September 28 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to John C. Kinney, editor of the Hartford Courant:

Dear Kinney — Thou knowest I am a shirk. Never never shall reform, I do believe. But I thank you heartily all the same for thinking of me [MTP].

Note: Driscoll attributes this letter to Mrs. Kinney (Sara Thomson Kinney) “apparently in response to yet another solicitation she had made on behalf of her native rights organization” [21] See Feb. 13, 1886 entry. It is doubtful, however, that Sam would address the lady as “Dear Kinney.” Still, such a request for support in some fashion for the Connecticut Indian Assoc. might come through Sara’s husband.

Sam’s notebook: [chk#] 4414. Mad. Freese, Sept. 28 = $25 [3: 492]. Note: Madame Cécil Freese, Clemens family French teacher.

Sam also entered a paragraph in his notebook this day about the five Clara Stanchfield’s royalties:

Fulfilled Sept. 28, 1889.

I intend to add a one-dollar royalty to these, to take the place of a twenty-five-dollar share in the old K. Co., [Kaolatype], which I gave to Clara years ago, & which never came to anything. This must not be forgotten, but attended to by others if I forget — that is the reason I am making this entry in my note-book. S L Clemens [3: 521].

Note: this totaled six royalties for Clara Spaulding Stanchfield. Royalties on the typesetter were amounts to be paid on future sales; they were not stock, but were in a superior position because stocks might or might not pay dividends, and depended on increasing value for investors, while royalties were paid on every sale before expenses.

Charles Ethan Davis wrote another cryptic postcard to Sam: “Sept 28 3.55 R. = 4584 F.” and “Sept. 28 1.07 R = 1908 J. / Davis” [MTP]. Note: another of a series of postcards which reported em production numbers by various apprentices, this for “J”.