September 29 Saturday – James B. Pond’s article, “Across the Continent with Mark Twain,” ran in Saturday Evening Post p.6-7. Tenney: “Chiefly on the trip to the West Coast in 1895, beginning the world tour that would lead to FE; includes excerpts from Pond’s journal, MT letters of 17 September 1897 (from Weggis, Lake Lucerne), 4 April 1899 (from Vienna), and one undated. Illustrated with ten photographs of MT.
September 30 Sunday – According to Sam’s Sept. 19 to MacAlister, this was the last night the Clemens family spent at Dollis Hill.
October 1 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Percy Spalding, with a glowing recommendation for the butler, Robert Barker, and the staff at Dollis Hill. “…all the family like him and are sorry to part with him; all the family and all the servants—gardener and coachman and their families included—detest the cook; all recommend Barker, except the cook. The cook does not—and this, I think, is greatly to his credit…” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries catalog, Jan. 28, 1958, No. 1802, Item 42].
October 2 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Plasmon 11.30 Cornhill” [NB 43 TS 26].
At Brown’s Hotel in London, England Sam inscribed a copy of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories and Sketches to Elise de Bouchere: “To Miss Elise de Bouchere with the kindest regards of the Author. Oct 2, 1900,” [MTP: Anderson Galleries catalog, Apr. 29, 1931, No. 3911, Item 106].
October 4 Thursday – At Brown’s Hotel in London, England Sam wrote to James B. Pond about Samuel Moffett’s editing of Pond’s proposed book:
“I don’t doubt that between you & Sam Moffett you will get the matter arranged all right & satisfactorily.
You always mean right, you old criminal. I am bound to concede that, anyway” [MTP].
October 5 Friday – At Brown’s Hotel in London, England Sam inscribed a copy of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories and Sketches to Archibald Clarke: “To / Mr. Archibald Clarke / with compliments of / Mark Twain / Oct. 5/00” [MTP]. Note: Clarke was a contributor to John Y. MacAlister’s quarterly journal, The Library and so this connection may explains his contact with Sam. To wit: 1900 Vol. I p.
October 6 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Lady Trevelyan 19 Easton Place, SW. / Mrs. Halsey 18 Stanhope Gdns / Lady Stanley (inquire) / Mrs. Sumner, 20 Hans Mansions / Sir Wm Des Voeux / Sailed from Tilbury 3 pm in the Minehaha [sic], 14,000 tons” [NB 43 TS 26].