June 28 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, answering Abel W. Fairbanks’ letter and request of June 21.
Please look in on the Receiver & then write old Fairbanks a note & tell him whether his papers are satisfactory or not. [¶] We leave the Valley this afternoon & ascend to the farm [MTP].
June 29 Wednesday –
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3748 Murray Hill Hotel 77.00 New York
3749 Wm B. Smith 18.00 Dairy
3750 Eugene Meyer 41.50 Piano Lessons
3752 Meyerowitz Bros 7.50 NY Opticians
June 30 Thursday – The Brooklyn Eagle, page 2, ran a paragraph about baseball in Elmira that included a remarkable new role for Sam.
July – Edward McGlynn, Roman Catholic clergyman and social reformer was ex-communicated for his support of Henry George for Mayor of New York. Webster & Co. Had planned to publish a book by McGlynn but the action by the church killed the market for the book. Such losses led Sam to list McGlynn, Beecher, the Hawaiian King, and Stanley in his notebook, together with, “Let’s insure Lt. Gen.
July 1 Friday – Charles J. Langdon wrote enclosing $200 from the Beech Creek RR bonds [MTP].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3733 F.G. Whitmore 125.00 Finances
3734 Patrick McAleer 50.00 Coachman
3735 John O’Neil 60.00 Gardener
July 2 Saturday – In Elmira Sam attended the baseball game but declined to umpire. From the Brooklyn Eagle of July 3, 1887, p 16.
THE MAYOR PLAYED BALL
L.. — —
But Mark Twain and Thomas K
Beecher Declined to be Umpires
ELMIRA, N.Y., July 2
July 3 Sunday – Livy Clemens’ longtime friend, Clara Spaulding Stanchfield, gave birth to a baby girl. Livy was in attendance [A. Hoffman 340].
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 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].
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 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 8 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore about bills and orders. Sam was also keeping close notice on the Mergenthaler linotype machine on trial at the N.Y. Tribune:
July 9 Saturday – In Elmira Sam answered Samuel S. Cox’s inquiries about publishing:
If I had any doubts as to the readableness of your book it would be in order to send me the MS. — but I haven’t. I should only require to know the amount of matter in it; & you’ve told me that.
July 10 Sunday – In Elmira and evidently past his bout with dyspepsia, Sam wrote to Mollie Clemens about a perfect day on the idyllic hilltop in his octagonal study at Quarry Farm.
July 11 Monday – Sam must have been advised of Webster’s return, for he took the ten-hour trip to New York City, where he wrote Franklin G. Whitmore in Hartford. Sam sent Grant’s Memoirs for James Scrugham Quinn (RR agent) and wanted them given to him “right away before he can buy.” He wrote he was returning to Elmira the next day [MTP] Note: J.
July 12 Tuesday – Sam returned to Elmira and Quarry Farm [July 11 to Whitmore]. He wrote Frederick J. Hall encouraging him to rush into the canvass for King David Kalakaua’s collection of Hawaiian Legends book, while “this flurry is up” [MTLTP 219]. Note: Sam’s dictum for an optimized subscription method limiting itself to two books a year, seems to have been ignored due to all the wondrous possibilities.
July 13 Wednesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam, replying to his July 12 note that it might do to rush the Kalakaua’s Hawaiian legends book into canvass.
July 14 Thursday – James W. Paige per Charles Van Schuyver wrote to Sam, having received his of July 12. Paige had just consulted with H.W. Beadle, patent lawyer on a patent claim, who said they had “a very effective case…we were the first to employ an auxiliary type-driver” [MTP].
Keokuk Board of Health sent Sam printed vital statistics for the city ending June 30, 1887 [MTP].
July 15 Friday – In Elmira Sam responded to Frederick J. Hall’s question about the Hawaiian King’s book. The prospectus was not ready, so Sam felt the recent publicity didn’t have “enough permanency…to do us any real good,” and that moving up the canvass for the book “might disarrange Mr. Webster’s plans, anyway.” Based on checks reported received by Hall from Slote & Co. And from American Pub.
July 16 Saturday – James W. Paige per Charles Van Schuyver wrote to Sam, “Yours of the 15th inst. Just received.” He elaborated on technical aspects of the motor and of the Thorne typesetter [MTP].
July 17 Sunday – Orion Clemens wrote to Sam (Orion C. Conatser to Orion July 14 enclosed) Orion called him “a Tennessee namesake of mine” and wrote asking what he would offer for the quit claim deed on the land he referred to [MTP].
July 18 Monday – In Elmira Sam sent thanks to an unidentified man for sending him a copy of “The Beecher Memorial,” which he already had. Sam mentioned he had been working on a book for three years that was “nearly half done” [MTP].
July 19 Tuesday – James W. Paige wrote to Sam enclosing a copy of additional claims about the “driver device.” He would forward a letter just received from Pratt & Whitney [MTP].
July 21 Thursday – In Elmira Sam wrote to William (Billy) Gross of Brown & Gross, Hartford booksellers:
Whatinthehelldoyoureckonamancando with a History that begins with Volume V? (Lecky’s History of the 18th Century.) Shove along the other 4 volumes and don’t fool around [MTP].
July 23 Saturday – In Elmira Sam telegraphed Franklin G. Whitmore that he was on his way to Hartford.
I am coming & shall be glad to meet all of you at my house next Wednesday eve & talk the thing all over have statics and other information ready that can bear upon the matter [MTP].