July 5 Friday – Frederick J. Hall forwarded a sample illustration from Daniel Carter Beard. Sam had seen Beard’s work in the March issue of Cosmopolitan [MTLTP 254n1].
Frederick Bryant wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].
James S. Metcalfe for American Newspaper Publishers, N.Y. wrote to Sam wishing to keep informed about the progress of the Paige typesetter and also asking for a submission [MTP].
July 4 Thursday – James W. Housel wrote an appeal to Sam to help secure a pardon for convicted embezzler of Webster & Co., Frank M. Scott. Housel enclosed photographs of Scott’s family and wrote about,
…the Wife & Children depending upon the charity of others, and whose cry is constantly ringing in her weary Ears when is my Pa Pa coming home [MTP] Note: Sam wrote on the envelope “unanswered” and “preserve this sentimental rubbish.”
July 3 Wednesday – Sam added a PS to his letter of the prior day to Frederick J. Hall:
July 3, 2:30 p.m. Mr. Crane is still alive, but that is all [MTP]. Note: Clara Clemens received the telegram on the telephone.
After Sam wrote this letter, Theodore Crane died [MTNJ 3: 474n236]. His death delayed Sam’s departure to Hartford to see the Paige typesetter. It would be a week or more before he traveled alone to Hartford [498n53].
July 2 Tuesday – Sam responded to James B. Pond’s letter of June 28 asking him to do more introductions for Edgar W. “Bill” Nye and James Whitcomb Riley during the summer. (Sam introduced the pair on Feb. 28 in Boston.
It is too late, old man. June was the only idle month I was to have for a year, & June just escaped from us. We are in deep trouble here. Mrs. Clemens’s brother-in-law (Mr. Crane) is believed to be dying, after ten months of wearing illness [MTP].
July 1 Monday – In Elmira Sam wrote to his brother Orion Clemens and sent him complaints about Charles Webster, whom he had no more use for:
Read it & forward to Pamela. If she answers, I would rather she should do it under cover to you. I have never hated any creature with a hundred thousandth fraction of the hatred which I bear that human louse, Webster.
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June 29 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Mary A. Jordan, seeking a “capable governess — one who can prepare Susie for Smith & carry Clara along.” Sam wrote he was sending the note with Miss Hesse (Fanny C. Hesse?), as he did not know Jordan’s address [MTP]. Note: Up until this time the Clemens girls were home-schooled.
June 28 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore.
I expect a telegram from Paige to-morrow to say the machine is done. After that, I would like a daily note from you telling me the state of the machine…. Ask Paige to keep the fact that the machine is finished absolutely secret from everybody until I come. I’ve got a scheme which will explain this [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: [chk] #4974. Whitmo, $125, June 28 / #4975. F.G. Warner $9 [3: 491].
June 27 Thursday – Orion Clemens wrote to Sam having received the monthly $200 check. Samuel and Mary Moffett left yesterday and Orion related their conversations. Ma was going to a concert this evening — “seems to be well enough to walk to the opera house. We’ll ride.” He wrote of writing and starting again several times on a religious article [MTP]. Sam likely traveled back to Elmira by this day.
June 26 Wednesday – Sam spoke at the Yale Alumni Banquet in New Haven, Conn.