September 17 Sunday – Sam also wrote from Elmira to Charles Webster, about a watch chain ordered from Tiffany & Co. that had not arrived in Elmira. Sam enclosed the letter from a Tiffany employee and wrote that he “got the watch chain at last, some 13 hours quicker than I could have got it by the canal” [MTP].
September 16 Saturday – James R. Osgood wrote to Sam: “Your letter of yesterday is received, with the accompanying MS. chapters of the book and the package of ‘Every Saturday’.” / We send you by Adams Ex. a package from Mr. Clarke, containing bill of complaint (in duplicate) in the Belford, Clark & Co. case …” [MTP]. Note: Thomas W. Clarke, attorney.
September 15 Friday – Sam wrote from Elmira to James R. Osgood, mailing him another chapter of LM.
“Book nearly done, now. Is mainly in the hands of the copyist. Will send you the seven (reprint) chapters, revised and corrected presently—the ones first illustrated by the artist…so you can hurry up your canvassing specimen” [MTP].
September 14 Thursday – Sam wrote from Elmira to answer the Sept. 11 request from David L. Grasmere, asking for a note from Sam.
September 13 Wednesday – Pamela Moffett wrote from Quincy, Ill. To thank him for his “kind and generous forethought”—they’d had a “very comfortable journey.” She’d just received a draft for $1,900 from the sale of the Independent Watch Co. stock. “I feel very grateful to every body who had a share in getting me out of this scrape,” especially Sam and also Charles Webster [MTP].
September 12 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Elmira, responding to an Aug. 26 letter from George MacDonald, Scottish minister, novelist and poet whom Sam met in 1873 in London. George recommended his literary agent, A.P. Watt. Sam answered that he didn’t need an agent as he was going to publish his own works. He promised to send a copy of LM when issued [Lindskoog 28].
September 11 Monday – Jane Clemens wrote on Patterson House, Keokuk stationery to Sam and Livy. “You see where we are. Our trunks came with us, other things are not here yet. This is a very large building a number of boarders in it.” She described the place and the people [MTP].
David L. Grasmere wrote from NYC to ask for a writing sample for his daughter in England’s fair [MTP].
September 10 Sunday – The New York Times ran an article on page 3: “Mark Twain’s Summer Home”.
September 9 Saturday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Charles Webster.
I want you to be General Agent for my New Book [LM] for the large district of which New York is the center. I can make it pay us both. Go to studying up the methods & mysteries of General Agency right away—no great deal of time left. We will see if we can’t improve on the Prince & Pauper’s luck there. All well & send love, to you both [MTBus 195-6].
September 8 Friday – Jane Clemens and Orion Clemens wrote to Sam. Jane wrote on a small paper: “I read your letter this morning. I lived in Fredonia a long time. I say keep both eyes open & watch as well as pray. Love to Livy yourself & the little children.” Orion wrote: “Nevertheless, I continue to think that Charlie settled everything satisfactory because you made him—just as Howard Brothers pay $1900 for Pamela’s stock because you and Charlie coerced them.