To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

July 8 Wednesday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward W. Bok. “Photographs ‘with practically no text’ are in my line. But I reckon you’ll have to come up onto this hilltop if the thing is urgent, for I shall be here stiddy for the next 6 weeks” [MTP].

July 8 Friday – The Clemens party was en route in the Prince Oscar from Naples to New York.

Sam’s notebook: “A wonderful day. Brilliant sun, brilliant blue water, strong & delightful breeze. In middle of Gulf Stream. Temperature of water, 73 1/2° Fahr. We had such days in the Indian Ocean, & Livy so enjoyed the exaltation of spirit they produced” [NB 47 TS 15].

July 9 Tuesday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, about the planned cruise, a new house they’d leased at Riverdale, money rec’d from Frank Bliss, and a circular to be used by F.R. Underwood and R.G. Newbegin in the marketing of his Uniform Edition. Sam wanted Rogers to approve the circular.

July 9 Wednesday – In York Harbor, Maine, Sam’s notebook again contains ideas for the 50 years after story: “Debating Society. Guts & all (Sid). Sally Robards—pretty [sic]. Describe her now in her youth & again in 50 ys After when she reveals herself. / Cadets & Doughnuts. / The little cigarman—dead in his chair” [NB 45 TS 21].

July 9 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “No answer from Jacobs. Robt. Collier telegraphs he can’t come till next week. / Wrote details to Mr. Rogers of my project to have Colliers buy out Am. Pub. Co” [NB 46 TS 21]. Note: Collier’s telegram not extant.

July 9 Saturday – The Clemens party was en route in the Prince Oscar from Naples to New York.

Sam’s notebook: “Rainy” [NB 47 TS 15].

June 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlottesville, Va.?” [NB 44 TS 11].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to R.G. Newbegin of R.G. Newbegin Co., distributor for Mark Twain’s Uniform Edition.

June 1 Sunday – In Hannibal, Mo. Sam wrote to Dr. Everett Gill of Hannibal.

I find it too formidable! I should not be able to sit in the pulpit on Sunday & feel that I was doing a right & decorous thing; I should be under my own censure all the time. Therefore I shall sit where any sinner may sit without offence, & where all sinners are welcome. I shall be comfortable there, & free of self-reproaches [MTP].

June 1 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote again to Daniel Willard Fiske.

June 1 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Commendatore Biagi with vice Chancellor—afternoon. Father Stiattesi has suppressed his fancy cocks & hens because they disturb Mrs. Clemens. He is the best man I know” [NB 47 TS 11].

June 10 Monday – Sam likely returned to New York City this day.

June 10 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to James R. Clemens in St. Louis.

I arrived unfatigued at 6 p.m yesterday, 30 hours out from St Louis.

I am enclosing $25, & you must tell me if I owe more. It may be that you paid for the ticket they gave me at Litchfield—in which case I owe you for that.

June 10 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “See Duneka. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Also Doubleday lawyer / Doubleday is writing Bliss (W) about $36.50. / [Horiz. Line separator] / See fly-leaf for lawyer’s address” [NB 46 TS 19].

June 10 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Livy’s last gift to the children was a pair of riding-horses—6 or 8 weeks ago.

Ugo (the butler) will sail with them for America from Leghorn June 22” [NB 47 TS 12]. Note: Ugo Piemontini.

Emily Gerard in Salzburg, Austria, wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].

Margaret Shaw Graham (Mrs. John C. Graham) of Louisville, Ky. wrote a letter of condolence to Sam. “I hope your brave heart will be your own comforter” [MTP].

June 11 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer at 19 Union Square, N.Y.C., asking her to come the next day at 10:30 a.m. [MTP].

June 11 Wednesday – Paul Kester wrote to Sam from Accotink, Va. Kester had heard that Charles Frohman no longer controlled the dramatic rights for TS; Kester had made such a play—would Sam allow him to place it elsewhere? [MTP].

June 11 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Ward Jacobs (in Hartford), one of three major stockholders of the American Publishing Co. arguing for a contract with Collier’s and suggesting again a stockholder’s meeting, which Frank Bliss “does not dare to call” [MTP].

Sam’s notebook: “1271 B’way, dentist. 2 p.m. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Interview with Bliss & Jacobs. No result” [NB 46 TS 19].

June 11 Saturday – William Archer wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].

Gedney W. Bunce wrote to Sam. “I knew, loved & admired her” [MTP].

Odoardo Luchini wrote condolences to Sam and Isabel Lyon [MTP].

George Gregory Smith wrote condolences to Sam by way of Francis B. Keene [MTP].

June 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Augustus T. Gurlitz, forwarding Eli Perkins’ June 9 letter:

I have received the complaint and will chance its being everything it ought to be for just now I cannot get time to read it. Enclosed is a letter just received from that blatherskite Eli Perkins [see June 9] which I shall not answer. If you wish to answer it all right. If you can make him useful in any way you perceive he offers the opportunity [MTP].

June 12 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Minnie Dawson of Hannibal, daughter of his old schoolteacher, J.D. Dawson.

“I thank you for the Mississippi pearl, which is beautiful & does the river great honor. Always when I have claimed that we used to get pearls out of the mussels, my family have doubted me; but by grace of your evidence my character stands better now” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to C. Edwin Hutchings.

June 12 Friday – Sam was in Fairhaven, Mass. to confer with Rogers about business matters relating to Collier’s offers and arranging agreements between Collier’s, Harpers, and the American Publishing Co. Rogers had been recuperating from an appendectomy. Until this date, Livy had not been well enough to allow Sam to leave Riverdale. On June 15 Lyon wrote that Sam “came back this morning from a little visit with Mr.

June 12 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.

June 13 Thursday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam, enclosing $700 and referencing “a certain conversation held in George B. Harvey’s office, some several weeks ago” about selling a special set of Mark Twain’s books (CY, P&P, HF, LM, TS, and Hadleyburg) by their subscription dept. They asked for Sam’s signature on a voucher which would lower his royalty from 27 & ½ cents per book to 20 cents, as they felt they could only sell 12,000 books at the higher rate but 30,000 if he agreed to the lower [MTP].

June 13 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dr. James Ross Clemens in St. Louis, asking specifics on gout treatment for Livy:

Can Mrs. Clemens take her usual 5 p.m. tea (to whom she is a slave) on condition that she drink a glass of hot water an hour before or after it?

She eats cream wheat for breakfast. Can she continue that?

She never eats bacon.

Can she eat fruits in their season?

We leave here June 23d for our summer home which is York Harbor, Maine.

June 13 Saturday – Sam was in Fairhaven, Mass. staying with the Rogers family.