September 4 Tuesday – Chatto & Windus wrote to Sam enclosing account of sales for the year ending July 1. The Library of American Humor had not sold well; drafts enclosed for “6 and 7 months for £300 and £270” [MTP].
Henry Dalby for Montreal Daily & Weekly Star wrote to Sam asking for a short or a long contribution for their Christmas issue, “of course at your own price” [MTP].
September 3 Monday – Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that he’d received his letter with three signed checks but the monthly statement from Paige had not yet come. A bid for Burr Index stock was too low [MTP].
September 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook:
“Why, Jean what have you got on such thin clothes for?”
“Mamma, I saw the sun signed (signified) a hot day.”
Sept 1/88 [3: 420].
Also, check numbers:
4314 Geo. Elmendorf Sept. 1 $48.75
4319 Patrick [McAleer], Sept. 1 $100
4320 John Sept 1 $120 [3: 477].
Park & Tilford, N.Y. Grocers, billed $1.35 for “Aug 16 1 doz. Bohemian Beer”; Paid Sept. 15.
September – Sam referred to Blackstone’s Commentaries in his notebook:
Book 4, ch 27, Blackstone. Read it.
The chapter was “Of Trials and Convictions” which deals with ways of determining guilt and innocence [MTNJ 3: 423&n51; Gribben 73].
August 31 Friday – Orion Clemens wrote to Sam, “Your very kind leter of the 27th received. We will postpone building in accordance with your suggestion.” Since the typesetter must be causing great anxiety, Orion volunteered “a week or two of investigation.” Ma had rallied and actually walked five blocks yesterday evening; she was “losing” things in her room and asked for locks to bar thieves [MTP].
August 30 Thursday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore:
Put no more into motor now [MTP].
Note: This was the justifying motor Paige had been developing for the typesetter.
Envelope only survives from a letter to Orion Clemens [MTP].
Orion Clemens wrote to Sam thanking for the montly $155 check. Ma was sick and having strange dreams; doctor called twice. “We are anxious to hear about the machine” [MTP].
August 29 Wednesday – Mary C. MacDonald wrote to Sam with her heart full of thanks for his letter; she would write to Mr. Riley at once and to the Century Co. and send them his letter [MTP]. Note: Mary had written several times seeking aid in placing her art.
Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that he’d sold 100 shares Am. Bank Note Co. and altogether had raised $8,065.50; remaining to be sold, 100 shares ea. Of St. Paul Roller Mill, Crown Point, Burr Index [MTP].
August 28 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote a one-liner to Franklin G. Whitmore asking him to send “3 boxes of cigars” [MTP]. Evidently, Sam preferred cigars from Hartford.
Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that he’d deposited $4,100 into the US Bank for him on the sale of 100 shares of Medlicott [MTP].
August 27 Monday – Sam wrote to Orion Clemens evidently suggesting they wait to build on to the house. Sam’s letter is not extant but referred to in Orion’s Aug. 31 response [MTP].
August 25 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, responding to his letter of Aug. 22. One particular stock had been in the hands of Henry C. Robinson, who had procured it for Sam originally. Sam directed Whitmore to sell the rest. He planned to go to Chicago for the Sept.