July 20 Wednesday – At the Villa Paulhof in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to Frank Bliss that it wasn’t possible for him to come over, what with advance rent paid, the “educational arrangements” of his daughters, and all.
Yes, it was best to talk direct with the Harpers; also, if you needed me to help I was there to do it, from the very beginning, in the person of Mr. Rogers. You didn’t need to wait all these months; he is always there representing me and armed with full authority to transact business for me and for Mrs. Clemens. …
Four or five days ago I wrote Mr. Rogers a letter which contained about what I should say to the Harpers if I were over there. If I can think of anything to add to that letter I will do it today. For the life of me I cannot see why the Harpers should object to your proposition. It is not comprehensible to me [MTP].
Sam also wrote a short note to James R. Clemens, who was to be in Vienna with his father. Sam suggested next Monday afternoon, July 25, and asked if they wanted to come to Kaltenleutgeben or if they wanted the Clemenses to come into Vienna, and if the latter, where and at what hour? [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, adding a PS to his July 9 letter, already sent. Sam requested that $1,500 of the $2,500 in Whitmore’s hands be sent to H.H. Rogers, and asked if he would tell Frank Bliss to sent the July half-yearly royalty money to Rogers also. He reported he was “still at work answering the dray-load of ancient letters you sent!” [MTP].
Sam also replied to Allen Simpson of Adelaide, Australia (his not extant):
Dear Mr. Simpson.—It is a great pleasure to me to know that in Australia the feeling of kinship moves the people to sympathy with us, and that Dewey’s—and now, no doubt, Sampson’s—British-like performance stirs them. The Austrians used to tell me the Spaniards would whip us a few times at the start, because we were ignorant of war; but I said, ‘We are merely Britishers under another name, and, ignorant or not, you will see the blood show up.’ The war has brought England and America close together, and to my mind that is the biggest dividend that any war in this world has ever paid. If this feeling is ever to grow cold again I do not wish to live to see it [Brisbane Courier, Sept. 6, 1898, p.5; crediting the S.A. Register; online http://ndpbeta.hla.gov.au/ (National Library of Australia) accessed Apr. 26, 2009]. Note: this likely Alfred Allen Simpson (1875-1939), Adelaide mayor (1913-15).
Sam also wrote to Miss Ray Lamprey (1874-1946), daughter of Eve Goodhue and Morris Lamprey. The source points out that while Miss Lamprey had a “long correspondence with Clemens…This is the only known surviving letter and is thought to be unpublished.”
Dear Miss Ray: / Your welcome letter of four & a half months ago arrived this morning—it walked, I suppose—& I will stay at home & thank you for it, instead of going shopping into Vienna for slippers & whiskey to take care of my health with—there are reasons why there is no hurry.
Don’t worry when people doubt your word. I am at your back. I am endorsing you. It was odd, & dramatic, & interesting, those there Zusammenkünfte [get togethers; meetings] in Milan, in Farmington, & in St. Paul. I wonder where you and I are going to meet next. If you are good I know where it will be & if you are bad you will at least meet the most of my friends, & excellent people they are, too—there is no better society there. Nor elsewhere, for that matter.
If my health gets in danger I mean to follow your suggestion & build it up; but now that I am out of debt I am plenty healthy enough. With my best regards to yourself & your family…[Written Word Autographs Auction 6 May 2010, Lot 503; Liveauctioneers.com/item/7050308]. Note: Thanks to Holger Kersten for translation on the German word.