October 1 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Percy Spalding, with a glowing recommendation for the butler, Robert Barker, and the staff at Dollis Hill. “…all the family like him and are sorry to part with him; all the family and all the servants—gardener and coachman and their families included—detest the cook; all recommend Barker, except the cook. The cook does not—and this, I think, is greatly to his credit…” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries catalog, Jan. 28, 1958, No. 1802, Item 42].

The Clemens family went in to London and took rooms at Brown’s Hotel on Albemarle Street, to wait until their Oct. 6 sailing date for America [Sept. 19 to MacAlister]. Harrod’s Stores sent Livy a statement covering items purchased on July 11, 18, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, Aug. 7, 24, Sept. 11, 13, 18, 24, 27. The total was £16.13.0 ¼. The items included a gown, tie, tennis balls, coffee, chocolates, soda water, Oak frames, hire of refrigerator, muffins, cake, macaroons, peaches, crackers, spice wafers, pins, toilet paper, bodice, and misc. packing to the Dollis Hill house. William Whiteley, grocers, billed Sam £7.11.4 & ¼, amounts brought forward from Sept. 28 & 29 for: mackerel, furbot, peaches, bananas, lemons, rump steak, tea leaves, bread [1900 Financial file MTP].