Home at Hartford: Day By Day

July 31 Tuesday – Charles A. Dana wrote, “It is a shame that Krackowiser should bother you in such a case. He is a crank, however, and his function appears to be to bother somebody. I have known him these many years and have employed him sometimes as a reporter” [MTP]. Note: Dana of the NY Sun.

July 31 Friday – J.P. Haynes, “tea and grocery house” Hartford, billed $6.50 for “1 bbl of flour” [MTP].

Annie Moffett Webster wrote: “Your very kind letter enclosing $250.00 received. I thank you and Aunt Livy very much. I am very much pleased that you feel as you do about Charlie; and I hope he will always be as successful as he has been…” [MTP].

Alexander & Green wrote returning a MS. Also, “You will get the burro in due course” [MTP].

July 31 Saturday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam (Webster, in Rome, to Hall July 15 enclosed), asking if he should open a new account with the American Exchange National Bank, as Daniel Whitford had advised. He added, “Everything is going smoothly at the office” [MTP].

July 31 Sunday – In his Aug. 3 to Webster, referring to this day, Sam wrote of the “fun, which was abounding in the Yankee at Arthur’s Court up to three days ago,”. It is probable then, that upon returning to New York from Hartford sometime late in the week, that Sam got a fuller picture of the problems and negative forecast of Webster & Co. He may have returned to Elmira this day or the day before.

July 31 Tuesday – Herbert S. Philbrick, a boy from Liberty, Maine, wrote to “Huck”:

I like your book and you and Tom Sawyer and Jim. I think you are very plucky and know how to get out of scrapes awful well. I should like to know if you have ever heard any thing of the king and the duke since they were riding by (fence) rail…I wish you would write another book and tell us if Aunt Sally ‘civilized’ you. How old are you? I am thirteen [MTP].

July 31 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: [chk] #4974. EL Holbrook, $15, July 31 [3: 491].

July 31 Thursday – In Onteora Park, Carroll Beckwith began painting Sam’s portrait [Beckwith’s unpublished papers at the Smithsonian; offered by a MT scholar who wishes to remain unnamed].

Webster & Co. sent Daily Report slips for the period July 28 to 31 [MTP].

Franklin G. Whitmore sent Sam a progress report on the typesetter, his talk with Charles Ethan Davis about it, and about laying off men who had been working on it [MTP].

July 4 Sunday – James C. Thomson wrote from Manchester, England. He wanted “a few hints” with his “production” and thanked Sam for prior reply of June 23 [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Drat this bore”; Sam’s of June 23 not extant.

July 4 Monday – Hattie J. Gerhardt wrote to Sam and Livy on their artistic progress, enclosing a commendation for Karl Gerhardt, in French, from a professor [MTP].

July 4 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to R. Christie, who evidently had asked Sam what his first book was. He answered that his first was now out of print, The Jumping Frog, and that it was “sharply criticised” [MTP]. Sam’s remark fits with his continued belief that the book had not sold (see Apr. 29 to May 2, 1867 entries for Webb’s swindle).

July 4 Friday – In Boston, Howells wrote Sam that Webster had advised him that John T. Raymond accepted their terms for the new Sellers play. Webster had asked if Raymond could read the play, and Howells wanted to confirm it met with Sam’s approval. Sam answered affirmatively the next day [MTHL 2: 495].

July 4 Saturday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to Jesse Grant.

I got back last night, & am detained here for the present, but shall reach New York Wednesday or Thursday evening to ask some questions & get some information—further information, for the satisfying of hard-headed business men—& then I shall hope to see you [MTP].

July 4 Sunday ­– From Susy Clemens’ diary, comes the final entry of the biography of her father, interrupted in mid-sentence. Sam would later remark how this sentence suggested his dead daughter was merely away, would return to finish:

July 4. We have arrived in Keokuk after a very pleasant [Papa 225].

July 4 Monday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore asking if he’d framed “that motor-agreement” with Paige. He also informed him of the birth of a healthy, 8 lb. daughter to John and Clara Spaulding Stanchfield the day before [MTP]. Note: With Charles Webster increasingly ailing and out of the office, Sam dealt with Whitmore and Hall on publishing house business.

July 4 Wednesday – Sam inscribed a copy of P&P to their New York physician, Clarence C. Rice:

To/ Dr. Clarence C. Rice / with the kindest regards of / The Author. / ~ / July 4, 1888.

July 4 Thursday – James W. Housel wrote an appeal to Sam to help secure a pardon for convicted embezzler of Webster & Co., Frank M. Scott. Housel enclosed photographs of Scott’s family and wrote about,

…the Wife & Children depending upon the charity of others, and whose cry is constantly ringing in her weary Ears when is my Pa Pa coming home [MTP] Note: Sam wrote on the envelope “unanswered” and “preserve this sentimental rubbish.”

July 4 Friday – At Onteora, Sam performed the function of starter for “burlesque races.” In the evening by the fireside he charmed the company with his old story, “Golden Arm” [Powers, MT A Life 532]. Robert Underwood Johnson in his 1923 memoir, Remembered Yesterdays:

Mark was the centre of attraction for the Onteora colony and for none more than the children, between whom and him there was an ideal relation of mutual devotion [325].

July 5 Monday – Sam paid an undated bill of $1.20 to J.R. Barlow, books, stationer, magazines for “May 10 to Mrs. Brown (no name series); 1 Sir Gibbie”; paid.

July 5 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Branford, “P.S. But never at any time” and drew a partial bar of music with a bass clef (or f-clef) and a G-note, to an unidentified person [MTP]. The note may have been an inside joke between Sam and the recipient.

Charles Webster wrote from Providence, R.I. to request $500 from Sam for expenses [MTP].

July 5 Wednesday – From Hartford, Sam typed a letter to Frank Fuller.

“WE HAVE SCARLET FEVER PATIENTS TO TAKE CARE OF, AND THE HOUSE WILL BE UNDER STRICT QUARANTINE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS YET…WILL NOT BE ALLOWED OUTSIDE THE NURSERY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS…I HAVN’T ANY LITERARY INSPIRATION” [MTP].

July 5 Thursday – “An American on American Humour” appeared in the St. James Gazette. Thomas Sergeant Perry’s article reported Sam’s humor as “representative of a democratic, serious, ironic quality in American national character, reacting against Europe, though not independently and perhaps not in hostility” [Tenney 12].

July 5 Saturday – Sam wrote from Elmira to unidentified persons, who evidently had asked about the cheap (50 cent) paperbacks being advertised by the Coker Co.

“Dear Sirs—They are pirates—& unusually frank & bold, it seems to me. We are after them with a legal gun-boat” [MTP].

Sam wrote twice to Charles Webster:

July 5 Sunday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Karl Gerhardt. He thought the idea of Karl and Mrs. Jesse Grant’s was the right one concerning the statue. Whatever idea that was, Sam thought it an “inspiration.” Sam made a reference to giving messages to Woodruff (who favored the G.A.R. raising money for the statue—see July 18 to Gerhardt).

July 5 Monday – In Keokuk, Iowa Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore (who had written June 29), giving him power of attorney to act in a matter of “the music scheme.” Sam informed him that they were leaving Keokuk on July 7 [MTP].

July 5 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Linus T. Fenn. Only the envelope survives [MTP]. Note: Fenn was a Hartford merchant, selling furniture and stoves.

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam (Greening to Orion June 26 enclosed), thanking him for the “generous” check received. He wrote of a visit from Charley and Annie Webster and of Ma’s resolve “over and over again” to write to Sam but “the letter is not forthcoming” [MTP].