July 8 Friday – Howells wrote to Clemens: “Guiteau’s shot knocked the breath out of me, or I should have written sooner to boast that thanks in your absence I saw the boat race in all its glory—altogether a most beautiful and exciting thing” [MTP]. (Not in MTHL) This could have been the July 1 Regatta between Yale and Harvard.
July 9 Saturday – Sam wrote from the Montowese House, Branford, Conn. to Charles Webster:
“So it appears that the scrap book sales have fallen off one half in the past six months; —i.e., from 50,000 copies a year to 28,000. I return to you Slote’s ck, for use in the K[oalatype] eng. Co business. Send Perkins a note for it” [MTBus 161].
July 10 Sunday – Sam wrote a short note from Branford to Charles Webster possibly about Kaolatype castings. Sam thought they looked good, and suggested having prints made from them in “two colors, & if the thing turns out a success, show the result to Koch’s people” [MTP]. Note: refers to Peter Koch of Koch & Co., New York printers referred to in Mar. 31 letter to Daniel Slote and Apr.
July 11 Monday – From Twichell’s journal:
“Another trip with our three oldest, — this time to Branford, on the invitation of our most kind friends, M.T. and wife with whom we had a charming visit (at their expense) at the Montowese House” [Yale, copy at MTP]. Note: see Twichell’s July 13 for some of the activities on this visit.
July 12 Tuesday – The visit with Joe and Harmony Twichell and their three oldest children continued for a second day [Twichell’s journal, Yale]. Note: Edward Carrington Twichell b. 1867; Julia Curtis Twichell b. 9 Jan. 1869; Susan Lee Twichell b. 1871
July 13 Wednesday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam.
Dear Mark: / We got home all right, and found Harmony and the small fry well. / Now we desire to waft back on formal, deliberate, and most hearty thanks for the hospitality that will always add sweetness to the memory of our golden little excursion. …
July 15 Friday – Clemens wrote to C.F. Cobb, letter not extant but referred to in Cobb’s July 18 reply.
July 17 Sunday – Sam wrote from Branford, Conn. to George W. Cable. Sam mentioned Howells “spent a day with me last week” and that he was “still in the mind to go to New Orleans with me in November for the Mississippi trip…” [MTHL 1: 364].
July 18 Monday – A copy in Charles Webster’s hand of Sam’s notice to the American Publishing Co. exists, giving Webster “full control of my interests…is amply empowered to act for me in all matters appertaining thereto. S.L. Clemens” [MTBus 161].
July 19 Tuesday – C.F. Cobb wrote to Sam with a follow-up explanation how a rumor might have been started in Hartford when she visited looking for him, that she wanted to interview him. Sam was in Branford, Conn. [MTP].
July 20 Wednesday – Herbert M. Laurence wrote from London to Clemens, having rec’d his letter of July 2 asking if he’d undertake decorating Sam’s house, but he was afraid his return in the fall would be too late for him to do so [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Lawrence, artist / 1881”
Charles Eliot Norton wrote from Ashfield, Mass. to ask Clemens to speak at their annual breakfast [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Prof. Norton”
July 21 Thursday – Herbert Evans wrote from Adelaide, S. Austr. to Clemens, thanking with pleasure Sam’s of Apr. 23. Anecdotes and wishing Clemens long life; a fan letter [MTP].
July 24 Sunday – Sam wrote from Branford, Conn. to the Australian public, a letter which was printed in the Adelaide Observer on Oct. 15. After discussing that someone had been “scattered all over Australia pretending to be him,” Sam informed Australians that he’d never been in any part of the country and that he suspected the man to be “a pretty shabby sort of rascal.” He closed with:
July 25 Monday – Hubbard & Farmer, bankers & brokers, telegraphed Sam that they’d purchased 100 shares of Omaha Pfd. And 100 of Denver & Rio Grande for a total of $20,200 [MTP]
July 26 Tuesday – Jean Clemens’ first birthday.
Hubbard & Farmer brokers wrote they’d purchased 100 shares of Omaha at 39 & 1/4 [MTP].
Charles Webster wrote he could not come up this week. “Would next Monday do?” [MTP]
July 27 Wednesday – On or about this day Sam wrote to Charles Webster with Kaolatype business and a request to ask the William H. Jackson & Co. about “offensive odors sent out by the gas-logs…when they are burning” [MTP]. Charley handled all sorts of professional, business and personal matters for the Clemens family
July 29 Friday – Sam sent a correspondence card from Branford, Conn. to G. Brandford Dudman of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, saying that he had “quitted the platform permanently” but thanked him for the compliment of an invitation [MTP]
July 30 Saturday – Sam received proofs of 150 of the engravings for P&P [MTP letter July 31 to Gerhardt].
Charles E. Norton wrote to Sam: “The village rejoices at the news of your coming; the people are reckless of the consequences. The day fixed for the festival is August 25th”. He gave directions [MTP]
July 31 Sunday – Sam wrote from Branford to Karl and Hattie Gerhardt, encouraging the couple to “climb along & enjoy” the “upgrade” of life, while “the morning is fair & the landscape gracious before you” [MTP].
Hubbard & Farmer bankers & brokers sent a statement of acct., $24,159.81 credit [MTP].
Charles Dudley Warner wrote to Sam that he was sending him an agent, Mr. Lester’s sister [MTP]
August – Sam followed with interest the debate in the August issue of North American Review between Jeremiah S. Black and Robert Green Ingersoll, titled “The Christian Religion.” Ingersoll held views Sam admired privately, but was unable to proclaim publicly. Sam wrote to Ingersoll:
“I have been well entertained by your theological article in the magazine, and Judge Black’s ludicrous ‘reply’ to it” [Schwartz 185]
August 1 Monday – Sam wrote from Branford to Benjamin H. Ticknor, partner along with his brother Thomas Ticknor in J. Osgood & Co.
“We go hence to Elmira, N.Y., three days from now, and that will be my address for the following six weeks.”
August 2 Tuesday – Sam wrote to Herbert M. Laurence in Venice, letter not extant but referred to in Laurence’s Aug. 26 reply
August 4 Thursday – The Clemens family left the Montowese House in Branford, Conn. headed to Elmira with a stop in Hartford to do a few errands [MTNJ 2: 396n135]. Likely the day the Clemens family went to New York City. As was their custom, they probably stayed the night in a good hotel and continued on to Elmira the next day.
August 5 Friday – Based on Sam’s telegram of Aug. 6, this is the likely day for the 10-hour train trip from New York to Elmira, this time taking an extra two hours
August 6 Saturday – Sam telegraphed from Elmira to Franklin Whitmore.
“BROKE AN AXLE EIGHT HOURS FROM NEW YORK AND TWENTY FIVE MILES FROM HOME LAY STILL & ROASTED TWO HOURS REACHED HOME AT NINE, PM EVERYBODY IS BRIGHT AND WELL TODAY” [MTP]