January 7 Saturday – Sam’s notebook:

“60 years ago, optimist & fool were not synonymous terms. This is a greater change than that wrought by science & invention. It is the mightiest change that was ever wrought in the world in any 60 years since creation” [NB 47A TS 3].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Even though the days are full to over flowing, and perhaps because they are—life is so beautiful. Today Katie and I managed to get a temporary carpet into Mr. Clemens’s new study with its gold life-giving paper. The room is at the front of the house and looks up 5th Avenue, having a charming view of the Church of the Ascension, and the Presbyterian Church beyond. Mr. Clemens gains a little each day—but his ankles are still swelled and quite painful. Quite an interesting man, Mr. Holland [Ellman written in margin, Holland lined out] came to see if Mr. Clemens had any manuscripts to sell. He has bought nearly all of Mr. John Fiske’s, and others too of value. Some of Lowell’s and N. Hawthorne [MTP: TS 36]. Note: John Fiske (1842-1901) American philosopher and historian. Ellman is unidentified.