June 12 Wednesday – The Clemens family usually spent a day or two in New York on their way to Elmira.
Orion Clemens wrote to Sam trying to repay him for his kindness by giving him a drawing for “an improved fixture for ringing a door-bell.” He wished they would all come for a visit [MTP]. Note: Orion repeatedly expressed his thanks and desire to repay Sam in some way.
June 11 Tuesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a short note to George Washington Cable, who evidently had asked for copies of a pamphlet Sam used to have, Samuel Watson Royston’s short novel, The Enemy Conquered, or Love Triumphant. “They are lost!” Sam responded, “I have searched everywhere & cannot find a vestige of that pamphlet.” He closed “in haste” as they were “just leaving for Elmira” [MTP; Gribben 593; MTNJ 3: 490n29].
June 10 Monday –The Hartford Courant, p.8 under “City Personals,” reported: “Mr. S.L. Clemens and family leave this week for their summer home in Elmira.”
June 8 Saturday – Clara Clemens’ fifteenth birthday.
June 5 Wednesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam, advising they’d sent the “Cook Book as ordered to Mrs. Moffatt” and laying the matter of a book by Matthew Brady to him for consideration. The book would be “a National Portrait Gallery embracing the Presidents, Judges of the Supreme Court, Cabinet Officers and principal members of the different Senates and Congress, from George Washington down,” and would sell from $15 to $20, bound in morocco [MTP].
June 4 Tuesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote John C. Kinney, editor of the Courant, declining an invitation as he was “already engaged for the Yale festivities at New Haven for that afternoon & evening” [MTP]. Note: the Yale event was an annual alumni banquet Sam would speak at on June 26, 1889.
June 3 Monday – Cecil Kingstone wrote to Sam asking if he had any objection or held “any legal power to prevent” him from writing a play based on TA [MTP].
Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam (financial statement encl.) “Which shows a pretty fair month” with books sent out totaling 5,302, Sheridan’s two volumes in the lead with 535 and 543 each [MTP].
June 1 Saturday – An earlier entry in Sam’s notebook gives this as the date for Julia Langdon’s high school graduation. The oldest daughter of Charles Langdon, “Julie” had been chosen valedictorian. Sam and Susy Clemens were invited to attend; Sam wrote, “Best weather. / Bad weather up to 6” [MTNJ 3: 470n221]. Thus he and Susy may have made the trip to Elmira, weather permitting, though no further record of such a trip was found.
June – While preparing to leave for Elmira, Sam entered in his notebook The Beginnings of New England; or, The Puritan Theocracy by John Fiske (1889) [3: 495; Gribben 232].
May 31 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Miss Mary (unknown) declining to “respond in the body.”
I have reached the time of life when one has nothing to do & cannot get any time to do it in; & so I am obliged to stick close at home & seize every opportunity that offers. This does not accomplish anything, but it keeps one’s conscience easy [MTP].