August 18 Tuesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote an aphorism to Margery H. Clinton.
It is a poor old maxim, & nothing in it: anybody can do it, you don’t have to employ a dog.
“Let a sleeping dog lie.”
Truly yours / Mark Twain
To Miss Margery Clinton
(August 18, 1908, at Redding, Conn. ) [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “We went, by way of the Peck’s mobile, over to their place at Redding Ridge, and then to see Jeannette Gilder” [MTP: IVL TS 60].
Anita Moffett wrote a mourning bordered note from Mt. Vernon, NY.
Dear Uncle Sam: — /Miss Lyon writes that you think it wise for my uncle, Mr. Tallman, to keep in touch with Mr. Robert Collier in regard to the accident insurance matter.
Mr. Collier is out of town, and Mr. Tallman has made an appointment to see him next week upon his return.
Mother is not able to write, but she wishes me to tell you that four New York pathologists and two physicians have found that it was neither apoplexy nor cerebral hemorrhage, but a clear case of drowning that killed papa. Mother will write soon. / Very sincerely…[MTP]. Note: See Aug. 1 news account of the drowning.
Mary Mantz Moffett wrote from Mt. Vernon, NY, two letters to Sam. The first:
Dear “Uncle Sam,” — / The report of the pathologist for the Insurance companies has been sent in to Mr. Alger—a friend of Sam’s—an attorney who is looking after the insurance. (Sam had said to call in Mr. Alger if we were ever in trouble.)
The report of the pathologists gives “drowning as cause of death.” I had two pathologists and two physicians at the autopsy to represent me—to prove that it was not apoplexy—nor brain hemorage [sic]. This awful thing that has happened was the result of cowardice and criminal negligence on the part of the hotel authorities — — — failure to provide a life saver — —and failure to provide proper ropes.
We were assured — — and Sam said “we have got to trust some people in this world” — — that they had an experienced life-saving man constantly on the beach. He turns out to be a butler—filling in his summer. When within 20 ft. of Sam —he lost his nerve and turned back — — abandoning Sam [MTP].
In her second letter of this date, Moffett’s widow thanked Clemens for a tribute he wrote intended for publication in a posthumous edition of a book by Samuel Moffett. Mary regretted the drowning especially since her son needed his father, and recounted the mountain of work and “hot travel” Moffett had made during his last year to Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. [MTP].
John B. Stanchfield wrote from NYC to Lyon c/o Clemens: “I have your letter under date of August 17th with check enclosed. The stock is not assessable. In due course you will hear from the proper parties in reference to the matter” [MTP].