August 5 Monday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote the aphorism about improving bad liquor to Mr. Martin [MTP]. See index for other aphorisms or maxims.
Sam also replied to the July 30 from W.J. Phelps, by writing instructions to Lyon on the bottom and right margin of Phelps’ letter.
August 4 Sunday – John and Clara (nee Spaulding) Stanchfield ended their two-day visit with Sam in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. [New York Times, Aug. 4, p.7, “Tuxedo Park News”].
Robert P. Elmer wrote from Wayne, Pa. to Sam, asking if the “Moult” in Chapter IV of IA was his grandfather Moulton, “Moult” being his nickname [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd. Aug 14, ‘07” and “Moult was a young fellow from Mo. quiet & rather diffident; he had not been away from home before. I have never heard of him since.”
August 3 Saturday – John and Clara (nee Spaulding) Stanchfield visited Sam in Tuxedo Park, and stayed over through Sunday [New York Times, Aug. 4, p.7, “Tuxedo Park News”].
In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to Joseph Hodges Chaote, ambassador to Great Britain, about speaking at the Sept. 23 Jamestown celebration of Robert Fulton inventing the steam boat.
August 2 Friday – Chatto & Windus wrote to Sam enclosing a check for £160:7:2 in royalties [MTP].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam after hearing from Harvey that Sam would give them a story for the Christmas Magazine [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Sent him Wapping Alice”
August 1 Thursday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam replied to the July 15 of Joy Agnew, daughter of Phillip L. Agnew, editor in chief of Punch.
Unto you greeting & salutation & worship, you dear sweet little right-named Joy! I can see you now almost as vividly as I saw you that night when you sat flashing & beaming upon those sombre swallow-tails.
“Fair as a star when only one
Is shining in the sky.”
Late July and August – Sam’s A.D. sessions continued weekdays, for two or more hours each day. During this time, after his return from England, his dictations dealt almost exclusively with his time in England and Oxford [MTE 320-46].
August – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote his aphorism about honors deserved to E.M. Bowney [MTP: Philip C. Duschnes catalogs, No. 183, Item 98].
July 31 Wednesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam sent a telegram to Miss Dorothy Quick at the Turell Inn, Plainfield, N.J.: “Letter for you at your Inn I sent it several days ago. / S.L. Clemens” [MTP].
Dorothy Quick wrote from the Truell Inn, Plainfield, N.J. to Sam.
July 30 Tuesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Bowring & Co., N.Y.C., asking for $80 for the unused portion of the steamship Rosalind tickets by Clara Clemens and Isabel Lyon on the recently aborted trip to St. John [MTP]. Note: See July 1 entry.
July 29 Monday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to George Parsons, Mayor of Cairo, Illinois.
I thank you heartily for the high compliment of the invitation, & I would accept it at once if I could make the trip in a ship, but as that is not possible I am obliged to decline it. To me a land journey is the perfection of discomfort, & I am not expecting to try another one until I go in a hearse. A hearse with rubber tires, too, or I cancel the excursion. I hope you will have a good time: indeed I am able to predict that you will [MTP].
July 28 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tino [ABP]. King is bed with bronchitis and cancelling a luncheon with Mrs. Wolfe and tea with Mrs. Kane. AB and I worked over old letters, until we were limp. Long after midnight there was a thundering rumble of the King’s voice and a slam of a door and some good swears and there hadn’t been a thing in the King’s room. “No whiskey, no towels, no soap, no water.” and it was fine to hear him swear around and wake up everybody in the house. Oh, he’s a darling King.