August 25 Tuesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to H.J. Learoyd, Managing Editor of the N.Y. Evening Post, heading the note “Private.”
Dear Sir: / If you had asked me two months ago, my answer would have been prompt & loud & strong: Yes, I want Governor Hughes renominated. But it is too late, & my mouth is closed. I have become a citizen & tax-payer of Connecticut, & could not now, without impertinence, meddle in matters which are none of my business. I could not do it with impertinence without trespassing on the monopoly of another. / Very Truly Yours … [MTP].
Sam’s new guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
Jeannette L. Gilder Redding Ridge August 25-26
Jeannette Cholmeley- Jones “ “ [ditto]
Isabel Lyon’s journal: I’ve just been cutting the King’s hair; he sitting up in his sunshiney room and teaching me how to use the flat shears that clip the back of his neck. And it was a successful cutting too. He has just come down to say that I’d beating the barber at his own trade. How much of happiness that means. Miss Jeannette Gilder and her niece Jeannette Cholmely-Jones are here for the night, and I am so glad that the King likes them both and particularly Jeannette Gilder, for she is very genuine, and the youngest woman at 59 that I ever saw [MTP: IVL TS 61-62].
William Allen wrote from St. Louis to Sam.
Referring to a chapter in your Autobiography in last week’s Associated Sunday Magazines, I believe Redpath’s “gallant jayhawker chief”—the man who was “out of words” in your presence—was Dave Stringfellow. He was a prominent “border ruffian” in “bleeding Kansas” days, and he and Redpath made things lively in raids and counter raids. There was another fellow, Jim Lane, and he may have been the “chief.” He hoped the Autobiography would be finished in his lifetime, as he was 73 [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Know it wasn’t Jim Lane, but think it must have been Stringfellow, but cannot be quite sure”; and “rece’d 8/31/08”
George de Forest Brush wrote from Italy to Sam.
Dear Mr Clemens / That was a beautiful letter you wrote me on learning of Georgia’s death. I was very grateful to receive it. I love to refer to those who are dead that I have loved the death of a child is very sad because you find that they have gone before they have made any impression;. I am surprised how little I knew her living with her every hour of her life. One day sitting at the breakfast table before I left for America I said [“]Georgie you are a quiet little girl who never wants anything[.] what can I do for you what would you like[?”] “Nothing” said she “but education”…the last request she made was to be read to from Huckleberry Finn…[MTP].
Rev. Fred V. Christ (1878-1937), at this time asst. pastor Lutheran Church of Atonement, Edgecombe Ave. & W. 110th Street, wrote to Sam, recalling “The Captain’s Story.” He inquired as to Sam’s source of inspiration for the tale [MTP]. Note: see Sam’s Aug. 28 intriguing reply.
Henry W. Ruoff wrote from Buffalo, NY to ask Sam’s input on the 100 greatest men he was compiling for a series of biographies. He wanted those “with the greatest visible influence on the life and activities of the race.” Would Sam look at the list? Would he include Jesus? [MTP].
Two copies of the list are in the file, for eight categories. “Good” was placed on each sub- section and other names were added for Religon (Jesus and Satan), Science, politics and industry. IVL: “8/31 wrote for another list”; see Aug. 28 reply to Ruoff. R.E. Sherwood, bookseller, NYC wrote to Sam about the practice of department stores cheapening the price of books, and with the American Publishers Assoc. being dissolved by Federal courts, there was no protection of retail prices. Sherwood offered to send his car for Clemens, so he might talk over these trends [MTP]. Note: IVL: “The thing for him to do is to hop into the train at nine oclock Friday morning. He did it. But it didn’t amount to anything of interest”