July 25 Wednesday – Sam left Fairhaven, Mass. and arrived back in Dublin, N.H. [July 31 to Teller; IVL journal July 25].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Today the King came home. His hair is shorter than I have ever seen it, and he is a rejuvenated [sic] man. Yes—he is in a new world” [MTP TS 100].
Herbert Shearer for Farm, Field & Fireside (“The Great Farm Weekly”), Chicago, wrote to ask Sam if he would confirm a photograph they’d rec’d of his birthplace [MTP].
July 26 Thursday – Jean Clemens’ 26 birthday.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “This morning Jean called Mr. Clemens an old sinner & he said, ‘Yes, Adam & I go out every Sunday morning with a basket & gather all the apples we can find!’” [MTP TS 100].
Donchian Brothers, Importers of Oriental rugs, NYC wrote to Sam with a quote of $381.50 for repairing the rugs from his Fifth Ave. house [MTP].
July 27 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara in Norfolk, Conn.
It’s a darling lovely letter, you dear child, & not even Howells can surpass it for charm & grace & expression. I’m having typed copies made for Howells & Joe.
Poor Lewis is dead, & I am so glad he is set free from a world that has certain ungrateful imitation human beings in it.
July 28 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Jean, 10:45, violent. 6:40, long, violent. Petit mal all day.
The King is singing the Marseillaise in lusty tones as he is drawing a bath for himself. When the King sings very hard it means a perturbation of spirit; it means that something is not quite in key, it never stands for happiness.
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 30 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam replied to the June 28 from Charles Orr, librarian, Case Library, Cleveland.
I cannot thank you enough for sending me copies of John Hay’s delicious notes to M . Gunn. In the matter of humor, what an unsurpassable touch John Hay had! I may have known Alexander r Gunn in those ancient days, but the name does not sound familiar to me.
July 31 Tuesday – George B. Harvey of Harpers arrived In Dublin and spent five days with Clemens, choosing 100,000 words from the 250,000 of the Autobiography for publication in the North American Review. Harvey left on Aug. 4 [Aug. 3 to Clara]. Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Col. Harvey arrived late this evening at 9:45” [MTP TS 102].
Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson.
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.
June 1 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
June 10 Sunday – In the evening in Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson.
Let me congratulate, let me shout! I wrote you a good deal of a letter to-day, & took a world of pains with it, in the pretty doubtful hope of persuading you to put the work aside a while & not destroy yourself with it, but I have burnt it without a regret for the labor wasted. Charlotte dear, you have come through handsomely, you remarkable creature! Take a good satisfying rest— you deserve it.
June 11 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Charlotte Teller Johnson, trying to cheer her up; she was discouraged “after a long hard siege of work,” as he put it. He regretted his “foolish letter” to her, and acknowledged that her “nerves would be worn” from her “long toil.”
June 15 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
June – Sam wrote “The Private Secretary’s Diary.” It was first published in Fables of Man (1972).