To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

April 26, before – Hilary Trent (pseud. of R.M. Manley) wrote to Sam. “I have written a book—naturally, which fact, however, since I am not your enemy need give you no occasion to rejoice. Nor need you grieve, though I am sending you a copy. If I knew of any way of compelling you to read it I would do so, but unless the first few pages have that effect, I can do nothing” [MTP]. Note: her book, Mr. Claghorn’s Daughter by the Ogilvie Publishing Co. (1903).

April 26 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Mr. Travers Cox / 28 Viali Principe Amadeo / 4-6. Bishop of Ohio / [Horiz. Line separator] / Prof. Gelli 10 a m” [NB 47 TS 10]. Note: Sam attended a reception of Mrs. Travers Cox, as attested by this entry and the Apr. 28 from Keene; see entry. Another sitting for Gelli.

April 27 Saturday – [date in a PDF box]

Sam’s notebook: “Brooklyn Clerical Union Funk (J.K.) 30 Layfayette Place. / Dinner— 5.30 (& Livy) Montauk Club. / Take Flatbush ave trolley at end of bridge—get out at cor 8the ave & Flatbush— Montauk is only a few doors away” [NB 44 TS 9].

Sam spoke at the Mauntauk Club, Brooklyn, for the Brooklyn Clerical Union. The New York Sun, p.1 covered the event:

TWAIN’S RETORT TO DR. SPAULDING.

April 27 Sunday – Livy’s diary: “Julie & Mr Loomis here Mrs Virginia Fraser Boyle for luncheon, for tea Miss Dike & Mr Brisbin Walker” [MTP: DV161].

April 27 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.

Yes, the collected set is being offered at $36.50, but it is not Bliss that is responsible, it is I. He is to keep within the requirements of the Harper contract, & leave the rest to me. Which is quite proper, as his house is only a subordinate partner in the set’s fortunes, I being the principal, the person mainly & perhaps two-thirdsly concerned. He wanted to try this cheap edition, but needed backing.

April 27 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “The Gelli portrait for the St. Louis Fair finished. It hasn’t a defect. /[Horiz. Line separator] / Write Col. Harvey” [NB 47 TS 10]. Note: see insert of portrait under Mar. 11.

Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Sam, enclosing a financial statement for PW play for week ending mar 12, and check for $36.80 [MTP].

April 28 Monday – H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam.

April 28 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a postcard to American Publishing Co. “War suspended. Truce proclaimed. The sheriff will find some other way to amuse himself. / Go ahead. There is nothing in your way now” [MTP]. Note: Sam referred to the conflicts between Harpers and Bliss. Bliss’s 29 Apr refers to a telegram.

Sam also wrote to Frank Bliss.

April 28 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Livy likes the [Gelli] portrait. It spent the day in her room. It is mine for sitting for it, therefore it is hers. She requires that it be brought back here from St. Louis. It will be as she desires” [NB 47 TS 10].

Francis B. Keene of the US Consular Service, Florence, wrote to Sam.

April 29 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “University Club 8. Mabie—finished his work on Shakespeare—is made Trumbull Lecturer of Johns Hopkins Berkeley Theatre, 21 W. 44th near 5th ave. Graham Bell, Box B” [NB 44 TS 9]. Note: Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846-1916) had finished his Shakespeare book (William Shakespeare: Poet, Dramatist, and Man (1902), and had assumed the Trumbull leadership at Johns Hopkins [Gribben 433].

April 29 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Pay the $42,500. Take $25,000 from Guarantee Trust & $17,500 from Lincoln National Bank” [NB 45 TS 11]. Note: $42,500 was the balance owed on the Tarrytown house, after a $2,500 down payment.

Thomas B. Reed wrote a short note to Sam: “My duty to the Community is very clear. / I will rescue you if possible. / It is so seldom that a man gets a chance to be a patriot and a friend in ‘one time and one motion’!” [MTP].

April 29 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.

