Instead of a summer trip to Europe, the Clemens family opted to take Candace Wheeler up on her many past invitations to revisit her Catskills retreat at the Onteora Club near Tannersville, New York.
The Clemenses…came to the Inn for the season — the father and mother, and Clara, Susy, and “Little Jean.” They took “Balsam,” a bit of cottage across the road from the Inn, and it became a sort of jewel-box for the summer — a thing that held values untold.
July – Webster & Co. Sent Sam a “Books sent out during June, 1890” report totaling 3,990 books with 1,236 CY’s [MTP]. Note: the MTP catalogues this as a June incoming entry.
July 1 Tuesday – Frank E. Bliss of American Publishing Co. wrote to Sam enclosing a check for $263.29 to settle all royalties from sales of his books to this date. [MTP].
John M. Knight for Manning Collegiate Institute wrote to thank Sam for gift copies of CY and HF for their library [MTP].
James B. Pond wrote to Sam: “Your kind letter is received. Many thanks. I know you will live until Nov. 18th & go to Boston with our crowd. I have sent your letter to Stanley. I know he will appreciate it” [MTP].
July 2 Wednesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam in Hartford, presuming “you will not want to be bothered with business matters while in the Catskills.” Hall had received Sam’s two letters (one identified by Hall’s reference as Sam’s June 30) and would do as he suggested on “the Stedman matter” (Stedman objected to the firm’s use of the word “Library” in selling their “Great War Library” books — see June 30 from SLC to Hall). As for money Sam needed, Hall could send $500 “any time you want it” and hoped “to follow it very soon by another and larger remittance”.
July 3 Thursday – Louise A. Howland wrote with mourning border stationery to thank Sam for his kindness in sending “such sympathizing words” on the death of her husband Robert M. Howland. Sam wrote “No answer required” on the envelope [MTP].
J. Langdon & Co. per C.L. Stillman wrote Sam that a draft for $3,000 had been sent to the US Bank, Hartford, “same to apply on note of Mrs. Clemens” [MTP].
P.D. Ryan, Hartford Merchant Tailor, receipted $6 for Feb 19, May 31, June 10 — all for repair clothing [MTP].
July 4 Friday – At Onteora, Sam performed the function of starter for “burlesque races.” In the evening by the fireside he charmed the company with his old story, “Golden Arm” [Powers, MT A Life 532]. Robert Underwood Johnson in his 1923 memoir, Remembered Yesterdays:
Mark was the centre of attraction for the Onteora colony and for none more than the children, between whom and him there was an ideal relation of mutual devotion [325].
July 5 Saturday – In Onteora Park, near Tannersville, New York, Sam wrote a poem and a sketch of two men passing each other, one with a halo and the other holding a fan, titled, “The Last Meeting, & Final Parting” in honor of Laurence Hutton, who was also visiting Onteora Club at the time.
When I meet you I shall know you,
By your halo I shall know you —
Thus shall know you, blameless man;
And you’ll know me also, Larry,
When we meet but may not tarry —
Yes, alas, alas, you’ll know me by my fan [MTP].
July 6 Sunday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, stressing he wanted Edward M. (Ned) Bunce to see the Paige typesetter.
And be sure you either take Batterson to see it, or have Bunce do it. / I am waiting for news from Goodman [MTP]. Note: James G. Batterson, president of Travelers Insurance; Joe Goodman was in Washington, D.C..
Thomas Fitch in Reno, Nevada sent Sam a clipping (newspaper unspecified) of his July 4th Oratory; no letter was enclosed or is extant [MTP].
July 7 Monday – Joseph B. Gilder for The Critic wrote to follow up on the list of persons Sam was asked to vote for, their “Forty Immortals” [MTP].
July 8 Tuesday – Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that he’d arranged for James G. Batterson, president of Travelers Insurance Co. and also head of New England Granite Works, to see the Paige typesetter [MTNJ 3: 561n250]. Note: Sam felt if Batterson or some other wealthy investor put in a substantial sum, that Senator John P. Jones would then be more likely to invest. See Sept. 24 entry.
July 9 Wednesday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore about a supposed gift by Connor of a new font for the Paige typesetter. Sam was concerned the gift aspect might have been forgotten and a bill would be presented [MTP]. Note: Connor is not further identified.
Hartford Post Office per John C. Kinney notified Sam that his June 23 to Mrs. Joseph T. Goodman, Hoffman House, N.Y. had been sent to the dead letter office [MTP]. The Goodmans may not have arrived in New York by this time; Joe would write from N.Y. to Sam on July 18.
July 10 Thursday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore. The text is lost [MTP].
