Vol 3 Section 0382
illness to Moffett on Apr. 23. Epilepsy, or any illness affecting the mind, was often considered somewhat shameful, or at least not a subject to be shared, even with intimates.
February 6 Tuesday – In London, Sam wrote to Funk & Wagnalls Co.: “In my experience I have found
that one can do without principles” [MTP]. Note: letter UCCL 13072 is currently unavailable at MTP.
Samuel S. McClure wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam.
I am constantly scheming on the new American [magazine] and am glad you like the name. I think it is the best possible name. I shall see Roosevelt and talk with him about a series of articles which might have a general title of “The American.” He is just the man to give us stuff that will make the Magazine jump.
McClure mentioned several other literary possibilities in the one page typed letter, including Paul Leicester Ford’s historical novel about Washington’s campaigns, and Richard Carvel which had sold upwards of 400,000 . “A novel of the time of Washington by you would probably be the greatest novel success of this decade and would be a tremendous feature of the Magazine. Do not mind my suggestions if they do not happen to trot in with your own ideas” [MTP].
February 7 Wednesday – Frank Bliss replied to Sam’s of Jan. 16, and enclosed statements of books sold from July 1, 1899 to Jan 1, 1900, totaling $5,644.36 in royalties.
Yours of the 16th ult., [Jan.] came duly to hand a few days since, and we are glad to hear from you, and thank you very much for your kindly desire to help us over the rough places. … We had already paid Mr. Whitmore $1200.00 in cash, and in addition, with the one or two small payments made in the fall, making $1500.00 in cash that we have given to him.
Bliss had sent 250 of the 512 Uniform sets to Chatto and asked how those sales were going. The asphalt payment at the Farmington Ave. house had been taken care of. Where were the plates to “A Library of Humor?” Harper didn’t have them, and they’d had a few calls for the book—did Sam think “it might pay to get out a small edition of it”? [MTP].
February 8 Thursday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Susan L. Crane.
The small pamphlet furnished you by Underwood is the clearest & most intelligible statement of what Osteopathy is, that I have seen. I am very glad you sent it. I believe it is as good as the Kellgren system & that in some details is probably even better. There seems to be no notable difference between the two. I should not be afraid to put myself or family in the hands of a reputable osteopathist. Whereas I would not trust any of us in the hands of a physician whether he was reputable or wasn’t. …
Sam was glad he’d convinced Livy in her recent bout with influenza to summon Kellgren; she only had to stay indoors for two weeks. Commenting on the Feb. 6 death of Sir William Wilson Hunter, Sam concluded the “doctors have killed” him, “one of the least sparable men in Great Britain.”
He was one of the guests where we dined, a couple of weeks ago, at the house of a Calcutta friend. He was a stately great figure, with a winning face & manner. He said, “To come here” (meaning, to meet me,) “I have crossed my threshold for the first time in 5 weeks—a wasting attack of influenza….” …
It is a great pity about Sir William. Evidently he had a relapse. Probably he ventured abroad too soon; I am afraid that that is it.
I lit my pipe with the obituary, without noticing what I was doing. It is an interesting paper, particularly to me, because I know some of the people mentioned in it.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.