August 7 Saturday – In Lucerne, Switzerland Sam replied to Samuel S. McClure’s July 28 (not extant). Evidently McClure had sought an interview or contribution from Mark Twain, but Sam replied there were “business reasons why it will be best for Barr to do the thing without corresponding with me.” After his signature, he added:

“Upon rereading your letter of 28th I am troubled. Because it must not be an interview—I was forgetting that my hands are tied, in this matter. It can be what you have called an ‘article,’ if you like…” [MTP]. Note: Robert Barr wrote an article for the Jan. 1898 McClure’s, “Samuel L. Clemens, ‘Mark Twain’ – A Character Sketch,” p. 246-51.