September 23 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “La Roche Francis 6 pm./ Mr. & Mrs. Lart 5 pm.” [NB 43 TS 26]. Note: Claude de La Roche Francis, author of the 1902 London Historic and Social.
At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam finished his Aug. 20 letter to John Tatlock, which he perhaps mislaid since:
September 22 Saturday – Homer Bassford’s article, “The Friends of Mark Twain’s Boyhood,” ran in Saturday Evening Post. Tenney: “Charley Curts remembers school and exploring the cave with Sam Clemens, and describes him as not lazy, but helpful to others; a good story-teller, Sam used to tell the Arabian Nights stories to groups of his friends: Curts, Ed Pierce, Bill Nash, Ben Coontz, ‘Gene Freeman, Ruel Gridley, Tom Blankenship, and John Meredith.
September 20 Thursday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to W.R. Dunn, District Councilor and father of Arthur Dunn, photographer. “I have received your letter & Mr. Ball’s, & you & your son will be welcome.” Sam wrote he would be “up & at leisure” after 9:45 a.m. [MTP: Sotheby’s London catalog, Dec. 17, 1998, Item 128].
September 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Moberly Bell & wife. Tea & dinner” [NB 43 TS 25].
At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister on several items. Though he would like to write for “Lloyd’s Christmas number,” his contracts debarred him from doing so. He expected the MacAlisters to come to them for a last visit, either “some evening, or eat with us in the hotel when we move to London”; Sam would “leave the particulars” to Livy.
September 18 Tuesday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Frank Bliss, reminding he had not received his July statement and asking it be sent to H.H. Rogers. Sam wrote they would reach New York about Oct. 16 (they arrived on Oct. 15).
September 17 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, with Livy adding a line or two and signature. They expressed the “perfect visit” of Hall. Sam recounted an anecdote he read the night before in Domestic Annals of Scotland:
September 16 Sunday – The Clemens family was on a weekend jaunt to visit “some English friends” in Cromer, Norfolk, on the coast [Sept. 14 to Pond; Sept. 25 to Fiske]. Note: friends unspecified.
Dorothy T. Stanley wrote to thank Sam for the gift of FE. She told of Mr. Stanley working on the place and sent her regards to Livy and the girls; she hoped they would see them before he left for America, and if he could prevent the election of William Jennings Bryan, perhaps he should go [MTP].
The town is notable as a traditional tourist resort and for the Cromer crab, which forms the major source of income for local fishermen. The motto Gem of the Norfolk Coast is highlighted on the town's road signs.
September 14 Friday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to James B. Pond.
September 13 Thursday – Chatto & Windus published 2,000 additional copies of the 6s.0d. English edition of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, for a total of 8,000 [Welland 238].