Stormfield - Day By Day

October 18 Monday - In Redding, Conn. Albert B, Paine wrote for Sam to prof. Archibald Henderson at Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill.

October 19 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:  “This servant question is an anxiety. The running of the house is a big business. It almost commercializes one—first now the little house maid who has come and leans over me to say that she cannot stay unless she is able to go home nights to sleep with her mother. The quaint wee soul! I’m letting her go home to her mother’s bed tonight; but also she goes to talk to her mother and to try to make herself and her mother believe that she will get over her homesickness. Poor wee soul!

October 19 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. Augusta M.D. Ogden, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.

Dear Mrs. Ogden: / Good—I shall be on the lookout for you.

Telephone, ‘774 Danbury.”

That is our call.

October – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Amelia D. Hookway, principal of the George Howland Elementary school in Chicago.  

P. S. to my secretary’s letter:

October — Clemens signed his copy of Trix and Over-the-Moon (1909) by Princess Amélie (Rives) Chanler Troubetzkoy (pseud. Amélie Rives) (1863-1945): “SL. Clemens / 1909 / Stormfield, October’’ [Gribben 714].

October 2 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Berlin, Germany (she would have arrived about this day after leaving Sept. 26).   [in left margin: Clara is to send us your address to-day, by telephone or letter.]

Oct. 2’08. Jean dear, it was delightful to hear from you from mid-ocean. Wonderful times we live in!

As I understand it, Clara has completed the arranging of her little flat in Stuyvesant Square, & is moving in, to-day. There is a small extra room for a guest.

October 2 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. Helen Garth.

Dear Mrs. Garth: / Your letter left New York at noon Wednesday, & arrived here at breakfast this morning.
It probably went around by Louisville because it couldn’t get through the crowds of people you speak of.

I am very very sorry to lose your visit, but you will be coming east again by & by—you & Mrs. Annie—& then you must come.
With love to you both from the girls & me, / ... [MTP].

October 20 Tuesday – Sam was at Col. Harvey’s “country house” in Deal Beach, N.J. [IVL Oct. 19].

Isabel Lyon’s journal:  A good part of the burglar alarm system was installed yesterday. The gong is just outside my door, the indicator is just in my bath room, and last night I slept as I have not slept for nearly 5 weeks, for there has been no night since Sept. 18th without a terrified mental shriek in it. It is not fear, it is a pathological condition.

Such deeps of loneliness with the King away!

October 20 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Irene Gerken [MTP]. Note: beyond, “You dear little scamp,” text not available.

October 21 Wednesday – Sam went to New York City and attended a banquet for Lord Northcliffe at the Union Club, given by Leigh Hunt. He wrote of the evening in his Oct. 23. That excerpt:

I stopped over in New York, night before last, for a banquet to Lord Northcliff, given at the Union club by Leigh Hunt. I didn’t go until 10 P.M. & so it didn’t tire me.

October 21 Thursday —In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mrs. John Paul Jones.

October 22 Thursday – Sam went to Deal, N.J. to “talk business” with George B. Harvey, and planned to stay “2 or 3 days,” but left at noon, Friday, Oct. 23 [Oct. 23 to Jean] .

In Deal, N.J., probably on this evening, Sam wrote to daughter Clara.  

Deal, N.J.

Saturday eve.

October 23 Friday – In Deal, N.J. Sam wrote to daughter Jean, giving some account of his activities for the last few days.  

Dear Jean: / I came down here yesterday to stay 2 or 3 days, & talk business with Col. Harvey.

It has suddenly turned cold. Yesterday it was fine weather, today is like November.

I stopped over in New York, night before […see this excerpt in Oct. 21 entry]

October 23 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam sent a postcard (picture of Stormfield) to Elizabeth Hatch (Mrs. John C. Hatch) in Maplewood, N.J.: “All sorts of congratulations & cordial good wishes, from a fellow-pupil (Dawson’s School) of 60 years ago! /SL. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Betty Owsley.

October 24 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).

Thank you very much, & I hope to take advantage of the invitation.

October 24 Sunday — Sam’s new guestbook:

October 25 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:  We all had tea with Mother this afternoon, and after we got back the King read the copyright problem he has been working on. He was lying in wait for Benar and me, and Benar flew upstairs with his white legs, not waiting for me to say that the King was waiting in the library. These impulsive creatures are so much the best in the world, and the best example of it is the King, the beautiful King [MTP: IVL TS 72].

October 25 Monday - Lord Northcliffe wrote from Newfoundland to congratulate Sam on Clara’s wedding. “I shall be in New York next month if by any chance you are there I hope you will let me clasp you by the hand” [MTP].

October 26 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added a line to his Oct. 24, 26 to Frances Nunnally: “Monday, 26th. Now if you are—however, I am interrupted” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to William Dean Howells.

Oh, I say! Where are you hiding, & why are you hiding? You promised to come here & you didn’t keep your word. (This sounds like astonishment—but don’t be misled by that.)

October 26 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Thomas Power O’Connor now at the Hoffman House N. Y.C.

October 27 Tuesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added one word to his Oct. 24 to Frances Nunnally, “Interrupted.” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Dorothy Sturgis.

October 27 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a note to Beatrice M. Benjamin (H.H. Rogers’ granddaughter) in N.Y.C.: “This isn’t to wish you many happy returns of the occasion, but only of its anniversary. I hope there will be a rich abundance of those, & that each succeeding one will be happier than its predecessor.”’ The note was to be included in a set of Mark Twain books, red-bound, for her wedding on Nov. 7 [MTP].

October 28 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added to his Oct. 24, 26, 27 to Frances Nunnally.

“28th. It was a very very pleasant interruption—It was the mail, & brought the pink ribbons. Thank you, dear, ever so much. They will make a charming decoration for the enlarged picture” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to William Wymark Jacobs. Paine introduces this letter:

October 28 Thursday — In the evening a dance was held at the “old Selleck house through the courtesy of Mr. Bergquist, the present occupant... at which the guests wore sheets, pillow cases & masks, quite a number were present, and all seemed to have a pleasant time” [MTLA minutes copied at the Library by Tenney Nov. 15, 1981]. Note: it is not known if Sam attended, though it is doubtful, as he was under a sort of “house arrest” by doctor’s orders.

October 29 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added to his Oct. 24, 26, 27, 28 to Frances Nunnally.