July 11 Friday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to William J. Hamersley, who Sam said had not lived up to advancing one-fifth of monies needed to continue work on the Paige typesetter. He calculated Hamersley was thus in debt to him of about $30,000. Continuing on, Sam felt:
I cannot carry the whole burden of expense any longer, but must look to you for a fifth of it henceforth. I make this mention at the time because another heavy bill from Pratt & Whitney will soon be due & I wish to look to you for your proper share of it [MTP].
July 12 Saturday – In Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore. The letter is lost [MTP]. Receiving Joe Goodman’s challenge of July 11, Sam left for New York City. He checked into the Hoffman House [MTNJ 3: 562n253].
July 13 Sunday – In New York at the Hoffman House, Sam wrote to John Russell Young of the N.Y. Herald soliciting him to “go up to Hartford” with him “& look at the machine.”
Tomorrow? Next day? Or Wednesday? We can leave here at 9 a.m., you know, & you can be back in New York at 6.30 pm if you are limited as to time. / Drop me a line to the Hoffman [MTP].
John Russell Young for N.Y. Herald wrote to thank Sam for his invitation to come view the typesetter in Hartford; he hoped to run up next week or the week after:
July 14 Monday – In New York City at the Hoffman House, Sam wrote again to John Russell Young who turned Sam down to go to Hartford and view the Paige typesetter. Sam felt he might not be back in the City for another month. Aside from lobbying support for the Paige, Sam reviewed rehearsals of Howard P. Taylor’s dramatization of CY.
Reconsider! Can’t you strain a point & make it this coming Saturday, or some other day this week? [MTP]
July 15 Tuesday – Sam may have gone to Hartford with Frank Fuller, as per Livy’s July 16 letter.
William J. Hamersley wrote to Sam about the “Personal loan” of $2,500 due on July 1 and still unpaid. The letter is smeared and partly illegible [MTP]. Note: see July 11 with Sam’s counterclaim of Hamersley owing about $30,000 on the Paige typesetter, which likely explains this unpaid “loan.”
July 16 Wednesday – Unable to interest John Russell Young in a quick trip to Hartford, Sam may have been on his way back to Onteora Park, Tannersville, N.Y. and his family — MTNJ 3: 562n253 states he “did not return to Onteora until 30 July.” The following letter from Livy shows he was not yet back at Onteora, and that he planned to go to Hartford with Frank Fuller. Sam’s letter referred to is not extant, but it was likely written on July 14 or 15:
Youth Dear:
July 17 Thursday
July 17-19 Saturday – Sam left the family again and traveled to New York, then on to Hartford, where he wrote to daughter Clara on July 20.
July 18 Friday – Joe Goodman wrote from the Hoffman House, N.Y. to Sam (Young July 14 encl.) that owing to the heat he didn’t go down town until 4 p.m. and found a letter for Sam there from John Russell Young. “I still expect Jones to-night. If he does not put in an appearance by morning, I shall to go Washington to-morrow” [MTP].
July 19 Saturday ca. (before) – In Onteora Park, N.Y., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore.
Yours received. Many thanks. I am daily expecting to leave for Hartford. Please send the following cablegram by United Lines…[MTP]. Note: the cable shows below.
Franklin G. Whitmore then wrote a cable for Sam to Joseph N. Verey (sometimes spelled Very), the Clemens past courier in Europe, whom Sam hoped might be of service to Charles Langdon and family. Clemens gave you up & made other arrangements. Whitmore [MTP].
July 20 Sunday – Howard P. Taylor, came to Hartford to read a draft of the CY play. Sam wrote to daughter Clara Clemens in Onteora, N.Y. of his opinions:
July 21 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Livy and Clara Clemens in Onteora, N.Y. Keep up your spirits if your unfortunate eyes will let you, my darling; & be sure I shall not remain away from you one unnecessary hour. …
Clara dear, I have found the Beethoven & the Chopin — found them instantly, because I went straight to the place where you said they were not, & there they were, sure enough. I will send them by express — doubtless tomorrow [MTP].
John Russell Young wrote to Sam:
July 22 Tuesday – John R. Young wrote again to Sam.
Mackay and Jones go up tomorrow at nine to return at 2.20. you should keep them until 7 and show them the [illegible word] Asylum, the Hubbard Monument, the grave yards, Charter Oak…and the other institutions of your pleasing town. –I am sorry I did not wait and go with them [MTP].
July 23 Wednesday – Senator John P. Jones and John W. Mackay, after months of delay, and at the urging of John Russell Young, finally came to Hartford and inspected the Paige typesetter. This time there was no blowup, the machine worked flawlessly. The pair then returned to New York where they made a limited commitment to Joe Goodman, outlined in his July 26 letter to Sam.
Howard P. Taylor wrote to Sam of his revised dramatization of CY. His manuscript was “pretty well marked up,” and he thought four copies should be made.