October 5 Tuesday– In Vienna, Austria Sam wrote to Professor Heinrich Obersteiner (1847-1922), enclosing a letter from Dr. M. Allen Starr (d.1932) of New York concerning seventeen-year-old daughter Jean’s epileptic attacks. Sam disclosed she had her sixth attack a week ago (Sept. 28).

She does not know what her difficulty is, but thinks herself subject to merely ordinary attacks of fainting; & we prefer to keep her in ignorance regarding their true character.  Can we bring her to see you? & will you kindly tell me at which hour it will be best to call? [MTP].

Note: Obersteiner was an eminent doctor who specialized in pediatric neurology, and at this time a senior colleague of Sigmund Freud. Dr. M. Allen Starr attended the Clemenses from 1895 until 1906, and had studied with Dr. Obersteiner. It is not known if the doctor saw Jean, or if he treated her [Dolmetsch 263].

Sam also wrote to the Editor of the Wiener Bilder:

“There is a moral sense and there is an Immoral Sense. The Moral Sense teaches us what morality is and how to avoid it; the Immoral Sense teaches us what immorality is and how to enjoy it. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Wien 5 October, 1897” [MTP].