July 31 Tuesday – George B. Harvey of Harpers arrived In Dublin and spent five days with Clemens,  choosing 100,000 words from the 250,000 of the Autobiography for publication in the North American Review. Harvey left on Aug. 4 [Aug. 3 to Clara]. Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Col. Harvey arrived late this evening at 9:45” [MTP TS 102].

Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson.

Dear Charlotte, you are doing wonderfully. I await the coming carbon with strong interest. I returned here July 25 , from Fairhaven, & since then have dictated 4 hours. But I am going to do 2 hours a day, now, right along.

I am dreadfully glad I gave up the syndicate idea, for Harvey has been here several days & has read my entire 250,000 words, & is going to use above 100,000 of them in the newly-organized North American Review—which begins as a fortnightly Sept. 1., & will have new features: among them a purely literary section—just the place for my Autobiographical chapters. He culled & patched together 5 instalments of 5,000 words each—& very nice culling he did, too. Howells will select for the rest of the twelve-month.

With kindest regards to Miss Bensley, …. [MTP]. Note: Martha S. Bensley,  associated with the support movement for Russian revolutionaries in N.Y.C. and a collaborator with Johnson.

Sam’s notebook: Lists Robert Henry Newell (Orpheus C. Kerr) among American humorists who were formerly well known [Gribben: NB 42 TS 7].

Elizabeth Jordan for Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam that she awaited at his convenience the small boy’s chapter for “The Whole Family” and would send the “successive chapters to you as fast as they are written.” In the meantime she would keep sending reminders [MTP].

George H. Tripp, Librarian New Bedford Mass. wrote to Sam. “I very much regret that I was out of the city when you and Mr. Rogers called at the library the other day, on your quest for whaling logs. There is one which I should have liked to show you as an illustration of a very highly decorated whaling log. …I am going to send it for you to look over…” [MTP]. Note: why the men were after whaling logs is anyone’s guess.

Clemens’ A.D. this day included: Col. Harvey arrives to-night—Letter from Clara Clemens —Sam Clemens receives copy of Duneka’s “Library of Humor”—Seventy-eight other humorists contained therein—Letter from Charles Orr referring to Mr. Clemens’s reply— Clemens tells why he wrote “1601” and what it is, & of the private printing of several copies [MTP: Autodict2; MTE 200-203].