July 5 Monday — Paine writes of “happier” events:
We have invented a new game, three-ball carom billiards, each player continuing until he has made five, counting the number of his shots as in golf, the one who finishes in the fewer shots wins, It is a game we play with almost exactly equal skill, and he is highly pleased with it. He said this afternoon:
“I have never enjoyed billiards as I do now. I look forward to it every afternoon as my reward at the end of a good day’s work.”
July 6 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Marjorie Breckenridge.
Dear Marjorie—
I am very glad you are back again. I would come & see you, but the doctor does not allow me to walk so far, & I don’t drive because I don’t enjoy it. So you must come & see me. I am oldest, anyway, you know. /
Lovingly SLC [MTAq 261].
July 7 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed copies of TA, TS, and HF with aphorisms to Emily G. Byng (Lady Stafford):
Whenever you find you are on the side of a majority, it is time to reform.
We ought never to do wrong when people are looking
None but the dead are permitted to speak truth [MTP].
July 8 Thursday — Mrs. Henderson wrote from Ayrshire, Scotland to ask for Sam’s autograph [MTP].
July 9 Friday — Sam’s new guestbook:
| Name | Address | Date | Remarks |
| Rev. Joseph H. Twichell | |||
| Mrs. Twichell | Hartford | July 9 & 10 |
July 10 Saturday — Joe and Harmony Twichell finished a two-day stay at Stormfield.
July 11 Sunday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a Stormfield picture postcard to Dorothy Quick.
July 12 Monday — Anne-Netta Brownlee wrote from Youngstown, Ohio, a lengthy letter of admiration in which she discusses articles on Twain and his books. The letter is copied by a different hand and both are in the file [MTP].
Eugene T. Skinkle wrote to Sam with questions about CS. Sam’s reply was published in the Chicago Tribune of 24 Apr. 1910; a copy from that paper in the file is only: “July 16/09 / Sir: / YES, I done it. M.T.” [MTP]
July 14 Wednesday — Isabel Ashcroft (Lyon) returned from her honeymoon to respond to the attachment Clemens had placed on her house, “The Lobster Pot.” The New York Times, p. 4, July 15, reported on the conflict and her return. The Ashcrofts had sailed from the US on June 8.
WANTS MARK TWAIN TO EXPLAIN TO HER
Mrs. Ashcroft Hurries Back from Her Honeymoon
Abroad to Find Out About $4,000 Suit.
FORMERLY HIS SECRETARY
July 15 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally in Camp Esta-Naula East Sebago, Maine.
July 16 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a one-liner to Eugene T. Skinkle: “Sir: YES, I done it. / M.T.” [MTP: Chicago Tribune, 24 April 1910]. Note: Skinkle published a book, Practical Ice Making and Refrigeration (1897). See July 12. Sam answered Skinkle’s questions about CS; it is noted the Chicago paper carried this but three days after his death. Jean wrote on her father’s reply: Mr.