May 20 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mrs William E. Dodge here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam, advising that she had used $5,000 on the Steel investment which Rogers had made “some time since,” to offset $5,000 owed Rogers [MTP].
May 19 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, reacting to the lack of interest in the advertisements for the sale of their Hartford house. Whitmore was surprised there had been no letters from out of town. To Sam, the plan used to seem plausible to hook “some rich Chicagoan” but now that the scheme wasn’t successful he wasn’t surprised.
The thing that does is that there is but one Hartford bid. I had thought of Mrs. George Perkins, & of James Goodwin’s son; as possible bidders.
May 18 Sunday – Livy’s diary: “Annie Trumbull, Miss Dike & John Howells here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
May 17 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, enclosing a letter from Thomas B. Reed to the Rev. M.M.J. Cooper, Rector of St. Christopher’s, Rum Cay, Bahamas. The letter announced a donation of a church organ by Reed.
May 16 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to his old Nevada friend, William R. Gillis, whose incoming letter is not extant:
Dear old Unreconstructible!
May 15 Thursday – Sam’s notebook entry lists ideas for the “50 years after” tale, never finished [NB 45 TS 13].
Hill claims the MS “is one of the very few that, in his entire life, Mark Twain actually may have destroyed” [43].
Livy’s diary: “Mark McGinnis & Mr Borce, took tea with us” [MTP: DV161].
May 14 Wednesday – Livy’s diary: “Mrs Ruth McEmory [sic McEnery] Stuart & Mrs Gen. Custer gave us a reception in New York” [MTP: DV161]. Note: a check of NY papers for this event came up empty.
May 13 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote on Blanche E. Weekes’ May 7 and sent it to Elisabeth Marbury. “Above letter is referred to Miss Marbury by / SL. Clemens / who is weary of corresponding with alleged dramatists. / May 13/02. / I do not remember having heard of Miss Weekes before” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Mr. Wolfe (not further identified): “After endorsing your check over to the Harpers I found I did not need to buy a book—I found one on hand, & am forwarding it” [MTP].
May 12 Monday – George H. Daniels, General Passenger Agent for New York Central & Hudson River Co. wrote to Sam. “Referring to conversation with my Secretary, Mr. Laing, this morning. I find that there are no state-rooms in the sleeping cars on train No. 33, leaving New York at 9:20 PM. So I have reserved for you a drawing room, the cost of which, from New York to St. Louis, will be $22.00.” The total fare was $46.25; Daniels asked for a check and he’d send the tickets [MTP].
May 11 Sunday – Sam’s notebook entry lists ideas for the “50 years after” tale, where Huck and Tom met up with the old gang back in Hannibal 50 years after their boyhood escapades; never finished [NB 45 TS 12].
Livy’s diary: “Mr Rodman Gilder here for luncheon & tea / Mary Forth called” [MTP: DV161].