June 25 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
We are in the throes of packing, these days, & it is awful. But we are advancing. I am pretty sure we shall leave for Elmira per DL & W at 1 p.m. next Wednesday.
George W. Perkins will send an Erie tug up here for us to take Livy down to Hoboken.
June 26 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Look at Lahn / Mrs. Stanley Brown—dinner/ Wright may call today” [NB 46 TS 20].
June 27 Saturday – Frank Bliss wrote a two-page typed letter to Sam concerning relinquishing contract rights for $50,000, and Collier’s possible entrance selling sets of Mark Twain’s books by subscription.
June 28 Sunday – The New York Times, p. SM12 ran a humorous article, wherein “Alligator Jack” John B. Downing told a story about Mark Twain.
Mark Twain’s Roast Chickens.
Recently Major John B. Downing of Middleport, Ohio, was discussing army chicken stealing and the various ways the boys had of preparing them to be served. The Major was a Mississippi River pilot in his young days and stood at the wheel as a cub under the watchful eye of “Sam” Clemens, the Mark Twain of the present day.
June 29 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
“Mrs. Clemens wants me to ask if you will kindly see Mr. Jack Bunce about Mr. Clemens’s bust. Will you have a man sent there to pack it and ship it to Elmira—by freight. and all charges to be sent to Mr. Clemens. I saw Mrs. Clemens today for the first time. and she looks much better than I had expected” [MTP].
June 30 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote an aphorism on Riverdale on the Hudson letterhead to an unidentified person: “Work & Play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / June 30/03” [Heritage Auction Galleries for Oct. 14-15, 2010; MTP].
Sam also wrote to George Walbridge Perkins, Sr., purchaser of the Wave Hill house earlier this year.