September 27 Monday — In Redding, Conn. Sam finished his Sept. 19 to Joe Twichell. “Sept. 27. Yesterday the lawyers settled everything that was in dispute” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Frances Nunnally.
Francesca dear, you are cert airily a scandalous little rascal! I suppose you have been within a mile of this house half a dozen times, lately, & yet you wouldn’t come & see a person. However, you have put in your time better, & so I forgive you.
September 28 Wednesday – Sam inscribed his photograph to an unidentified person: “Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Sept. 28/04” [MTP]. \
Sam wrote to Cécile Freese, letter not extant but referred to in Freese’s Oct. 18 [MTP].
September 28 Thursday – Sam’s essay: King Leopold’s Soliloquy: A Defense of His Congo Rule, was published as a pamphlet for the American branch of the Congo Reform Assoc. by The P.R. Warren Co., Boston. Budd: “At least three further printings followed soon afterward, and a ‘Second Edition,’ with additional supplementary material, was issued late in 1905 or early in 1906” [Collected 2: 1010]. Note: Hawkins points out that the pamphlet, by Twain’s suggestion, “contained several photographs of mutilated Congolese.
September 28 Friday – About this day Sam went to Fairhaven, Mass. for the weekend. His Oct. 2 to Clara reveals he left Fairhaven for Dublin on Oct. 1.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Jean, 1:30 and 6:00 on porch.
September 28 Saturday – Frances Nunnally and her mother visited Sam. They played hearts [Oct 2 from Nunnally].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Santa decides to come to town on the 11th.
September 28 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “On Saturday I saw everything to be done in the N.Y. house and not a whit done that Katie had said should be done. So this morning I set out for N.Y. and with Will Wark we worked savagely all day—going from garret to cellar. Santa came in at 6—for Mary has tonsillitis, and Benares came too” [MTP: IVL TS 67].
Sylvester Baxter wrote from Boston to Sam after reading in the paper the account of Clemens’ speech at the Whittier birthday dinner back in 1877.
September 29 Thursday – Gustavo Donati, Florence attorney, wrote Sam a letter in Italianabout the Dr. Kirch dispute [MTP]
September 29 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Harper & Brothers, asking them to send the magazine to 21 Fifth Avenue in N.Y.C. instead of to Dublin, beginning with the Nov. issue [MTP].
Lyon also replied to Robert Underwood Johnson (incoming Sept. 21) that Sam would be unable to make a meeting of the Academy of Arts & Letters as he would not be in the city until about Nov. 7 [MTP].
September 29 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
I have had to ask Mr. Clemens to come back on Monday.
September 29 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: A rainy day, and so a stop was put to the plans for entertaining Francesca and her mother. Late in the morning we assembled in the living room and played Hearts. I wonder what dear spirit put Hearts in my head yesterday, for otherwise we had been at a loss. It is hard to entertain brand new people [MTP TS 108-109].
Edward Anthony wrote from Cleveland, Ohio to Sam. “I am a boy collecting cigar bands.” Could Sam send some for his collection? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Oct. 2, ‘07”
September 29 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Work all day long—packing and clearing out the dreadful rubbish of many years’ accumulating. / Bought a bicycle” [MTP: IVL TS 67].
Ralph W. Ashcroft came to Sam’s at 4:15 p.m. After dinner they played billiards until 10:30 p.m. Sam lost [Sept. 30 to Sturgis]. Note: likely Ashcroft delivered Mrs. R.M. Wallace’s appeal on this visit.
September 29 Wednesday - In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Isabel S. Wayland (Mrs. John Wayland) in Stony Creek, Conn,
Dear Mrs. Wayland— / That bushel must be about due, now, & my mouth is watering, I thank you, thank you, thank you!
September 3 Saturday – In Deal Beach, N.J. Sam wrote to Louise Brownell Saunders (Mrs. A.P. Saunders) in Clinton, N.Y. (Susy’s old paramour, now married):
Dear Mrs. Saunders: / I am grateful to have those hallowed names thus consecrated, & in reverence I bow my white head before them in their new place. How long they stood for the grace & beauty & joy of life—& now, how they stand for measureless pain & loss! We are come upon evil days: may they be few! / Affectionately [MTP].
September 3 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam sent a telegram to H.H. Rogers, in Fairhaven, Mass.: “God be thanked have found some of the things send another trunk this one leaked / Clemens.” [MTHHR 617].
Sam also wrote to an unidentified man, thanking him for his letter of Aug. 31 [MTP].
September 3 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Dorothy arrived. / Such a very very nice dinner at the Sampsons. Mr. [Charles E.] Sampson is the head of that house, for even the fine beautiful table linen is exquisitely marked with his initials & the silver too, has his lettering. He was very delightful. He told me how when he was a boy he crossed from Europe on the steamer with Emerson & how dear Emerson was, waiting on his sister who was an invalid [MTP TS 99- 100].
September 3 Thursday– In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Aug. 31 from James R. Clemens by sending a telegram: “Shall be very happy to see you on Sunday but am very sorry you not both come. / S. L. Clemens” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Dorothy Quick in Plainfield, N.J.
September 30 Friday – Watch Tower Society sent one of their religious tracts to Sam, who wrote on the envelope: “Biblical trash” [MTP].
September 30 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka of Harper & Bros.
September 30 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
September 30 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Francesca went this morning, the King went down to the station with them, and since his return he has been at work all day with the pen. He has been writing and writing and dropping the little leaves of paper from his small pad, around him on the floor. Most of the work was done with him sitting on the extreme edge of the bed.
September 30 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Louise Paine in Locust Valley, N.Y,
Dear Louise, I was very glad to hear from you. Your father brought back the plated ware to-day, & I have forgiven him, for he did not know it was plated or he would not have taken it. He thought it was silver; that was the only reason he took it, he said to himself. One is not blameable for mistakes, we all make them. A mistake is not a crime, it is only a miscarriage of judgement.
September 30 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Melville E. Stone, manager of the Associated Press. “Dear Stone: / This is a personal matter of great importance to me, & as I am not well enough to travel, these days, I am sending Albert Bigelow Paine, my secretary, to you with it. / With my love /...” [MTP].
Lotos Club wrote from NYC to invite Clemens to a farewell dinner for Melville E. Stone on Oct. 5 [MTP].
September 4 Sunday – In Deal, N.J. Sam wrote to daughter Clara (only the envelope survives) [MTP]. Note: Postmarked from Deal Beach, N.J Sept.4, 4 p.m., which shows he spent the night of Sept. 3 there, probably at Harvey’s home.
Sam returned early to N.Y.C. where he rode in the park with Clara [Sept. 4 to Crane].
Later he wrote from the Hotel Wolcott to Susan Crane.