September 19 Sunday – The Chicago Tribune, p.12, ran an interview of Sam by Edwin J. Park, “A Day with Mark Twain / The Genial Humorist at His Summer Home.” Budd summarizes: “Many small details on Quarry Farm setting; SLC has done no writing there during past summer” [“Interviews” 5]. See this entire interview in Scharnhorst, p 91-4.) Note: This also ran in the Boston Daily Globe on Sept.
September 20 Monday – Charles Webster wrote from London to his Uncle Sam. His business was complete in Europe; he’d “made contracts with the best firms in each of the following countries: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Holland and England.” Webster & Co. Was to receive 20% of the retail price of the Pope book, the firms to translate and publish at their expense. He announced they would sail on the City of Rome Sept. 30, the first passage he could make [MTP].
September 22 Wednesday – John M. Hay wrote to Sam from Cleveland asking that a McClellan book be sent him C.O.D., if after Oct. 10 to Washington, D.C. He promised not to show the book to anyone until agents began to deliver them. “I must read McClellan’s own story before finishing the chapters concerning him” [MTP]. Note: Hay and John G.
September 23 Thursday – E.R. Paillon wrote from Booneville, Mo. asking for help in securing a complete set of books by Missouri authors. “I write to all Mo. Authors, I don’t expect to hear from you, know you too well by reputation, but your [sic] ‘on the list’.” Sam wrote on the envelope, “Fellow born in a cow-lot, probably. No answer” [MTP].
September 24 Friday – Dr. John Nutting Farrar, the Clemens family orthodontist of New York wrote asking about a case Sam had mentioned while there. The doctor also wrote “I shall be able soon to report on your daughter’s case” (Clara). Sam wrote on the envelope, “Send him that squib” [MTP]. Clara had seen the orthodontist during their week’s stay in N.Y.
September 25 Saturday † – James Redpath wrote to Sam enclosing a Sept. 20 letter from Donn Piatt. Redpath wanted to know where to send Piatt’s book for evaluation [MTP].
September 26 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: the Tribune contains a page of leaded minion done on a machine. So they’ve at least 2 sizes of matrices, whether they’ve 2 machines or not [MTNJ 3: 259].
September 27 Monday – By this day the Clemens family were back in Hartford after a ten-day stay in New York. Sam responded to James Redpath, who wrote Sept 23-5 offering Donn Piatt’s book for publication. Redpath was now editor of the North American Review.
September 28 Tuesday – Samuel Sidney McClure (1857-1949) wrote from New York to Sam asking for “such facts as you would be willing to have published in the syndicate” relating to his early literary career. McClure was writing a paper showing how “a number of well known writers earned their first money by their pens.” Sam wrote on the envelope, “Puh!”[MTP].
September 29 Wednesday – Dr. John Nutting Farrar, New York orthodontist, wrote to Sam with an estimate of $350 to $400 for work to straighten Clara Clemens’ teeth. The doctor wrote that the work was “among the most difficult in the profession and must be done right or, no good” [MTNJ 3: 258n103; MTP]. Clara was examined by the doctor sometime between Sept 18 and 24.
September 30 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, employee of Webster & Co., asking that $6,000 be sent and charged to his account. Hall, who wrote Sept. 29, informed Sam that 418 satisfactory answers had been received from the 1289 circulars sent to daily newspapers asking for compositor rates. P.B.
October – Sam’s notebook: Eliz Cady Stanton & daughter gone to Europe to write “Woman’s Version of the Bible” [MTNJ 3: 261]
October 2 Saturday – The Brooklyn Eagle, in a page two article, “American Humor – From Artemus Ward to Max Adeler,” (citing the Cincinnati Enquirer) concluded that “American humor is becoming rather scarce.” Reflecting perhaps a popular belief that Sam’s slowing of literary output and immersion in business marked the end of his career as a humorist, the article offered:
October 5 Tuesday – In New York, again at the Murray Hill Hotel, Sam wrote to Charles Webster, just returning (or about to return) from his trip to Europe.
October 6 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam responded to a letter from Orion Clemens.
Yes, buy Pamela’s ticket & glasses, & use the money in any other ways you please for her, & when the “fund” runs low notify me so that I can re-supply it.
October 7 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Karl Gerhardt, encouraging him to “Go it!” in sculpting an Indian statue for some cause or contest.
Make a fine Injun — real Injun — You can accomplish it by studying that Photograph & reading 3 or 4 books which I will lend you if you look in [MTP].
October 8 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Edward H. House. He planned on going to New York City with Livy on Tuesday, Oct. 12. He enclosed an invitation of some sort for Mr. McCarthy, as he didn’t know the man’s address, and asked House to get it to him.
October 10 Sunday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles Webster after receiving his telegram. Evidently, Webster was headed for Washington, to attend to the matter there with “the General” that concerned Sam (see Oct. 5 to Webster).
Livy & I are coming down Tuesday [Oct. 12], shopping, & if you are not in Washington I shall see you during that afternoon, as we shall arrive at noon [MTP].
October 11 Monday – The New York Times, Oct. 14, 1886 p.2 ran a facsimile of a check to Julia D. Grant for $150,000 drawn on the Mount Morris Bank and signed by Charles L. Webster on this date. Canceled check no. 169 is in the MTP.
October 12 Tuesday – Sam and Livy went to New York City, where they spent an unknown number of days (See Oct. 10 to Webster); they were home by Oct. 18.
Orion finished his Oct. 11 to Sam. Ma had improved and was not confined to bed. “Davis is proud of his answer to the invitation. D.B. Hamill thought your visit here was an honor to the city” [MTP].
October 15 Friday – J. Chester for Lincoln University, Negro Education in Cincinnati, Ohio, responded to Sam’s “Your confession received” note of Sept. 14, identifying Willis as the student who intended to study for the ministry:
What you mean by my “confession,” I do not understand. The “Arab proverb” is all right, but its application I don’t see [MTNJ 3: 255-6n93; MTP]. Sam wrote on the envelope, “From that bilk” [MTP].
October 16 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: Oct. 16, ’86, subscribed for $3,000 of Laffan’s telegraph stock [MTNJ 3: 262]. (See also Oct. 3, 1887 Laffan to Sam.)
Dora Wheeler wrote from N.Y. to Sam:
October 18 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Edward H. House, who evidently missed seeing Sam on the prior Tuesday trip to New York and had written asking questions (no recent letter from House is extant).
O yes, there was a Tuesday, but it failed to connect — as I explained to you.
No, sir, Stoddard didn’t borrow “The Brahman’s Son” from your story.
October 19 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to William Dean Howells to introduce Miss Dora Wheeler, artist and daughter of family friend Candace Wheeler, decorator for Tiffany & Co. Dora wished to paint Howells’ portrait. Sam used his usual imperative with Howells:
October 20 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote a short note to Elizabeth E. Jenkins. He’d forgotten about the $25 Livy borrowed from her. He enclosed a check [MTP]. Jenkins’ identity was not determined.