Vol 3 Section 0377

1900

327

It is a queer little place that we have come to. Just the sort of place that one reads about. No one met us

at the station. Whoever was sent went to the wrong train. But we easily got a cab and drove comfortably

through the rain out here. When we drove up here we were a good deal appalled for the place looked like a

hut indeed. When we had rung the bell there appeared at the door a very energetic pleasant servant who

instantly changed the entire aspect for us. She does every thing except cook—takes care of our rooms waits

on us, is quick and capable & willing & of course a great talker. Our fires were all ready, tea was soon served

& we felt quite at home & greatly amused at our S

All night there was a cold rain & wind and we should have suffered from the cold except that the maid

had made so good a fire that it lasted nearly all night. The dinner was a good plan one served hot and we all

enjoyed it. The beds are impossible & I should have had to return to London except for my rubber bed. An

entirely solid one such as we found in Bendigo. These must be the only other beds of that sort in the world I

should think. The children don’t mind much & I am well fixed. The cocks crowed this morning & the dogs

whined. It is the regular country!

Last evening we were huddled close to the fire Jean & I playing backgammon, Clara doing a little sewing.

We were getting on with one short candle & the fire light when the maid came in & said, “wont you have a

long candle, plenty of long candles. Or would you like the lamp from the Coffee Room?” … She brought up

the lamp & I read by it late. “Human environment makes Climate.” This rather unpromising place was made a

palace by the cheer & willingness of the maid. Personally she is pleasant to look upon & very neat.

I found a comfortable sitting room for half a crown a day with a piano in it that Clara can practice on so I

took that for the two days. We began with it this morning. I said to the maid that I would not take the sitting

room last evening but we would begin with it this morning. She approved of the plan saying “yes, I advise you

to depend on the coffee room tonight.” I intended to write you only a word because many letters are pressing.

Good bye sweet. I missed you last night. The bed room was lonely after the young ones were gone to bed

and I wanted you dearest. / Yours in deepest deepest love / Livy [MTP]. Note: the purpose of the two day

trip to Hindhead is not given. From context they arrived on Jan.19.

January 21 SundayAccording to Livy’s letter of Jan. 20, the “two days” for a sitting room at the Royal Huts in Hindhead for herself and the girls, would have ended with this day, denoting a return to London either this evening or the following day.

January 22 Monday

January 23 TuesdayAt 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam replied to Harper & Brothers’ Jan. 8 enclosure and query by Marie Wiertz, who wished to translate into French “Concerning the Jews.” Sam had no objections provided the postscript he’d written for the article, a copy of which he’d sent to H.H. Rogers, be added to the translation [MTP].

January 24 WednesdaySam and Livy dined with Sir William Wilson Hunter (1840-1900), Francis Henry Skrine, Frank

Frankfort Moore (1855-1931), British dramatist, novelist, poet; and others [Life of Sir William Wilson Hunter, etc. by Francis Henry Skrine (1901) p. 477]. Hunter would die on Feb. 6. See also Feb. 8 and 26 entries. Insert: flyer for Moore’s 1895 Novel The Sale of a Soul a theme that would have interested Twain (not in Gribben).

January 25 ThursdayAt 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam began a reply to William Dean Howells’ Jan. 14

that Sam finished on Jan. 26.

Yes, the short things will be added to Bliss’s Uniform Edition. Harper will issue two volumes of them in the spring. I consented a couple of weeks before their smash. They decline to give them up, now.

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