July 5 Thursday – Beginning this day through Sept. 5, Sam and Theodore Crane engaged in a “summer pastime,” probably cribbage (the MTP has Sam’s cribbage board) or a card game, for which Sam kept notebook scores; this day 36-9 for Sam [MTNJ 3: 475-6].
J.C. Burkholder, Baptist minister, wrote Sam seeking a donation. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Funny little prim Minister who wants church donation” [MTP].
July 5 Friday – Frederick J. Hall forwarded a sample illustration from Daniel Carter Beard. Sam had seen Beard’s work in the March issue of Cosmopolitan [MTLTP 254n1].
Frederick Bryant wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].
James S. Metcalfe for American Newspaper Publishers, N.Y. wrote to Sam wishing to keep informed about the progress of the Paige typesetter and also asking for a submission [MTP].
July 5 Saturday – In Onteora Park, near Tannersville, New York, Sam wrote a poem and a sketch of two men passing each other, one with a halo and the other holding a fan, titled, “The Last Meeting, & Final Parting” in honor of Laurence Hutton, who was also visiting Onteora Club at the time.
When I meet you I shall know you,
By your halo I shall know you —
Thus shall know you, blameless man;
And you’ll know me also, Larry,
When we meet but may not tarry —
Yes, alas, alas, you’ll know me by my fan [MTP].
July 6 Tuesday – Sam paid an I.O.U. to George H. Warner for $900.00 borrowed on May 24, at six percent interest; paid $906.00 [MTP]. A bill from a Parisian merchant, A. Dusuzeau of 380 [francs?] for a Mar. 9 purchase of goods [illegible – MTP].
The Lotos Club in New York receipted Sam for dues, $6.25 [MTP].
July 6 Thursday – James R. Osgood wrote to Sam: “I am glad to learn that you are likely to get off so easy. . If possible I will go down…Monday or Tuesday and see you” [MTP].
July 6 Friday – Charles A. Collins in Elmira wrote a long legal opinion to Sam’s questions, which were pasted to p. 1 of Collins’ letter. See ca. July 1 entry.
July 6 Sunday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Charles Webster, asking that Richard Irving Dodge’s book (he thought he’d only written one) be sent, though Sam couldn’t recall the exact title. (See Gribben 196-7.)
July 6 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to the editor of the Boston Herald, which had run an article Sam felt was damaging to his and Gen. Grant’s character and “untrue in spirit,” an article that accused Sam of leading Grant to break an understanding with the Century. “I want to ask for fair play—only fair play, nothing more,” Sam began. There was no understanding with the Century.
July 6 Wednesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, mostly about trying to set a dollar limit with Paige on the justifying motor. Sam urged diplomacy with Paige. He also complained of an obstacle to his continued fiction efforts:
I am losing time here; can’t seem to get started — on literary work, on account of the stubborn attack of dyspepsia that refuses to yield to treatment or cussing [MTP].
July 6 Friday – Sam 20 and Theo Crane 4 in a contest, probably cribbage or cards (see July 5) [MTNJ 3: 475].
July 6 Saturday – Thomas Fitch, attorney in Reno, Nevada wrote to Sam enclosing p 3-4 from the Reno Evening Gazette for May 30, 1889, reporting Fitch’s Memorial Day speech; and p.3-4 of the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise July 6, 1889 reporting Fitch’s July 4 speech. No letter accompanied the clippings [MTP].
July 6 Sunday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, stressing he wanted Edward M. (Ned) Bunce to see the Paige typesetter.
And be sure you either take Batterson to see it, or have Bunce do it. / I am waiting for news from Goodman [MTP]. Note: James G. Batterson, president of Travelers Insurance; Joe Goodman was in Washington, D.C..
Thomas Fitch in Reno, Nevada sent Sam a clipping (newspaper unspecified) of his July 4th Oratory; no letter was enclosed or is extant [MTP].
July 7 Friday – Sam sent a telegram to James R. Osgood in Cohasset, Mass. not extant but referred to in Osgood’s July 8 reply.
Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Co. bill of July 31 shows a telegram sent this day to Cohassett, Mass., recipient not specified but Osgood was in Cohassett (see entry for other telegrams) [MTP].
July 7 Saturday – John H. Garth wrote from Hannibal “thoroughly ashamed of myself for my neglect in not acknowledging long ago the receipt of your new book…” [MTP].
July 7 Monday – Richard Garvey (1843-1931) wrote on Missouri Wheel Co. letterhead, St. Louis:
Saml. L. Clemens Esq / Friend “Mark”
When yourself and a Companion left the “Quaker City” at Naples in July 67 and came to Rome you there met a young American who roomed at the Via Babuino #68 (Pincion Hill) it was his pleasure to show you some points of the Eternal City.
July 7 Tuesday – Orion Clemens wrote about a letter from Puss, who was anxious to go; the doctor advised a steamboat; plans to go to Hannibal; Puss feared she could not repay a loan [MTP].
July 7 Wednesday – The Clemens party left Keokuk [July 5 to Whitmore] and traveled to Rock Island, Ill. Or Clinton, Iowa where they caught a train to Chicago. Sam’s only entry in his notebook on the trip was the following:
July 7 Thursday – In Elmira Sam responded to Margaret A. Bentley of Oakland, Calif., who evidently had written asking if Sam remembered a former riverboat pilot. It was likely, Sam wrote, that if he ever met the man he was a “cub” at the time and etiquette would have prevented the honor of such an introduction [MTP].
July 7 Saturday – Franklin B. Dexter for Yale University wrote to Sam enclosing his honorary M.A. degree. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Answer this Yale Secy” [MTP].
Clarence C. Rice wrote to Sam thanking him for the autographed copy of P&P received this evening. Also, would Sam send his atomizer and Rice would “have it put in shape” [MTP].
July 7 Sunday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, directing him to send all securities for Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. to Charles Langdon in Elmira, as he “has a chance to sell the whole thing out.” Sam added:
It is splendid news from the machine.
I shall arrive Tuesday afternoon [MTP]. Note: the letter was postmarked July 8 and received July 9.
July 7 Monday – Joseph B. Gilder for The Critic wrote to follow up on the list of persons Sam was asked to vote for, their “Forty Immortals” [MTP].
July 8 Friday – Howells wrote to Clemens: “Guiteau’s shot knocked the breath out of me, or I should have written sooner to boast that thanks in your absence I saw the boat race in all its glory—altogether a most beautiful and exciting thing” [MTP]. (Not in MTHL) This could have been the July 1 Regatta between Yale and Harvard.
July 8 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster, perplexed how the American Publishing Co. could have declared $7,500 in three dividends when they’d only sold “10 or 15,000 books” after he’d dumped his stock, when in “over nine years they paid no dividend; in which time they sold” 300,000 books total.
July 8 Sunday – Karl Gerhardt wrote of the “great interest” taken in him by Dr. Augustus F. Beard of the American chapel, a brother of “the artist Beard of New York animal painter I think.” More expense accounts sent and thoughts of going to Florence to study [MTP]. Note: because such a sojourn in Florence would require him to leave wife and child in Paris, Gerhardt struggled with it for some time. Beard had been pastor of Plymouth Church, Syracuse, NY.
July 8 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to James B. Pond. He was impatient to contract with Cable, who didn’t jump at $350 per week. Sam didn’t want to consider others; evidently, Pond had suggested Thomas Nast:
“O damnation, I would rather pay Cable $450 a week & his expenses than pay Nast $300. I don’t enjoy roosting around & waiting.”