Summer of 1889: Day By Day

July 29 Monday – In Elmira Sam wrote a two-paragraph note to Franklin G. Whitmore, about the Paige typesetter rate of production and of Charles Langdon’s visit of the prior evening and his agreement to send $5,000 to the U.S. Bank on this day. Earlier this day Sam went down town and saw Charles but had forgot to ask him if the deed was done [MTP].

July 3 Wednesday – Sam added a PS to his letter of the prior day to Frederick J. Hall:

July 3, 2:30 p.m. Mr. Crane is still alive, but that is all [MTP]. Note: Clara Clemens received the telegram on the telephone.

After Sam wrote this letter, Theodore Crane died [MTNJ 3: 474n236]. His death delayed Sam’s departure to Hartford to see the Paige typesetter. It would be a week or more before he traveled alone to Hartford [498n53].

July 30 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Robert Underwood Johnson of Century Magazine about illustrations for CY. The note expressed Sam’s desire to closely cooperate with Dan Beard, for whom he had great respect. He also wrote that he’d sent his MS to New York to be typewritten [MTP]. Note: Sam also mentioned he’d sent his MS “off to New York” to Howells, so as to make an anticipated visit more of a vacation [MTHL 2: 607].

July 31 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: [chk] #4974. EL Holbrook, $15, July 31 [3: 491].

July 4 Thursday – James W. Housel wrote an appeal to Sam to help secure a pardon for convicted embezzler of Webster & Co., Frank M. Scott. Housel enclosed photographs of Scott’s family and wrote about,

…the Wife & Children depending upon the charity of others, and whose cry is constantly ringing in her weary Ears when is my Pa Pa coming home [MTP] Note: Sam wrote on the envelope “unanswered” and “preserve this sentimental rubbish.”

July 5 Friday – Frederick J. Hall forwarded a sample illustration from Daniel Carter Beard. Sam had seen Beard’s work in the March issue of Cosmopolitan [MTLTP 254n1].

Frederick Bryant wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].

James S. Metcalfe for American Newspaper Publishers, N.Y. wrote to Sam wishing to keep informed about the progress of the Paige typesetter and also asking for a submission [MTP].

July 6 Saturday – Thomas Fitch, attorney in Reno, Nevada wrote to Sam enclosing p 3-4 from the Reno Evening Gazette for May 30, 1889, reporting Fitch’s Memorial Day speech; and p.3-4 of the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise July 6, 1889 reporting Fitch’s July 4 speech. No letter accompanied the clippings [MTP].

July 7 Sunday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, directing him to send all securities for Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. to Charles Langdon in Elmira, as he “has a chance to sell the whole thing out.” Sam added:

It is splendid news from the machine.

I shall arrive Tuesday afternoon [MTP]. Note: the letter was postmarked July 8 and received July 9.

July 8 Monday – Likely on this day Sam left Quarry Farm for New York, where he may have spent the night. He was in Hartford by July 11, and on July 12 wrote he’d left Elmira “a few days ago.” Theodore Crane’s death on July 3 delayed his departure since he received Paige’s telegram on July 2, so this day, the first he might have reasonably traveled, seems likely.

July 9 Tuesday – Sam would have been in New York. He might have left for Hartford this day or either of the next two, but wrote from Hartford on July 11. He probably did not go to Hartford until the latter date, as he wrote Howells on July 13 that he “came on from Elmira a day or two ago.”

June 11 Tuesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a short note to George Washington Cable, who evidently had asked for copies of a pamphlet Sam used to have, Samuel Watson Royston’s short novel, The Enemy Conquered, or Love Triumphant. “They are lost!” Sam responded, “I have searched everywhere & cannot find a vestige of that pamphlet.” He closed “in haste” as they were “just leaving for Elmira” [MTP; Gribben 593; MTNJ 3: 490n29].

June 12 Wednesday – The Clemens family usually spent a day or two in New York on their way to Elmira.

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam trying to repay him for his kindness by giving him a drawing for “an improved fixture for ringing a door-bell.” He wished they would all come for a visit [MTP]. Note: Orion repeatedly expressed his thanks and desire to repay Sam in some way.

