Vol 3 Section 0194

Months ago, either here or in England, I read or was told the very episode which you mention—the finding of the island by your father’s native passenger. I think it is a very remarkable thing. I am glad of your confirmation of it, for I very much wanted to believe it, & now I shall consider myself justified in doing so [MTP: TS Charles Hamilton catalogs, 31 Jan. 1966, Item 42]. Note: this letter was sold with a photostat copy of a printed letter by Suverkrop, describing the clairvoyant discovery of the island of Aitutaki in the Pacific Cook Islands. Sam was interested in “mental telegraphy”.

Charles J. Langdon and son Jervis Langdon II arrived in Vienna for a visit [Apr. 12 to Rogers].

April 12 Tuesday – At the Hotel Metropole in Vienna, Austria, Sam wrote two letters to George Barrow—however at the top is written: “(Disapproved by Mrs. C. & not sent).” Sam reacted to Barrow expecting interest on Sam’s debt to him, and referred him to H.H. Rogers [MTP]. For the full text of these unsent letters to Barrow, see MTHHR 341n1. Also see next to Rogers.

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers

A week or two ago I received the enclosed letter from Barrow; it is in reply to my letter (the one which you think may not have reached him.)

This first page of Barrow’s letter is exasperating. I find I cannot answer it & keep my temper. He ignores Benajmin’s interview with him (middle paragraph.)

In the bottom paragraph he seems to think you are going to turn out & hunt him up, or inaugurate a correspondence with him. He is probably in error.

In my letter to him I told him to go to you. On his second page, now, he wants to deal directly with me, or go to you armed with an ultimatum.

Is he an ass? Is he an idiot? Is he a child? What is he? He does not seem to be aware that it is he that is walking the floor—thinks it is us.

How would it do to let him go on walking? Till he gets tired, & goes to you of his own accord. I have lost interest in him & his claims.

Sam was not “having any more sentimental bellyaches on his account.” He then turned to a short note about working on translations and magazine articles. Charles J. Langdon and son Jervis Langdon II had arrived the day before and while they visited he would take a vacation from his work. Sam was waiting for Ludwig Kleinberg to “hunt up some exact statistics concerning the design- industry.” Sam confessed that those for Germany he’d secured “take the value of the invention down several pegs”; instead of the machine paying back the investment in one year, it would take three.

He had not heard back from Rogers about the Raster machine so assumed he was “taking testimony” and would determine the market for it, large or small. Sam closed by guessing Rogers knew the day before if it was war with Spain. “In this slow country we shan’t know till tonight” [MTP; MTHHR 339-41].

April 13 Wednesday

April 14 Thursday

April 15 Friday – At the Hotel Metropole in Vienna, Austria, Sam wrote to Arthur E. Gilbert, the pipe dealer in London, suggesting wording for his testimonial on what Gilbert wanted to call the “Mark Twain pipe.” Sam offered “It is the sweetest & cleanest of all pipes,” and then confessed under “Private” that “For weeks it was a terrible tongue-biter,” but after breaking it in he’d be in “bad shape indeed” should he lose it. To his testimonial words above he suggested adding, “and after you get it properly charred & broken in, you will find it the sweetest” [MTP]. Note: see priors to Gilbert.

SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.