To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

September 4, 1902 Thursday

September 4 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Eleanor V. Hutton (Mrs. Laurence Hutton).

Didn’t I answer your kind letter? I am afraid not, as I find it mixed-up in the long accumulation. Mails get neglected these days,—since Aug. 11.

Yesterday & to-day, however, I have been hard at it; for Mrs. Clemens has sat up in a chair a moment, both days, & is going to get well [MTP].

September 5, 1902 Friday

September 5 FridaySam’s notebook “Last year, this month, I wrote that short story in 7 consecutive days— 22,000 words, $4,400. My average is only 10,000 words a week” [NB 45 TS 25]. Note: “The Double-Barrelled Detective Story.”

September 6, 1902 Saturday

September 6 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister, thinking Livy would be able to travel within a fortnight.

She is slowly recovering from an alarming illness which struck her Aug. 11., & which continued to be alarming, by fits & starts, until 3 or 4 days ago; then we discharged the night-doctor & retained only the day-one. She sits up ina chair now, 10 minutes at a time, twice a day.

September 7, 1902 Sunday

September 7 Sunday – Sam replied to Joe Twichell’s Sept. 2.

I don’t remember which book that convict’s letter is in. I think maybe it is in the back part of the Tramp Abroad; or might it be in Old Times on the Mississippi?

Bang away about me as freely as you please. When you include things from my letters it will be safest to select the extracts first & submit them to Livy—it will save wasting comment on passages which might perish under her blue pencil.

September 8, 1902 Monday

September 8 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “This election day at the town hall, Twombley [sic Twombly] sat by the deputy sheriff & saw him buy votes at $2 each & enter the names in note-book. Said he had laid out $116 in this way—later (5 p.m.) T. saw the list of names of the bought-&-paid for—80!” [NB 45 TS 26]. Note: E.D. Twombly, editor of the short-lived (1899-1901) Old York Transcript.

September 9, 1902 Tuesday

September 9 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine, William Dean Howells, on his way to a reception, stopped by to visit Sam during a rainstorm [Sept. 11 to Aldrich].

Sam’s notebook “It took 3: one bought [,] one saw the swine mark his ticket & enter the booth, & no. 3 received him at the end of the hall & paid him. / Republic of America. / Patriots. Funston / [Line separator]

September 10, 1902 Wednesday

September 10 WednesdaySam’s notebook “Mrs. Loring, supper 7 o’clock / Bridge’s cottage almost opp. The Albracca [Hotel]. / [Horiz. line separator] / The Polecat Battery. / The siege & storm” [NB 45 TS 26].

September 11, 1902 Thursday

September 11 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Thomas Bailey Aldrich.

Mrs. Clemens, who loves you, is dragging along very very slowly. She thinks she will be strong enough a week from now, to travel on a bed, & can go home. We others have doubts, but do not say so, for that would make argument, & argument sends up the pulse & is forbidden. Sometimes we allow her to read a letter; & to-morrow she will see yours, & it will make her glad.

September 13, 1902 Saturday

September 13 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “Cadwalader, 7.30 / Precepts & Principles for a New Religion: having, for its base, God & Man as they are, & not as the elaborately masked & disguised artificialities they are represented to be in most philosophies & in all religions” [NB 45 TS 26]. Note: John Cadwalader of Phila., staying in York Harbor. In his next NB entry Sam noted the presence of “Young Mercer” at Cadwalader’s dinner on this evening

September 14, 1902 Sunday

September 14 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine : Sam’s notebook: “Young Mercer was at Cadwalader’s—he is to produce the historical ceramics for the new capitol at Harrisburg [Pa.]” [NB 45 TS 27]. Note: Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930), archeologist, tile-maker, designer, made tiles used in the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

September 15, 1902 Monday

September 15 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.

My wife being ill, I have been—in literary matters—helpless all these weeks. I have no editor—no censor. I tried that Hell or Heaven on Howells, & he left me with the impression that it was all right—whereas, it wasn’t.

September 16, 1902 Tuesday

September 16 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to an unidentified man, saying that while he had no photographs of himself at hand, he sent two of their temporary house in Riverdale [MTP].

Sam’s notebook “Corrected original MS of Heaven & Hell & mailed it. Jean is typing ‘The Belated Russian Passport’” [NB 45 TS 27].

