August 19 Friday – Filed with the US Patent office: patent # 547,860 to James W. Paige: Machine for Distributing, Setting, and Justifying Type [MTHHR 64n1].
Home at Hartford: Day By Day
August 21 Sunday – In Lake George, New York, William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
Geo. H. Yewell, the painter, has made a superb etching of the room where Grant died, and Mr. Drexel has written him the enclosed letter about it…. I’ve suggested to Mr. Yewell that C.L. Webster & Co., might like to take hold of it, and sell it by subscription in connection with Grant’s memoirs….If he happens not to be known by you, I can certify his worth and standing. He’s a great friend of Millet’s.
August 22 Monday – In Elmira Sam responded to Howells’ Aug. 21 letter. Webster & Co.’s “hands are abundantly full,” he wrote, but offered to forward Howells’ and Drexel’s letters to Webster (who declined to handle Yewell’s etching).
August 23 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Charles Webster about Yewell’s etching of the room where Grant died, and its possible inclusion with sales of Grant’s Memoirs. It was up to Webster and he could simply write Howells yes or no. Sam also reminded Webster to send proofs of Library of Humor to Howells.
His introduction will be a valuable addition, whether he signs it or not [MTP].
August 24 Wednesday – Chatto & Windus wrote to Sam forwarding “an official letter from the Inland Revenue Department” assessing an income tax on his English book profits. Sam did not receive this notice until Sept. 19. See that entry for his reply.
August 25 Thursday – Webster & Co. Wrote to Sam that “unless we hear from you to the contrary, Mr. Hall will come to Elmira on Tuesday, leaving N.Y. on the 7.55 train Monday” [MTP].
August 26 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, finally getting a good night’s sleep.
I didn’t know I was carrying a load of anxiety, but I suppose I was; for after receiving your letter yesterday evening showing that your & Paige’s estimates went nothing beyond my own, I did not wake at 6 or 7 this morning, as usual, but slept through several interruptions till 11.30 [MTP].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
August 27 Saturday – In Elmira Sam answered advice from Franklin G. Whitmore, with a two-line note. Sam wouldn’t sell some bonds as he’d contemplated, and told Whitmore that his “judgment is correct” [MTP].
August 29 Monday – Sam wrote to an unidentified man, who evidently reported that someone else printed Sam’s words.
August 30 Tuesday – Frederick J. Hall came to Elmira to discuss Webster & Co. Projects with Sam. They agreed upon a schedule of production for future books [MTNJ 3: 311n32].
August 31 Wednesday – Pratt & Whitney’s bill for Paige’s work in August was $1,567.23 [MTNJ 3: 310]. Sam also paid $1,691.82 for miscellaneous related expenses for the month, which included the dynamo development and drawings for the patent application. He also paid Paige his salary of $583.33. The total $3,842.38 [n30].
September – Brander Matthews’ article “An Open Letter to Close a Correspondence” in the New Princeton Review this month would elicit a response with from Sam in the same publication [Neider, MT As I Find It 217n]. See January, 1888.
Sam’s notebook entry:
Anna Keary novels Jennettte’s Home, Castle Bailey, & others. McMillan / Next Door, by Clara Louise Burnham [MTNJ 3: 316; Gribben 115; NB 27 TS 13].
September 1 Thursday – From Sam’s notebook:
Sept. 1 ’87. Two [books] in a year & a half. Loss upon the one, $32,000; profit on the other, $15,000. Expenses, $30,000. Net loss, $17,000 [MTNJ 3: 310&n31].
September 2 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, his man at Webster & Co. He was concerned about deadlines given for the Beecher biography and wanted them telegraphed that they must have the manuscript by Sept. 20.
September 3 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore about a bill received which he perceived was a “mere legal formality” — probably from Pratt & Whitney Co., which was now full speed ahead building the new Paige typesetter. Whitmore should “file it away” [MTP].
September 5 Monday – Sam may have gone to Hartford for a few days because letters of this date and Sept. 7 are marked as such. His last trip back to Hartford included a meeting with Paige and Hamersley and Whitmore, probably on typesetter progress and strategy. He also probably conferred with Charles H.
September 6 Tuesday – Alfred P. Burbank telegraphed to Sam: “I am rehearsing the Claimant to appear in Syracuse and Rochester next week three nights each and have drawn on Whittemore [sic] for eight hundred dollars. Is this all right. Wire me care Lotos Club” [MTP].
Franklin G. Whitmore wrote Sam a listing of Aug. expenses totaling $1,691.82 [MTP].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3809 H.C. Gas Co 32.48
September 7 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Elisha M. Van Aken:
“Dear Sir / You are forgiven!” [MTP]. See Sept. 5 from Van Aken, photographer.
September 8 Thursday – In Elmira Sam wrote an answer to Alfred P. Burbank that was labeled “UNMAILED ANSWER.” On Sept. 11 Burbank referred to a telegram received on Sept. 9. Sam wrote a few unmailed answers that reflected a particularly prickly mood. For the other see next letter this date.
Alas & alas & alas, have I gone & harnessed-up with another man who doesn’t know anything about business? [MTP].
September 9 Friday – Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam in Elmira about completing certain domestic tasks, probably discussed on his Sept. 5 trip to Hartford.
September 10 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote to President Grover Cleveland requesting consideration for Mr. E.P. Crane, of Rutherford, N.J., certified to me by relatives of mine in whose judgment & truth I have confidence [for] the post of Consul at Stuttyard, which he hears is about to become vacant by resignation [MTP]. Note: This might be a relative of brother-in-law Theodore Crane, or someone his sister Pamela Moffett recommended.
September 11 Sunday – Alfred P. Burbank wrote to Sam (clipping enclosed on the Claimant play opening at New Brunswick). “I received your kind and thoughtful telegram day before yesterday but did not respond as Mr. Whittmore [sic] had promptly honored my draft [for $800].” Burbank wrote he thought they “had struck pay dirt” with the play [MTP].
September 12 Monday – During the last day in Elmira Sam wrote for himself and Livy to Dora Wheeler, who had invited them to “another charming holiday” in the Catskills (see Aug. 25, 1885 in vol I).
September 13 Tuesday – In the morning the Clemens family left Elmira for New York City, where they stayed at the Murray Hill Hotel [to Wheeler Sept. 12]. Before leaving, Sam telegraphed William H. Gillette in New York (see Sept. 15 reply); message not extant.
From Sam’s notebook: Sept.13, in back $21,000, & everything paid for [MTNJ 3: 324].
September 14 Wednesday – This is the day Sam wrote Whitmore he’d leave Elmira (see Aug 18), but Sam’s letter of Sept. 8 to Hall confirms he would “look in” at Webster & Co. On this morning, so that the family probably left Elmira the day before.
Alfred P. Burbank telegraphed Sam: “Will you come to Rochester for tomorrow nights performance I want to talk of future disposition of the play” [MTP].