushmore on the train the day before, and though Rushmore thought it unlikely for Wilder to try to attach Sam’s gate at Cleveland, he wasn’t certain. Wilder had previously offered to settle the amount for 75% of what was owing, but that was before and Sam thought he’d probably have to pay in full now. He knew that Wilder and Bainbridge Colby couldn’t come to terms as they were “bitter enemies.” He also related that Livy felt Sam rode Rogers too hard for help. Also, he remarked about what “a comical defeat” his reading at the House of Refuge on Randall’s Island was:

Delivering a grown-folks’ lecture to a sucking-bottle nursery! No, only trying — I didn’t do it — and couldn’t. No man could have done it.

Still a productive reworking came from the reading practice, and Sam felt he might try out the changes on the “Reformatory convicts to-night” [MTHHR 166-7].

In the evening Sam gave a reading he later called “a roaring success” at the Elmira Reformatory.

A few minutes before leaving for town, Sam also wrote to his sister Pamela Moffett.

I have not been able to write. I have been in bed ever since we arrived here May 25th, until four days ago [July 10] when I put on my clothes for the first time in 45 days to go to New York — barely capable of the exertion — to undergo the shame born of the mistake I made in establishing a publishing house. I can’t make any more financial mistakes; I’ve nothing left to make them with. If Webster had paid me my dividend on the Grant book when he paid himself & Mrs. Grant, I should have been spared the humiliations of these days. However I am still clean of dishonesty toward any man, and — but never mind, it would profit nothing to say it.

Livy & Clara have gone down in the valley to take the train toward the Pacific Coast, & I follow in five minutes. We leave Susy & Jean here at the farm. They will join us in London next year.

Note: Livy and Clara left first, but only for the depot, where Sam caught up with them. Sam’s indelible picture of the train pulling out from Elmira with Susy waving tearful good-byes on the platform was the last time they would see her alive [Sept. 24, 1896 to Howells; MTB 1002].

In order for Sam to speak in Cleveland the following night, July 15, he would have had to take a night train from Elmira headed west this night.