November – In Sam’s  notebook there’s an entry “Little Pedlington” which refers to John Poole’s   1839 book, Little Pedlington and the Pedlingtonians. Gribben quotes E.  Cobham Brewer, calling this “an imaginary place, the village of quackery and  can’t, egotism and humbug, affectation and flatter” [553].

Sam noted “Turganieff’s Visions”  and “Visions, a Phantasy, by Tourganieff—in the Galaxy”  in his notebook [MTNJ 2: 244, 247].

Sam received letters from Will Sage and Joe Twichell about payments required and red tape needed to  get the “two boxes of Clocks” through customs. He  made a note to do a chapter in his book about “this most scoundrelly &  infernal custom house system” [MTNJ 2: 237].

Sam’s notebook:

Sam visited the Sistine Chapel,  commenting on work by Raphael. He counted 25 courtyards in the Vatican.  He noted the Tom of the Virgin and wrote “How  she would draw in N.Y.” [MTNJ 2:  237].

Gustavo Sarfatti wrote to Sam (Sept. 29 from  Sarfatti enclosed) [MTP].
 

In his notebook, Sam concluded that the “Immaculate  Conception has ceased to be a wearying & worrisome question.” What the  Ecumenical Council should “decide once & forever” was, “who was it that  struck Billy Patterson?” (From Wm. Porter’s collection, The Big Bear  of Arkansas and Other Sketches) [MTNJ 2:  235]. More from Sam’s notebook:

It is the more ridiculous spectacle to see a Virgin or a  copper Aristotle stuck on top of every stately monument of the grand old  “pagan” days of Rome.

The Clemens family left Florence for Rome. The trip took 8 hours  and they arrived at 4:30 PM [MTNJ 2: 235]. The party stayed at  the Hotel d’Allemania. Sam noted the cost of  the rooms, three coffees, one beefsteak and three “table d’hotes” (communal  table, full-course meal) totaling 48.25 francs, paid at 5 PM [281].
 

Sam’s notebook:

Uffizzi Gallery, Sunday (free day,)

What a shamed look people have who go along with a guide—they  nod annoyedly at every statement he makes, & they scarcely look at the  object he points at; often not at all; neither look they to one side or the other, or at anybody; they seem to have but one desire: to get through with  this painful trial & go free again [MTNJ 2: 234].

Sam  wrote to Valentine Besarel, letter not extant but mentioned in Besarel’s Oct. 27.
 

Sam’s notebook:

In Santa Croce to-day a well dressed young woman followed us,  begging for centimes.

An old frowsy woman watched where I laid my cigar, then  approached us with it as Chamberlain & I came out & said she rescued it  from some boys (who had found it in the dark!) & wantd 5 cents for her  trouble. She followed us into the street & finally cursed us & called  down sudden death upon us [MTNJ 2: 229].
 

Joe Twichell wrote to Sam.

I have been thinking of you all the morning. This is one of  those golden, perfect autumn days when ones desire to off somewhere among  trees, mounts to a passion… Now, Mark, let’s make a vow, that when we are once  more together we will use these heavenly days as they were meant to be used and  as we shall wish we had when we come to look back on life [MTP]. Note: there is  much more and more depth to this letter, but space here does not allow it all.

Livy wrote from Florence to her mother:

This evening Mr & Mrs Chamberlain were in for an hour  & we sat about a wood fire & chatted—then Mr Clemens read to us—then to  bed—where I am now—Florence is much more restful than Venice, because we have  no social demands—and one ought to know no one when they are visiting picture  galleries—The Chamberlains are a perfect delight, they never tax us in the  least they are helpful to us and are bright beyond expression [MTNJ 2:  226n19].