April 29 Friday – Thomas Wardle wrote to Sam.

After my very pleasant call on you I came away north and then by the Riviera I reached home. I have thought about that Whiskey cure of yours and it seems to me pure whiskey is a necessity in such a case, and I have hunted out three bottles of the best produced in Scotland which will be sent to you from that country by the Merchants, if not by parcel post, carriage paid [MTP]. Note: “The Whiskey Cure” relates to a 24-page MS

April 3 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “The Barber’s Opinion. / Dutchy (Chief) / John Lewis (assistant). / Italian Beppo, (sub.) / Mike (Irish) ” [NB 44 TS 8].

Sam wrote to New York Central Recreation and Information Bureau.

April 3 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “2.30 p.m. called on Sir Gilbert & Miss Carter. / Sailed for Jacksonville at 3./ Appointed Rice to distribute the tips: six of us, $50 apiece, $300” [NB 45 TS 8].

Sam’s ship log: “A flying-fish 30 feet long. It was Rice that saw it. / At 2.30 called on the Government & Miss Carter. Sailed at 3. for Jacksonville” [MTP].

In his Apr. 4 to Livy Sam relates the repose in Nassau (Apr. 2 and 3):

April 3 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Plasmon, 11.30. / John Bergheim. English Co. has declared 5% div. / 6 Founders Shares. / When do you issue stock?” [NB 46 TS 13].

April 3 Sunday – John Y. MacAlister wrote to Sam, the letter not extant but quoted in Sam’s notebook: “I will put aside for you 500 or 1000 shares (whichever you prefer), & if at the end of a year they are paying or are worth their par value (in the market) you can pay for them with Plasmon Founders—say at the rate of 3 Plasmon F.’s for 1000 Ls. How is that?” [NB 47 TS 8]. Note: Sam wrote after this quote: “(From Mac’s letter of Apl. 3 / 04. I’ll call for 1000 shares on those terms” [ibid].

April 30 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Pamela to dinner Dimmock? 12.30” [NB 44 TS 9]. Note: Mr. & Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, of New York. Social Register,. NY of July 1911 gives as “Dimock” with Henry deceased in April, 1911.

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

437 Self 300.00

April 30 Thursday – In Riverdale, Isabel V. Lyon and Sam wrote to an unidentified person , enclosing an aphorism: “Work & Play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions” [MTP].

Sam’s notebook:

April 4 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam sent a postcard to his attorney Augustus T. Gurlitz.

“Name the day & hour—so that I can be here when you come” [MTP: Sotheby’s, NY, 11 Dec. 1990, Item 382].

April 4 Friday – On board the Kanawha en route from Nassau, Bahamas to Jacksonville, Fla., Sam wrote to Livy.

April 4 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to Livy.

April 4 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Admiral Wilkes / 8 via Venezia. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Mrs. Royson Ryerson / via de’ Pinti 51. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Mead, 21 vis Cavour” [NB 47 TS 8]. Note: AMT 1: 595 gives this notation of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes (1798-1877) as his first meeting of Mrs. Wilkes, born Mary H. Lynch. Admiral Wilkes was credited as “discoverer” of Antartica. In his A.D. of Feb. 20, 1906 Sam recalled this as “One of the last visits I made in Florence…”

April 5 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to Franklin G. Whitmore.

Our common everyday & absolutely unavoidable expenses are now $4,000 a month. For the Lord Jesus H. Christ’s sake sell or rent that God damned house. I would rather go to hell than own it 50 days longer. / Yours ever …

April 5 Saturday – On board the Kanawha off Cape Hatteras, N.C., Sam wrote to Livy.

Livy darling it is too bad, I forgot all about Frau von Versen. I hasten at this late day to send a couple of mottoes for you to choose from. I will mail them at Norfolk this evening, & they will beat me home, whether we get delayed or don’t. We are always subject to delays. …

We are off Hatteras, but it is not stormy.

With tons & tons of love.