To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

September 14 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine : Sam’s notebook: “Young Mercer was at Cadwalader’s—he is to produce the historical ceramics for the new capitol at Harrisburg [Pa.]” [NB 45 TS 27]. Note: Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930), archeologist, tile-maker, designer, made tiles used in the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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 Sunday – Sam inscribed in the front free endpaper of Great Religions of the World, by Herbert Allen Giles (1845-1935), et al (1901): “S.L. Clemens / Ampersand / Saranac Lake, N.Y. / Sept.

September 15 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.

My wife being ill, I have been—in literary matters—helpless all these weeks. I have no editor—no censor. I tried that Hell or Heaven on Howells, & he left me with the impression that it was all right—whereas, it wasn’t.

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 Monday – Saranac Lake: Sam wrote to Mrs. Virginia Frazer Boyle in Memphis, Tenn.

September 16 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to an unidentified man, saying that while he had no photographs of himself at hand, he sent two of their temporary house in Riverdale [MTP].

Sam’s notebook “Corrected original MS of Heaven & Hell & mailed it. Jean is typing ‘The Belated Russian Passport’” [NB 45 TS 27].

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 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers that he added a PS to on Sept. 19. The doctors had vetoed a sea voyage to Riverdale for Livy, so the use of the Kanawha for such a trip was out. Sam thought it was a mistake but he wrote he “mustn’t venture the responsibility” of saying so. He wished that Jonas Henrik Kellgren could have been there when Livy was stricken on Aug.

September 18 Wednesday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers that they were packed and would leave in the morning for Elmira. The rest of the letter has to do with what he felt was “a mighty cold -blooded piece of rascality” by the R.G. Newbegin Co. in resorting “to forgery” in their pamphlet on his uniform edition. He suggested a lawsuit:

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 Thursday – In the morning before leaving Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote a goodbye note to Mr. and Mrs. George V. Duryee, the real estate agent who leased their house over the lake: “Hail and Farewell! / It has been Paradise to us all Summer” [MTP].

Probably this day or Sept. 18 Sam wrote a quick note to H.H. Rogers.

September 19 Friday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka of Harper’s.

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 – Sam signed the flyleaf of Jeanne d’Arc, Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France, etc. by T. Douglas Murray: “S.L. Clemens, September, 1902” [Gribben 494].

September – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam gave daughter five bird and animial-related books.

He inscribed Olive Thorne Miller’s True Bird Stories from my Note-Books: “To / Jean Clemens / with her Father’s love / Sept. 1903. / It is never too late to mend. There’s plenty of time. / M.T.” [Christie’s Auction, June 24, 2009, Sale 2272. lot 16].

Sam also gave Jean the following each inscribed slightly different:

September 2 Monday – Sam was writing “The Double-Barrelled Detective Story,” averaging eighteen pages per day between Aug. 29 and Sept. 6 [Sept. 6 to Rogers].

September 2 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook:

AGREED.

In London in ’90. Col. & McIlv.

20 % roy. from beginning.

5-year contracts

Dramatic clause annulled.

Xn Science |

Huck Finn | weekly

Which Was It? |

_______

Gals in Review & over for a spring book.

_______

I was considering higher terms from McClure [NB 45 TS 25].

September 2 Wednesday

September 20 Friday – The Clemens family was in Elmira, likely at Quarry Farm. No letters describing their visit with Sue Crane and Charles J. Langdon are extant.

September 20 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine, Livy had a relapse. A telegram was sent to a doctor.

Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

September 20 Sunday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Livy at Quarry Farm.

September 21 Saturday – The Clemens family was in Elmira.

September 21 Sunday – yesterday & came to-day & Wednesday” [NB 45 TS 27]. treatments by Helmer.

In York Harbor, Maine: Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Helmer was telegraphed for treated the patient. / Will come again Tuesday night from New York & treat her Note: Livy’s medical doctors felt she must wait and gather strength for any future