July 30 Tuesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Bowring & Co., N.Y.C., asking for $80 for the unused portion of the steamship Rosalind tickets by Clara Clemens and Isabel Lyon on the recently aborted trip to St. John [MTP]. Note: See July 1 entry.
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam to Albert Bruce-Joy, photographer/sculptor in England. Ashcroft had rec’d a July 12 letter from Bruce-Joy and photograph enclosed (likely “First Flight” photo of Bruce-Joy’s 1879 sculpture). The letter had been sent on the wrong ship, the S.S. St. Paul.
Ashcroft added he had seen the Histed photographs [MTP].
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam to Dodd, Lyon, & Tinsley c/o Cunnard SS Co. in Liverpool, England. The company’s wireless had been rec’d via the Lucana; Sam sent his thanks for the message [MTP].
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam what seems a reply to John Y. MacAlister’s July 11.
Miss Lyon had already, on our arrival heard from Washington about “The Death Wafer” and the Red Wafer, and had instructed Miss Marbury to give the matter her attention. As I understand it, Miss Marbury is in full charge of this part of Mr. Clemens’ affairs, and her address is the Empire Theatre Building, Broadway, New York. I hope she will give the matterprompt and thorough attention [MTP]. Note: Ashcroft also mentioned the collision on the return voyage and thanked Mac for his assistance during their stay in London. A “Red Wafer” reference appears in TSA, ch. 5.
Ashcroft also replied for Sam to Captain Prehn, c/o North German Loyd Co., N.Y.C. Prehn’s wireless message had been rec’d but Sam was unable to reply since the Minnetonka was out of range; Sam now sent his thanks [MTP].
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam to Frederick Rathbone. Ashcroft had Rathbone’s July 14 letter and would forward it to Clemens. He thanked Rathbone for offering to “attend to any London matters,” and would call upon him if needed [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Col. Harvey arrived tonight. The King & I went down to the train to meet him. We had previously taken Miss Herrick out for a very tiny drive—a thin drive, you might say, for the talk was that kind. It wasn’t even that though—and the King smoked serenely on not talking at all—the placidest personality in the world, looking out into the beautiful woods, & at the splendid rocks. The King doesn’t permit himself to be exhausted by Miss Herrick. I am the exhaust pipe for her talk to go through. Evidently the N.A. Review is on very shaky legs, for the Colonel asked Mr. Clemens to wait for the autobiographical monies that are due him; to wait until the first of the year, for funds are low & he must borrow if he pays. It annoyed the King, for it is, as he says, “doing business through sentimental channels” & he doesn’t like it at all. And it isn’t fair to the King. Col. Harvey is a strong man & the lower part of his face is very much like Lincoln’s, but his short nose prevents him from being a great man. I think he never will be that. But he is fearless in his utterances about Roosevelt, so fearless that the speech he made last spring in the South, has hurt the Harper publications which the Colonel is directly interested in, the King thinks [MTP 88-89].
W.J. Phelps of the Phelps Co., electrical supplies, wrote to Sam, suggesting after long thought that the works of Mark Twain should be more readily available to common people who could not always get to a library; he thought they should be available at the newsstands, much like “Mr. Hearst’s newspapers.” He argued for a cheap edition of TS [MTP]. Note: See Aug. 5 for
Sam’s reply.
Dorothy Butes wrote on board the S.S. Celtic to Sam: “It was perfectly lovely of you to send me a wireless message when we were right out at sea. I never had one sent me before…” She’d finished reading CY and thought Sandy was “a brick.” “I laughed till I cried over her. You knocked the stuffings pretty well out of Merlin, didn’t you?” She wanted him to visit England in the spring instead of Bermuda [MTP]. Clemens wrote on env. “Answered Aug. 17 Dorothy Butes”
Frank Stobie wrote from Perth, W. Australia to Sam, enclosing an article from the West Australian (not in file) that expressed the good feelings all Australians had for Twain [MTP].