June 2 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore, advising that Sam had sent a check for $70 to John O’Neil, the Clemenses old gardener, who was packing up belongings in the Hartford house. Sam didn’t expect O’Neil to do anything for the money beyond completing his work which might take three or four days [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Afternoon—here—Col. Harvey & Duneka” [NB 46 TS 17].
June 2 Thursday – Maria Fleischel, an admirer wrote from Spezia, Italy to Sam for his autograph [MTP].
June 20 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Write Mr. Clarence Gordon & name a Thursday to read an old article. East side House Settlement, 76th St & East River. He will describe how I am to come, & perhaps meet me at one of the points” [NB 44 TS 12]. Note: Sam made no further NB entries until Sept 24, 1901.
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
244 Will & Banner co 6.00
245 H.b. cushman & co 5.15
June 20 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to an unidentified person.
June 20 Monday – Jean Clemens was ill, so Sam and Katy Leary remained with Jean at the Villa di Quarto for three hours. In the meantime the rest of the party (Isabel V. Lyon, her mother Georgiana Lyon, and others not named) left for the Hotel de la Ville in Florence. Jean “rallied” and the three arrived at the hotel “about 8 p.m.”
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 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears, mostly about the Juggernaut Club of females he had never met. Did she “want to see the Constitution Laws of my Club of which you are the Member for Scotland?” He added family plans and a political bit.
June 21 Sunday – James Burton Pond (1838-1903), longtime tour manager of Mark Twain and others, died at his home in Jersey City, N.J. after an amputation of his leg on June 17. The New York Times reported his death on page 1, Jan. 22. Funeral services were to be held at Pond’s home on Tuesday evening, June 23 with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, New York. Sam, who had recently been a pallbearer at the funerals of Charles Dudley Warner, J.D.F.
June 21 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Grozzini lives in the city. Goes to Mrs. Ross at 10 fr & cab hire—say 16 fr per visit. At night, 25 fr. / [Horiz. Line separator] / All arrived with the baggage at the Hotel de la Ville. First day of the sad journey home” [NB 47 TS 13].
At the Hotel de la Ville in Florence Sam sent the following form letter to those who had expressed sympathy for the loss of his wife:
TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME:
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 22 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Memorial Services / Amos J. Cummings,—afternoon. / Carnegie Hall / James J. Murphy / 216 E. 11th” [NB 45 TS19]. Note: Amos Jay Cummings (1838-1902), US Representative of New York, died May 2. Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, journalist, served in Congress until 1894. The New York Times, June 23, p. 9 reported a full hall at Carnegie:
June 22 Monday – H.D. Rivers wrote from Stonewall, Ind. to Sam for his “advice & assistance in a literary project.” A self-proclaimed humorist, Rivers wanted to send some MS for Sam to evaluate. A self-addressed stamped env. still in the file was not used [MTP].
June 22 Wednesday – At the Hotel de la Ville in Florence Sam sent the same “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to William Wilberforce Baldwin in Rome, and added,
Sam also sent the same “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to William Archer in London, and added “I know she is gone, dear Mr. Archer, but I do not realized it I cannot give her up” [MTP].
June 23 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to the June 19 of Harry Leon Wilson in the editorial rooms of Puck, N.Y.C.
“Read it? Indeed I will, & with great pleasure. We are packed up, now, & shall sail for York Harbor on summer vacation to-morrow morning. But the book will go thither. I went to Harper’s to-day to get it, but I had too many bundles, so I told them to ship it to me. With many thanks for the book, …” [MTP].
June 23 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Go & look at Lahn / She sails 23d” [NB 46 TS 19].
June 23 Thursday – At the Hotel de Ville in Florence Sam sent the same “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to Andrew Chatto in London, and added, “Good-bye, dear Chatto friends of these many years, we may meet no more” [MTP]. Note: postmarked June 23.
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 24 Tuesday – The Clemens family, sans Clara, who was in Europe, left Riverdale on Rogers’ yacht, the Kanawha, for York Harbor Maine . H.H. Rogers was not along but put his yacht at their disposal in order to make the trip a comfortable one for Livy. Sam sent the Plasmon Co. a postcard with the new address and a request for Plasmon biscuits and cocoa to be sent there [Christie’s London Auction Nov. 12, 2007, Sale 5141, Lot 145].
June 24 Wednesday – According to his June 25 to Rogers, Sam arranged with Collier’s and Harpers for Collier to publish a set of Mark Twain’s works. Collier was to sell in sets only and only by subscription; Harper was to sell to the trade only, not in sets or by subscription, and no volume was to sell for less than $1.50. See June 25 to Rogers for more details.
June 24 Friday – The Clemens party left Florence and arrived in Rome, staying at the Grand Hotel Du Quirinal. They intended to rest there a day for Clara, but decided to stay two days [June 26 to Langdon].
June 25 Wednesday – The Kanawha and the Clemens family’s first stop on their way to York Harbor, Maine was Fairhaven, Mass. In his June 26 to Rogers Sam wrote of the trip from Riverdale to Fairhaven.
June 25 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
We are in the throes of packing, these days, & it is awful. But we are advancing. I am pretty sure we shall leave for Elmira per DL & W at 1 p.m. next Wednesday.
George W. Perkins will send an Erie tug up here for us to take Livy down to Hoboken.
June 25 Saturday – The Clemens party rested at the Grand Hotel Du Quirinal in Rome, Italy [June 26 to Langdon].
Sam’s notebook: “Giving Clara a day of needed rest. Expect to leave for Naples tomorrow noon. / Dr. Baldwin came. He was furious over Kirch’s charge of 7,300 francs for 3 months & 28 days medical attendance. He wrote a harsh letter to Kirch & I got a copy of it” [NB 47 TS 13].
June 26 Thursday – On board the Kanawha, en route from Riverdale, N.Y. to York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers. The weather on the trip was perfect, but Jean caused Livy some sleepless nights: More of his above letter relating to this day:
June 26 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Look at Lahn / Mrs. Stanley Brown—dinner/ Wright may call today” [NB 46 TS 20].