June 8 Monday – Clara Clemens’ eleventh birthday. She received a lawn tennis set, Livy recording the gifts in her diary [Mark Twain News 39.2 (Summer 1995): 9].
Sam took the early morning train to New York and took a room at the Everett House. From Livy’s diary:
The little maiden is eleven years old today and a precious little maiden she is. She had her school this morning only that it closed about half an hour earlier than usual. Then we had her table as has been our habit for several years on the Ombra. She had given to her a lawn tennis set, books—some little pieces of pottery, two little pins (brooches) one silver and one shell. Note paper, a pretty little Japanese pencil box—a work basket etc.
We had Susy, Julia and Harmony Twichell, Daisy Warner, Fanny Freese, Susy Corey and Miss Foote here for supper. A jolly time playing games, dancing, and so on. It is a great pleasure to see the children together they do have such a good time….When I came up to bed tonight they were both wide awake waiting to tell me what a good day they had had and how much they thanked me for it. They are blessed children and tremendous comforts [Salsbury 200-1; MTP].
Just as the children’s company was breaking up Mr & Mrs Geo. Warner came in to help me decide which two pieces of pottery Mr Clemens and I should give to Miss Lizzie Foote for her wedding gift [MTP].
In New York, Sam wrote his mother, Jane Clemens. He noted that he wouldn’t be home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. He was sending $50 a month extra to Jane “while the warm weather lasts” that she must spend. Sam boasted that “Our little sculptor, Gerhardt” was making a “mighty fine bust” of Henry Ward Beecher. He marked “private” that Osgood had owed him $1,800, but that he was “very sorry Osgood failed—mighty nice man.” Sam told of a rat that “traveled across the floor” as he wrote:
“The idea of these people charging $7 a day for a room with a rat in it, & allowing the rat board & yet charging me extra for board. Love to you all. Sam” [MTP].
Ulysses S. Grant informed Sam that volume two of his memoirs were completed. The cancer had spread and Grant could barely speak [Perry 202-3].
Julius Blasius, Hartford music teacher billed Livy $21.20, for Jan. 26 to June 8 for music lessons [MTP].
Orion Clemens wrote from Keokuk, Ia. to his brother:
I just now met John H. Craig, the leading lawyer here, and possessing the chief local reputation as a poet and popular orator.
He says he read Huckleberry Finn through, and then reread it and studied the points. In his view Huckleberry Finn is as distinctly a created character as Falstaff [Shakespeare char.] The dialogues between him and Jim are inimitable, and the dialect perfect. How you could get down to their ideas, especially Jim’s of King Sollerman, and manage so many dialects he does not see[.] His boys lie on the floor and read it, and roll over, and laugh. It is full of fun.
Tom Sawyer was read and loaned till it had to be re-covered; and Huckleberry will soon start on the same journey.
He regards Jim as a very clear-cut character; standing out with Huckleberry[‘s] natural distinctness. He can see them. To him they are real characters.
The feud is a perfect picture.
I am going to take ma to the park this afternoon. The artesian well water has iron, magnesia and sulfur and other things, and seems to benefit her. It is in the park / Love to all, / Your Brother, Orion [MTP]. Note: Orion added a lengthy P.S. about one Charley Whitney and an unnamed man who scammed the people there selling soap for all sorts of cures and legal services without a license.
Charles H. Clark wrote thanking Sam for an unspecified article. He could only print about half of it and then return it [MTP].
E.B. Webb wrote from Washington, NJ, enclosing a copy of a paper read at the last meeting of their Washington Literary Circle, asking “an expression of your views as to its usefulness” [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Burlesque critique”
William N. Woodruff telegraphed from Hartford: “Philadelphia accept I go there Saturday thirteenth letters by mail.” He also wrote a letter this day: “I have just received a letter from Phila’, and they accept our terms on the busts. I am to go there on Saturday of this week…to close contract.” When would Sam be home to view the contract? And if Sam saw Gerhardt he advised “coming to some definite understanding” for his pay [MTP].