September 18, 1902 Thursday

September 18 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers that he added a PS to on Sept. 19. The doctors had vetoed a sea voyage to Riverdale for Livy, so the use of the Kanawha for such a trip was out. Sam thought it was a mistake but he wrote he “mustn’t venture the responsibility” of saying so. He wished that Jonas Henrik Kellgren could have been there when Livy was stricken on Aug.

September 19, 1902 Friday

September 19 Friday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka of Harper’s.

September 20, 1902 Saturday

September 20 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine, Livy had a relapse. A telegram was sent to a doctor.

Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

September 21, 1902 Sunday

September 21 Sunday – yesterday & came to-day & Wednesday” [NB 45 TS 27]. treatments by Helmer.

In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Helmer was telegraphed for treated the patient. / Will come again Tuesday night from New York & treat her Note: Livy’s medical doctors felt she must wait and gather strength for any future

September 22, 1902 Monday

September 22 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “MONDAY, Sept. 22. Our dear prisoner is where she is through overwork—day & night devotion to the children & me. We did not know how to value it. We know now. / On Sunday the 21st Dr. Helmer came from Vermont. Gave Livy a severe treatment. / Dr. Allen came yesterday & raised our spirits. A marked change followed. / Dr. Putnam this morning. Said no sort of reason she should not become as well as before. He Ordered a nurse & she came.

September 23, 1902 Tuesday

September 23 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine: a very low day for Livy, perhaps her worst [MTHL 2: 745n2]. Sam’s notebook : “Very high pulse. They have telegraphed Helmer (Dr. Hawke’s advice) not to come ‘for a few days.’ This is to ‘give the patient time to gather strength to bear the treatment’ (It was his treatment that enabled her to take food) I stand alone in this opinion. We are a drifting ship without a captain. We survive by accident. / Dr.

September 24, 1902 Wednesday

September 24 Wednesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.

September 25, 1902 Thursday

September 25 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “1.30 Lunch, Mr. Mercer’s, to meet Mrs. Bell & Mrs. Pratt. I could not make the engagement positive. (Later, I went.) / Helmer’s treatment left Livy sore & lame & she slept but little, the night. She is weak & frail—but she has been that for 45 days” [NB 45 TS 28]. Note: Henry Chapman Mercer; see Sept. 14 entry.

September 26, 1902 Friday

September 26 Friday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “Miss Gourange (nurse) has full charge. Quiet is maintained—good results. / I sleep at Millard Sewall’s these past two nights. / Clara does not recover from the panic of Tuesday when she believed her mother was near the end & sent me to summon Boston experts” [NB 45 TS 28].

September 27, 1902 Saturday

September 27 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Ida Langdon.

Livy & I wish to thank you ever so much for selecting the silver; it was dear & good of you, & lovely—all of which you always are.

September 28, 1902 Sunday

September 28 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook : “Let me talk with Mercer & didn’t tell me the h k f was on the door. / Thunder overhed—kind of rolling-pin. / Tin pan falls—racket. / Didn’t watch for beef steak / 59 days (8 ½ weeks) since Jean had any trouble. The longest interval, by 2 weeks, in 5 years. / And poor Livy, the real victim, is prostrate when all in justice she ought to be up & well & rejoicing. / We are again uneasy about her” [NB 45 TS 28-9].

September 29, 1902 Monday

September 29 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “New nurse came last night, the other one went this morning. Clara discharged the one & hired the other on her own motion. / Clara went to Boston in the deluge at 10 a.m., to consult Dr. Putnam. Found that Hawkes had done nothing by telephone nor sent the analysis” [NB 45 TS 29].

Clara Clemens hired trained nurse Margaret Garrety [MTHHR 510n4; Sept. 30 to Twichell].

September 30, 1902 Tuesday

September 30 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam replied to Joe Twichell’s Sept. 28.

We think the above will be our address for only a week longer, but there’s no certainty. It depends on Livy’s picking up strength enough in that time to qualify her to sit up 30 minutes in a chair without harm. She sat up ten, yesterday. We have to wait & see.

We show her some of the letters, but not those that would stir her; she can’t see yours yet, but I will tell her it is here.

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