Sam returned to New York May 10th, 1901, where he signed a lease indenture for a cottage that he would name “The Lair” (it would later be called “Mark Twain Camp”) on Saranac Lake, N.Y. The lease to run from June 1 to Oct. 31, 1901 for a total of $650, with $150 at the signing and $250 on July 1 and $250 on Aug. 1. Sam and George V.W. Duryee, owner of the Adirondack Park Co. signed, with Olivia L. Clemens signing as witness.

June – On a Tuesday, from 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.

Well, it is funny. The country’s political morals & ideals have sunk pretty nearly to zero in the past two years, but I had not suspected that anybody had dropped to the point of thinking the clergy bribable. Seriously, it is an astonisher. Could it have happened 20 years ago? No, it couldn’t. I don’t know but that this is zero.

June 21 Friday – The Clemens family left N.Y.C. and traveled to Saranac Lake, N.Y. According to his June 19 to Rogers, they left at 7:50 a.m. and arrived about 7 p.m., a day long trip. Their May 10 lease agreement was for June 1 to Oct. 1, 1901, so they had lost three weeks of lease at this point. Insert: “The Lair,” a “cabin” at Adirondack Park later called “Mark Twain Camp.”

June 22 Saturday – Clifford J. Wilkinson wrote from Kobe, Japan to Sam. Wilkinson had last spoken to Sam in London, through their mutual friend MacAlister, and had sent him a case of Tansan & Niwo mineral water for his gout, and was now sending a couple of cases which he felt would prevent a return of gout [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Answer this—try the water first”

June 24 Monday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Charles Erskine Scott Wood.

Good—I shall be glad to have a copy when it issues; & I am thanking you in advance.

June 27 Thursday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Abbott Handerson Thayer’s June 18:

Your hearty praises give me very great pleasure, & I thank you for speaking them out. When one is treading on an unpopular road it is a mighty help & refreshment to know that there are those whose hearts are with him.

June 28 Friday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote condolences to John M.

June 29 Saturday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, who had remained for a time in New York, probably for activities related to her singing career: “Hurry up here, Ashcat dear, before the mosquitoes & strawberries are gone. We are wanting to see you, & are all ready to welcome you.” Sam signed the note “Mongoose.” His first paragraph is a short spoof that begins by “What does the mongoose say? That the spider is right to smile” [MTP].

July – Success magazine for this month ran an article by William S. Ament, “Mary Twain’s Criticism is not Justified.” See Feb. 7 from Judson Smith, Feb. 18 to Tribune ed.

July 1 Monday – Surviving canceled checks:

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

July 4 Thursday – Along with dozens of other luminaries, Sam endorsed a statement from The American Anti-Imperialist League, et al, to the American People with this date from Chicago, Illinois.

July 5 Friday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, suggesting guests for a planned cruise on Rogers’ new yacht, Kanawha.

July 6 Saturday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to Florence Hayward, answering her question about a photograph of him made by H. Walter Barnett , London. “The photograph was made by Barnett, 1 Park Side, Hyde Park Corner. You need to authority from me; he will let you have it without that.

July 9 Tuesday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, about the planned cruise, a new house they’d leased at Riverdale, money rec’d from Frank Bliss, and a circular to be used by F.R. Underwood and R.G. Newbegin in the marketing of his Uniform Edition. Sam wanted Rogers to approve the circular.

July 13 Saturday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss about the flap caused by Harpers calling their issues of Sam’s Uniform Edition as his “lastest & best.” He pointed out that this was Harpers’ claim, not his, and that R.G. Newbegin would say that very same thing about the American Publishing Co.’s versions.

July 17 Wednesday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote a paragraph reply to Elizabeth (Ann Chase) Akers Allen (Elizabeth C. Akers).

July 18 Thursday – Arthur Sherburne Hardy (1847- 1930) wrote on United States Legation, Berne Switzerland notepaper to Sam.

July 19 Friday – In Ampersand, Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Edward L. Dimmitt, who had sent Sam an invitation (not extant) to Missouri’s 80th anniversary celebration.

July 21 Sunday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to F.R. Underwood, about the circular to be used by R.G. Newbegin Co. in the sale of Sam’s Uniform Edition through American Publishing Co.

July 22 Monday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y., sometime during this week, the Clemenses had two visitors, John Howells, son of William Dean Howells, and Dr. Edward K. Root, one of their family doctors in Hartford days [July 28 to Twichell].

July 24 Wednesday – G.&C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass. wrote to Sam:

We see that Mr. Winston Churchill in “The Crisis” states that a stateroom on a river boat derives its name from the fact that the first staterooms with wooden partitions instead of curtains were named after different states and that the texas was so called (after the annexation of Texas) as being a structure “annexed” to the states or staterooms.

July 26 Friday – Jean Clemens’ 21st birthday.

July 28 Sunday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to Joe Twichell. Sam opened with a short discussion of the impracticality of him appealing to President McKinley, whom he sarcastically referred to as “that fine ‘patriot’,” in the matter of abuses by missionaries to China.

July 29 Monday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Francis H. Skrine in London, who evidently had asked Sam to write a review of his new book, Life of Sir William Wilson Hunter (1901). Skrine’s incoming not extant. Skrine would present Sam with the published book (see Gribben p. 645 and Sam’s reactions in a letter to Skrine on Feb. 7, 1902).

July 30 Tuesday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to Elizabeth (Ann Chase) Akers Allen (Elizabeth C. Akers) continuing his discussion of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s guilt in marrying Harriet and then mistreating her till she committed suicide.