February 1 Saturday – Sam and Carlyle G. Smythe arrived back in Bombay at 7 a.m. That evening the entire Clemens party left Bombay for Allahabad by a night train. It would be a two-day, two-night trip. It was customary, Sam writes at the beginning of ch. XLVIII in FE, “to avoid day travel when it can be conveniently done.” There was no system to reserve sleeping berths so the beae door) & an American woman stole Clara’s [NB 3rers had to remain in possession of them until the ticket owners boarded. This explains Sam’s notebook entry:
Capt. Cox took Carlyle Smythe’s engaged berth last night (Engaged-ticket) on th6 TS 33].
Sam tried the newest thing for sleepwear, “pyjamas”:
At first the night promised to be fatiguing, but that was on account of pyjamas. This foolish night-dress consists of jacket and drawers….Pyjamas are hot on a hot night and cold on a cold night — defects which the nightshirt is free from. I tried pyjamas in order to be in the fashion; but I was obliged to give them up, I couldn’t stand them. I missed the refreshing and luxurious sense, induced by the night-gown, of being undressed, emancipated, set free from restraints and trammels. In place of that, I had the worried, confined, oppressed, and suffocated sense of being abed wit my clothes on [FE ch XLIX 459].
There seems to be a mistake somewhere & it may be that you can rectify or explain it. My address for the next fortnight will be care of
E. Bevan & Co., Calcutta.
Meantime I enclose cheque for Rs. 40 & will await an explanation of the seemingly extra charge [MTP].
Sam also sent a telegram to Sir George Wolseley, “General Commanding, &c.”
Am happy to say shall not arrive until after 11th, shall hope to be able to accept your kind hospitality, will write from Calcutta some days hence [MTP].
George Washington Cable’s article, “Samuel L. Clemens, ‘Mark Twain,’” ran in The Letter (a publication of the Home Culture Clubs of Northampton, Mass.). Cable praised the entertaining quality of Mark Twain’s humor, and the way it bears rereading [Tenney 25].
Before leaving Bombay Sam wrote to Dr. Sidney Smith who had treated him for his bronchitis and carbuncles. The good doctor had charged him 25 rupees each for four visits. Sam thought the amount “seemed unaccountably large” and so waited to pay while making “some inquiries” and discovering that 10 rupees per visit was the norm.