June 13 Thursday – The Clemens family arrived at Quarry Farm [July 1 to Pamela]. As he later wrote, “death is on the threshold” — Theodore Crane was nearing the end of his life.

June 14 Friday – Henry M. Alden for Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam. Alden had just returned from vacation and had a letter from Mr. Warner about Sam’s article on that “old medical book.” Warner had quoted Sam’s price to be $50 per 800 words, which was fine if they liked the article. He asked Sam to send it [MTP].

June 15 Saturday – In Elmira †, Sam wrote a short note to Franklin G. Whitmore in Hartford, advising that he would have all the money needed on July 1. He instructed that the Bissell bank account be allowed to

…overrun a trifle. But if they make any objections let me know & I will get a note discounted that falls due July 8, & forward fill up the tank [MTP].

June 16 Sunday – W. Delancey Howe wrote from Cambridge, Mass. Commenting on Sam’s Apr. 1887 article, “English As She Is Taught.” Howe claimed to be the author of the composition “Girls” mentioned in Sam’s article, and was curious how Sam got hold of his composition. Howe wrote he hoped to “call upon you for a recommendation in English for Harvard College” [MTP].

June 17 Monday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Anna Laurens Dawes, a Washington correspondent from Pittsfield Mass. and daughter of Henry L. Dawes, senator of Mass. Sam gave a reading for her young ladies’ club in 1885. (See Mar. 1, 1885, Sept. 23, 1885). Sam thanked Miss Dawes.

June 18 Tuesday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Henry M. Stanley, anxious to stay in contact for a possible book to publish. Sam was feeling a financial pinch more than ever and he made a friendly plug for Webster & Co.

Goodness only knows where you are at this date, but working courageously toward the end of your amazing trip; according to latest rumors — & may you arrive!….we hope you will give us a chance at your account of this great journey before you close with any other American firm [MTP].

June 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook:

June 19, 1889 [gave] Susie L. Crane a paper agreeing (upon surrender of said paper) to deliver her paid-up stock representing a One Five Hundredth of the whole of the capital stock “of the company which is to be organized to manufacture, & sell or rent Paige Compositors under the (American) patents, so soon as such company shall be formed & begin the issue of stock [”].

After some remarks of F W [Whitmore], concluded to say nothing about his project & let it drop [3: 493].

June 20 Thursday – Henry Fears (1889-1965) was born in Crawford Co. Ark. (without this event, you would not be reading this book. David H. Fears, his grandson.)

O.C. Kingsley wrote on Kingman, Sturtevant & Larrabee, builders of Carriages letterhead, thanking Sam for being “the recipient of many favors, both liquid and otherwise” for the retelling in Kenilworth, England of the narrative of “The Incorporated Company of Mean Men” in RI [MTP].

June 21 Friday ca. before – In a letter from Charles Fulton to Edward H. House, Sam was quoted in a letter to Horace Wall, that the dramatic rights for P&P had passed from his control and been registered for production. Sam was quoted as adding, “But not to House; he has no rights or anything in the matter” [MTP].

June 22 Saturday – In Elmira Sam wrote a short paragraph to Andrew Chatto, asking him to telegraph Henry M. Stanley the letter that Sam had sent Chatto “a day or two ago.” Sam was anxious to tie up Stanley for a book “before Osgood or any other American agent or publisher” got to him [MTP].

G.P. Davis for Travelers Insurance wrote to Sam soliciting funds for the Hartford YMCA [MTP].

June 23 Sunday – In Elmira † Sam wrote a short note to O.C. Kingsley of Kingman, Sturtevant & Larrabee, who had written June 20.

It was all the better to leave off the quotation marks because if you had coupled my name with the story it would have injured me in England, where they believe everything I say [MTP].

June 24 Monday –For Sam to have traveled to New Haven for the Yale Alumni speech of June 26, he would have had to leave Elmira this day or the next.

June 25 Tuesday – Sam’s Notebook:

Offered William Gillette stock at one-2500th for $1000. This offer has also been made heretofore to Dean Sage, Ned Bunce, H.C. Robinson, Mr. Parsons, Charley Langdon, Theodore Crane & George Griffin. I had the hope that they would decline, & they did. The stock is worth either ten times that or it is worth nothing; maybe the latter, though I think otherwise [3: 496].