August 19 Wednesday – Livy’s mother, Olivia Lewis Langdon, celebrated her 75th birthday. The Clemens family all went to town for the celebration [Salsbury 209]. Susy and Clara Clemens performed the second part of The Merry Wives of Windsor as part of the birthday fun [Gribben 629]. From Livy’s diary:

      We were all in town today to celebrate Mother’s 75th birthday. We all made our various gifts to her. Susy had worked an umbrella case, and she had also learned the second part of the Merry Wives of Windsor to play with Clara, as part of her contribution Clara had learned the part before with her teacher, but Susy learned hers alone.

      It seemed almost useless to prepare anything for Mother, for she does so much for us, it seems wrong for her to give us gifts on her birthday…but it is her pleasure so I suppose we must all be content. She gave Sue and Charlie and me each of us a check of $100, so it made fifty dollars for each of the children and children-in-law [.] Theodore, Ida and Mr. Clemens were to share our one hundred dollar checks. Beside the checks she made us gifts. She gave me three pieces of Crown Derby Tea-pot, sugar bowl and cream pitcher.

      Mother looked so young and bright and handsome that it was impossible to realize she is 75 [MTP].