June 14 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam and Livy replied to Franklin G. Whitmore’s June 13, principally about the sale of the Farmington Ave. house, which had not yet sold but was actively being shown. Livy added that “of course you will not get your price $75,000,” but she’d hoped he might get $60,000. Sam announced they were breaking up housekeeping getting ready for a June 23 move to York Harbor, Maine [MTP].
June 15 Sunday – Sam’s notebook listed more snippets of boyhood memories/ideas for the 50 years after story: “ ‘Haunting’ a house—like Va City—so we can use it for Gang headquarters. / Sign on it T.S.’ s Gang. / Pic-nic—name the girls. / Candy-pull & Jim Wolf. / Eat’m guts & all. 50 yr after. / The mossy marbles rest / On the lips that we have pressed / In their bloom / And the names we loved to hear / Have been carved for many a year / On their tomb” [NB 45 TS 18].
June 16 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Harper’s. Booksellers’ informal reception. 4 p.m. (Say 4.30?) / 10.30 a.m. documents to sign” [NB 45 TS19]. Also: “1 man had old vol of cyclopedia, other had another. Each an expert on his letter” [ibid.]. Note: this last a story idea?
Sam was present at Harper & Brothers when the members of the American Booksellers’ Association visited Harpers and joined in a luncheon. The New York Times, p.9, June 17, took note of the gathering:
June 17 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to W.H. Dulany, who had sent news clippings, biographical details, and a photo he had taken of Sam in Hannibal. Sam’s replied:
The views have arrived & are exceedingly fine & beautiful. Pray accept my best thanks for them.
My trip to the West was no tax upon my strength, & was an abounding delight. I’ve renewed my youth in Hannibal—all but the hair—& I would not trade those days for any others I have seen in a quarter of a century [MTP; Sorrentino 40].
June 18 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook contained more Hannibal memories for the 50 years after story: “The gang’s meeting-sign, its badge (skull, &c) stuck up (TS.G.) around. This must be the summons (with date & nothing more) 50 yrs hence. / The overflow—back-water in Bear creek—water moccasins in the trees on the clothes” [NB 45 TS19].
June 19 Thursday – Riverdale, N.Y.: Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Rice, George Ade to dinner” [NB 45 TS19].
Livy’s diary: “Dr Rice, Mr George Ade (author of Fables in Slang) & Rodman Gilder here for luncheon” [MTP: DV161]. Note: Fables in Slang (1899) [Gribben 9].
Sam wrote to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. (only the envelope survives) [MTP]. Note: Kester had struck an agreement with Clemens to dramatize Tom Sawyer.
June 20 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to an unidentified person.
June 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears, mostly about the Juggernaut Club of females he had never met. Did she “want to see the Constitution Laws of my Club of which you are the Member for Scotland?” He added family plans and a political bit.
June 22 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Memorial Services / Amos J. Cummings,—afternoon. / Carnegie Hall / James J. Murphy / 216 E. 11th” [NB 45 TS19]. Note: Amos Jay Cummings (1838-1902), US Representative of New York, died May 2. Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, journalist, served in Congress until 1894. The New York Times, June 23, p. 9 reported a full hall at Carnegie:
June 23 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to the June 19 of Harry Leon Wilson in the editorial rooms of Puck, N.Y.C.
“Read it? Indeed I will, & with great pleasure. We are packed up, now, & shall sail for York Harbor on summer vacation to-morrow morning. But the book will go thither. I went to Harper’s to-day to get it, but I had too many bundles, so I told them to ship it to me. With many thanks for the book, …” [MTP].
June 24 Tuesday – The Clemens family, sans Clara, who was in Europe, left Riverdale on Rogers’ yacht, the Kanawha, for York Harbor Maine . H.H. Rogers was not along but put his yacht at their disposal in order to make the trip a comfortable one for Livy. Sam sent the Plasmon Co. a postcard with the new address and a request for Plasmon biscuits and cocoa to be sent there [Christie’s London Auction Nov. 12, 2007, Sale 5141, Lot 145].