August 30 Sunday – In his Sept. 3 to Dorothy Quick, Sam related, “We had a kind of house- warming three or four days ago, & the people of the countryside came, about 300, young & old, & boys & girls, & we had a very pleasant afternoon.” The gathering was likely this day, and included the guestbook entries below; these guests were residents of the surrounding area, which Sam gave no addresses for.
Sam’s New guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
August 31 Wednesday – Sam’s sister, Pamela Ann Moffett, died in Greenwich, Conn., age 76.
August 31 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Katharine B. Clemens (Mrs. James Ross Clemens) now in Cobourg, Canada.
I am just back from a gout-smitten 3-weeks’ visit to Clara in her rest-cure in Norfolk, Conn; & short as the distance is, I find the travel worse than the gout. I shan’t take any more journeys.
St. Louisians do not seem to mind railroading at all—they come here every summer, & they have houses of their own here. I suppose Miss Tracy saw Jean, not Clara, but Jean is absent & I can’t find out.
August 31 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam replied to the Aug. 29 of Samuel Hopkins Adams of Collier’s.
August 31 Saturday – Sam sent a telegram to Dorothy Quick:
August 31 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “John and Isabel Wayland came today” [MTP: IVL TS 62].
James Ross Clemens wrote to Sam, having arrived in South Dartmouth, Mass. and finding Sam’s invitation for him and his wife to visit Stormfield. Unfortunately only he could come and wanted to look in the following Sunday. He would stay overnight [MTP].
August 31 Tuesday
August 31? Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to David Rutherford’s offer of Aug. 19 to illustrate Sam’s next book for nothing, thereby applying what he perceived to be Mark Twain’s “system” of rising in business. Sam wrote on Rutherford’s letter:
August 4 Thursday – Sam traveled from N.Y. to Lee, Mass: Isabel Lyon wrote in her journal on Aug.
“Last evening Mr. Clemens arrived and this afternoon Santissima [Clara] went back to N.Y.” [Hill 97]. Note: since Clara stayed with Jean for three days, she arrived Aug. 1.
Alice Hegan Rice wrote a short note from Hyannisport, Mass. to Sam, pasting a short verse on writing, “if this doesn’t warrant a house in your vest pocket, then I am no judge of literature” [MTP]. Note: the verse remains in the file, suggesting Sam did not feel the same.
August 4 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
August 4 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Elizabeth Jordan, editor of Harper’s Bazaar, unable to be inspired to add to her collaborated story, his contribution being the boy character:
August 4 Sunday – John and Clara (nee Spaulding) Stanchfield ended their two-day visit with Sam in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. [New York Times, Aug. 4, p.7, “Tuxedo Park News”].
Robert P. Elmer wrote from Wayne, Pa. to Sam, asking if the “Moult” in Chapter IV of IA was his grandfather Moulton, “Moult” being his nickname [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd. Aug 14, ‘07” and “Moult was a young fellow from Mo. quiet & rather diffident; he had not been away from home before. I have never heard of him since.”
August 4 Tuesday – Sam went to New York City for the funeral of his nephew, Samuel E. Moffett, and where, per Robert Collier, he wrote to the Accident Insurance Co. which had determined that Moffett did not die from an accident but from natural causes. Moffett held an accidental death policy but had few assets.
Dear Sir
I shall be obliged to you for giving every consideration in your power to the case of my nephew, Samuel G Moffett, who was insured in your company and who died on Sat. Aug. 1st.
August 4 Wednesday -The New York Times, p.1 continued to report on the conflict between Mark Twain and his former secretary:
ASHCROFT ACCUSES MISS CLARA CLEMENS
Says Mark Twain’s Daughter Made Charges
Because She Was Jealous of Her Success.
QUOTES HUMORIST’S LETTER
In It He Praised His Secretary and Rebuked
Daughter for Complaints—No Diversion of Funds.
August 5 Sunday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam added a few lines to his Aug. 4 to Mary B. Rogers:
Sunday. / P.S.
No, gentle pal, return it to me, in the enclosed envelop. I will go over it again (aloud, this time, which is the only sure test), before I ship it to Harvey. (Don’t let any outsider see it, it is dangersome.) / SLC [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Joe Twichell.
August 5 Monday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote the aphorism about improving bad liquor to Mr. Martin [MTP]. See index for other aphorisms or maxims.
Sam also replied to the July 30 from W.J. Phelps, by writing instructions to Lyon on the bottom and right margin of Phelps’ letter.
August 5 Wednesday – Sam called on H.H. Rogers’ office at 26 Broadway and talked William Robertson Coe into visiting Redding with his wife “later in the season.” Later in the day he returned to his Redding home, accompanied by Col. George B. Harvey and David Munro (of the N.A.R.), who stayed over until Aug. 7 [Aug. 6 to Emilie Rogers; IVL TS 56 below].
August 5 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to John Brown, Jr. (“Jock”) in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Dear Mr. “Jock:” / Don’t you think you can find for me, among your father’s papers, a fugitive scrap of that dear little Marjorie’s penmanship? If you can, I will take good care of it & return it to you as soon as the engraver is done with it.
August 6 Saturday – In Lee, Mass. Sam wrote to his nephew Samuel E. Moffett now in Mr. Vernon, N.Y.
Yes, Clara has been in New York, but we keep it private because her health is in a wrecked condition & it is a damage to her to see anyone. She could not escape, here. She came up last Tuesday—being uneasy about Jean who is doing plenty well enough & doesn’t need her; so she & Katy returned to New York to-day. The two railway trips will do her a damage, sure.
August 6 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam inscribed the first photo of himself in the series “Progress of a Moral Purpose” to daughter Jean: “To Jean Clemens / with the deep love of her / Father / Aug. ’06. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain” [MTP].
Sam also replied to the July 31 from Dr. Benjamin E. Smith of the Century Co., N.Y.
August 6 Tuesday – Dorothy Quick was visiting Sam in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. being brave not to be homesick.
Pardon B. Gifford wrote from New Bedford, Mass. to ask Sam “to express some little sentiment about our old city to assist us in booming old home week” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd. Aug 9, ‘07”
August 6 Thursday – Paine writes of Sam’s reaction to Samuel Moffett’s death:
Clemens was fond and proud of his nephew. Returning from the funeral, he was much depressed, and a day or two later became really ill. He was in bed for a few days, resting, he said, after the intense heat of the journey. Then he was about again and proposed billiards as a diversion. We were all alone one very still, warm August afternoon playing, when he suddenly said:
“I feel a little dizzy; I will sit down a moment.”
August 6 Friday - Sam’s new guestbook:
August 7 Sunday – In Lee, Mass. Sam wrote to Joseph Gaylord Gessford, photographer.