July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article, “William Dean Howells,” p. 221-5 [Budd, Collected 2: 1011].
The Reader carried a photograph by Underwood & Underwood of Mark Twain reading in bed [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Third Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1979 p. 191].
July 1 Sunday – In the evening in Fairhaven, Mass. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Dublin, N.H.
July 2 Monday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam finished his July 1 to Clara in Norfolk, Conn.
July 3 Tuesday – Charles J. Langdon wrote to Sam, enclosing a check for $120 for various bond coupons, property of Susie Clemens’ estate [MTP].
July 4 Wednesday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam inscribed a copy of Eve’s Diary to Mary B. Rogers (Mrs. Harry Rogers, Jr.): “Mrs. Harry Rogers, jr / with the compliments of / The Authoress / & the kind regards of / The Translator. / July 4/06” [MTP].
In the early a.m., Sam returned with H.H. Rogers in the Kanawha to New York instead of going by rail to Dublin, N.H. as earlier planned [July 2 to Clara].
July 5 Thursday – In the afternoon at 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson.
July 6 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to Elizabeth Jordan. “I am here for a day, & your note of July 2 has just reached me. I shall be eager to get those first chapters, & shall hope they will inspire me to do the boy” [MTP]. Note: Jordan was ramrodding a collaborative story for Harper’s Bazaar. Clemens was chosen to do the boy chapter. Sam ultimately could not interest his pen in the story.
Isabel Lyon’s journal (in Dublin, N.H.):
July 7 Saturday – N.Y.C.: Sam was spending his days in Rogers’ Standard Oil office or the lawyer’s office, and his nights aboard the Kanawha, which they anchored “about ten miles” out [July 10 to Jean]. Note: Harper’s lawyer and Sam’s lawyer Edward Lauterbach were negotiating to settle the dispute about the “unauthorized” Library of Humor reissue. See July 10 to Lyon.
July 8 Sunday – Samuel E. Moffett wrote to Sam. “My dear Uncle, / I was in Washington last week, and took advantage of the opportunity to copy off one of those copyright lists.” Moffett included lists of 134 copyrights renewed for 1903 [MTP]. Note: evidently Clemens had requested the lists for his work on the copyright cause.
July 9 Monday – NYC: Sam again spent time in lawyers’ offices and at Standard Oil’s office.
July 10 Tuesday – At noon, 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Dublin, N.H.
July 11 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):
July 12 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote his plans to Isabel V. Lyon in Dublin, N.H.
Checks received & banked.
We sail at 9 a.m. to-morrow, for over-Sunday. [to Fairhaven]
I resume business here on Monday, when Col. Harvey arrives. I shall expect to be here all the week [MTP]. Note: in her July 13 journal entry, Lyon calls this “a note not so big as a post scriptum.”
July 13 Friday – In the a.m. Sam and H.H. Rogers sailed again for Fairhaven on the Kanawha [July 12 to Lyon].
Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):
“Zarathustra” has arrived!
July 14 Saturday – Sam was at the Rogers’ residence in Fairhaven, Mass. for a weekend stay [July 12 and July 16 to Lyon].
Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):
Here am I reading “Thus spoke Zarathrustra” & I do not pretend to be qualified to say how wonderful I find it. …
July 15 Sunday – Sam was at the Rogers’ residence in Fairhaven, Mass. for a weekend stay [July 12 and July 16 to Lyon].
Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “I am alone today;—wonderfully alone! / All the morning I had a rich solitude here in my room, reading Nietzche & theosophy… / A solitary luncheon—more reading—& then at 4.30 lovely Gladys Thayer came, & we had tea & talk together. I played for her the Tannhauser Overture & Grieg & Träumerer, before she left to hurry home” [MTP TS 96-97].
July 16 Monday – N.Y.C. 10 a.m. Sam wrote to Isabel V. Lyon in Dublin, N.H.
“I have just arrived. Please thank my nephew Sam Moffett for me, & say I wonder at his sending a valuable letter to ‘Redding,’ a place I have no recollection of ever having heard of in my life. Preserve his statistics. / With love to Jean” [MTP].
July 17 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):
Jean, 3:30
July 18 Wednesday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):
What will this day bring?
The grass is down! It was so ripe, so ready, and willing, to be slain. (3 men have been working at it all the morning.) It began to be so tired; & when the scythe swept through it, it lay so still, as if glad and full of rest—like other deaths.
July 19 Thursday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we climbed Monadnock—starting before nine o’clock we slowly wound our way up those mighty slopes. I cannot write of the wonder of the mountain—the wonder of the day. It was too great. It was a mighty stroke out of the great drama of eternity. Oh the great soul of that eternal mountain” [MTP TS 98-99].
July 20 Friday – John T. Lewis, hero of Elmira, died on the way to the hospital [Sue Crane to Sam July 23, 1906].
Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we read Orion Clemens letters. Some of them written back in 1862. Mr. Paine is [many illegible cancelled words]. Oh, the wonder of life” [MTP TS 99].
July 21 Saturday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “These are such beautiful days. The mountain has brought life to me. Who could have thought within the month there could be an awakening such as mine—an awakening out of black poisoned misery into the meaning of the mountain & the meaning & sacredness of life, whether in solitude or not” [MTP TS 99].
July 22 Sunday – Sam was in NYC. He signed and inscribed a photograph of himself in his three-piece white suit in a rocking chair, to Mai Rogers (Mrs. William R. Coe): “A happy voyage to you dear Mrs. Coe & a speedy return! Sincerely yours, S.L. Clemens July 22, 1906.” On the back he wrote, “Shall I learn to be good? ….I will sit here & think it over” [Skinner Auctioneers Nov. 19, 2006, Sale 2341, Lot 27].
July 23 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Jean, 9.20 very severe, but cleared up well after” [MTP TS 100].
Susan Crane wrote to Sam, who included it in his A.D. of Aug. 11, 1906. She told of John T. Lewis’ dying requests and of his decline and death on July 20 [MTP].
July 24 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we read Orion letters down under the apple tree in the field. It was very sweet down there. The Orion letters are monotonous—but they are not either [MTP TS 100].