York Harbor DBD

October 9 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “10 weeks to-day since Jean had an attack. Longest previous interval since July 12 (end of bromides) 1899 was 6 weeks & 4 days./ [Horiz. Line separator] / Am giving Bliss privilege to issue low-priced Library of Humor, provided he shan’t object to my publishing low-priced books, too” [NB 45 TS 30].

Sam wrote a line to an unidentified local man: “All the letters have arrived. If possible I shall call upon you to-morrow, toward 1 p.m.” [MTP].

October 10 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “THE DUEL. Next month tell it at the East Side House Settlement, for the purpose of drawing an instructive moral from it—& then forget what the moral was. ‘Now I come to the moral’ Reflect long (& embarrassingly for the audience). Give it up & sit down” [NB 45 TS 30].

October 11 Saturday – In from Boston with him the

York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to William Dean Howells after returning day before: “Say—stay where you are till you die. I’ve written 28 letters to-day connected with moving” [MTHL 2: 747].

Sam also wrote to update H.H. Rogers on the impending move to Riverdale:

October 13 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears, his “Member for Scotland” in the Juggernaut Club. Had he sent her the Constitution and Laws for the Club? He wasn’t sure he had. Sam related the “disastrous two months & freighted with fears & anxieties” about Livy; he related plans to move her to Riverdale on an invalid car in two days; and noted he had leased the Riverdale house for another year. He was sorry he didn’t have more cheerful things to say [MTP].

October 14 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Bliss Perry (1860-1954), editor of Atlantic Monthly (1899-1909). “It is quite true & not yet two days old. If it is worth hiding away in the curtained Contributors’ Club, do it. I can’t sign it, as I am a Harper exclusive” [MTP]. Note: Atlantic Monthly had a “Contributors’ Club” section where pieces were published anonymously. The feature was fun for contributors and readers alike, who would guess at who wrote the articles.