September 6 Sunday – Sam spent the day with the Rogers family in Fairhaven, Mass. [NB 46 TS 23].
To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day
September 7 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Sailed for New York 2 p.m.” [NB 46 TS 23].
September 8 Tuesday – Gustaf H. Ander wrote to Sam from NYC. Out of work and planning to start a business of some sort, Ander asked for an illustration he might use in his business. English was clearly not his first language [MTP].
September 10 Thursday
September 11 Friday – At 8 a.m. from the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
I am leaving for Elmira, N.Y. I shall be back again next Monday morning.
Meantime please have a copy made of the lawyer’s opinion (1894-or ’95) concerning my competency or incompetency to sell or transfer the copyright-renewals of my books. Please send it to 26 Broadway so that I may find it there when I come.
Is there a cause in the Bliss-Harper contract providing for renewals? [MTP: eBay Mar. 28, 2002].
September 12 Saturday – Sam was at Quarry Farm in Elmira, where he advised Livy that H.H. Rogers was handling the negotiations with George B. Harvey of Harper & Brothers, and the American Publishing Co. [Sept. 14 to Rogers].
September 13 Sunday – The New York Times ran a squib on p.3, Sept. 19, “Mark Twain Getting Over Bronchitis,” which reported his attack of this day. Twain “has been indisposed all the week,” and on the 19th was “feeling quite well.”
September 14 Monday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers and Emilie R. Rogers.
Your telegram [not extant] from Boston conveying Harvey’s acceptance at nine dollars [see Sept 15 from Rogers] has just been telephoned up here to the hilltop from town, & has made me immensely comfortable. Things do certainly point to a pull-off, & I guess it will happen; but there isn’t anybody that could make it happen but you.
September 15 Tuesday – H.H. Rogers wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam, after sending him two telegrams about Duneka of Harper & Brothers, and Frank Bliss of American Publishing Co. coming to an agreement. Harper would purchase 1,800 sets of the 2,500 Hillcrest Edition from Bliss at $9 per set [MTHHR 537, Appx. F].
Studio published a portrait of Mark Twain by Ugo Catani [Tenney 38].
September 16 Wednesday – Wilbur D. Nesbit wrote from the Tribune office, Chicago, to Sam. “I enclose herewith a clipping of some verses that recently appeared in my column in The Tribune. I hope you’ll not be offended at them; and along with about everybody else in the world I certainly wish you would find ‘Tom’ and ‘Huck’ and brighten things up for us once more…” [MTP].
September 17 Thursday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mr. Eaton: “Dear Mr. Eaton I could not do it at any price. I have a thousand pardons for my tardiness—I have been away from home. Sincerely Yours
SL Clemens” [MTP: Christie’s East, 22 Feb. 1995, Item 326]. Note: may be Frank L. Eaton.
September 18 Friday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Beatrice M. Benjamin.
Yes, I should like very much to have the views of the house. I think the pictures of your grandfather & me are excellent. Mr. Rogers looks just like himself—just as he always looks when he is arranging in his mind to raise my board.
I’ve got the bronchitis & am leading a very exemplary life. I can’t swear or carry on, because it hurts my breast. Bronchitis would help your grandfather, don’t you think?
September 19 Saturday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward W. Bok.
Whenever it is lawful to issue those photographs I’d like to have 33 of them, according to the accompany numbered list, usual discount off to orphans & authors, & the bill to be sent to me, at the above address (by the end of this month if possible). After which we go to New York, & 3 weeks later to Italy.
September 20 Sunday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Livy at Quarry Farm.
September 21 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “See Col. Fairchild. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Clara 249 E. 32d / [Horiz. Line separator] / Metropolitan Museum (Sloane) / Photo for Chi. Tribune / [Horiz. Line separator] / Ties, white & black” [NB 46 TS 24]. Note: appears to be duties crossed off as completed.
September 22 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “No saddling of magazines onto the sets [collected works] / Was always sorry I corrected the Prairie Belle, but Hay asked me” [NB 46 TS 24]. Note: John Hay’s poem, first published in: Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle, and Little Breeches. With Illustrations by S. Eytinge, Jr. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1871.
September 23 Wednesday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Livy answered Sam’s Sept. 20 in N.Y.C.
September 24 Thursday – In the evening at the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to daughter Clara at 249 E. 32nd St., N.Y.
Benny dear, I am very sorry I missed you—it was too bad that you had your trip for nothing. You mustn’t do that. You must step to the nearest telephone station & pay 10 cents & ask the hotel if I am in.
I am not expecting to get away for a day or two yet. I may be mistaken—I hope & pray I am. I hope to get up to see you.
September 25 Friday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Miss Jones (not further identified): “Mrs. Clemens & I thought that maybe these books of mine might come handy some time or other when times are slack & nothing else going on, & so we beg to offer them to you with our very best wishes & heartiest congratulations” [MTP]. Note: this had been misdated as 1891.
September 26 Saturday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Livy wrote for Sam wrote to William V. Alexander: “As Mr Clemens is in New York for a few days I will answer your note regarding the photo’s Mr Clemens did make a mistake in asking for two copies of 8366 he only desires one. I believe there is no other that he wishes to put in its place. Thanking you for calling Mr Clemens attention to the mistake …” [MTP].
September 28 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Monday, Sept. 28/03. Talk with Duneka (Harper & Brothers.) If ever a publisher gets a non-terminable contract with an author, that author can never buy his freedom from that slavery on any terms. A publisher is by nature so low & vile that he—that he—well from the bottom of my heart I wish all publishers were in hell. / And particularly: / Elisha Bliss (already there);” [NB 46 TS 23-24].
September 30 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “A P H / Every hog has his day” [NB 46 TS 25].
Joe Twichell wrote to Sam, pasting a Hartford Courant clipping at the top of the first page, which related an anecdote of Sam attending Parker’s Old South Church when Joe was away, and saying:
October – Catani Ugo’s portrait of Mark Twain was published in International Studio, p. 291. No additional text was provided [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Second Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1978 p. 172].
Hartford Postmaster.
October 1 Thursday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote a note to the Hartford Postmaster that was not sent.
In this envelop came a letter (dated 6 weeks back) from Brazil, in which the writer says he is sending me a little book “by private hands.”
October 2 Friday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam began a letter to James Barnes that he added a PS of good news to on Oct. 5.