September 21 Wednesday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers that he was “finishing an article about the assassination of the Empress” Elisabeth of Austria (see Sept. 17 entry for long excerpt from “The Memorable Assassination.”) If Edward Bok rejected and returned “My Platonic Sweetheart” Sam would like for Katharine I. Harrison to offer Bok the assassination piece, which would be shorter and cheaper. Life was less stressful now in Vienna:

“This promises to be a quiet winter in Vienna, there will be no public balls nor court balls nor any other public carrying-on, but only private things; & even the private things will not begin till the season of full mourning is over. I am sorry for the cause, but this is all an advantage to me” [MTHHR 364].

Sam’s notebook:

Mental Telegraphy. Sept 21. Mrs. Clemens was pouring the coffee this morning; I unfolded the Neue Freie Press, began to read a paragraph, & said—

“They’ve found a new way to tell genuine gems from false—[”] “By the Röntgen ray!” she exclaimed.

That is what I was going to say. She had not seen the paper, & there had been no talk about the ray, or gems by herself or by me. It was a plan case of telegraphy [NB 40 TS 42].