Vol 3 Section 0385
nausea. Last week Mrs. Meyers…wrote to urge me to try a certain Dr. Kellgren. I called and saw a Swedish maid at the door—who said in bad English that the “Herr Direktor cured by gymnastics!” I came home determined not to ask his help. What could gymnastics do for Stanley! lying faint with pain—in bed. So Saturday-Sunday-Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday passed—yesterday I feared the worst. This morning came another letter from Evelene Myers explaining more—and imploring me to go to Dr. Kellgren. So I took a long written account, in case he was out, and saw him this morning….Already he has somehow “helped” and
eased Stanley. He is coming back tonight—in a few minutes—for it is now past nine—and he will calm Stanley off. Now, I am full of joyous hope—the burden alone to bear was so awful—feeling there was no one who could alleviate—much less cure. So I thank you—as well as my sister—you were chosen to help Stanley
[MTHHR 435n1]. Note: See Feb. 27 to Rogers.
February 16 Friday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Lucius Robinson.
Your cablegram gave me another stab in the heart—& there have been so many in these four disastrous years! Susy Clemens, Ned Bunce, Libby Hammersley, the Cheney children, others and still others—& now Henry Robinson, friend, wise adviser & beloved comrade from the day we first met till now.
It would be idle to try to comfort you or your stricken mother, for in words there is no comfort when a blow like this falls…[MTP].
February 17 Saturday – Sam looked in on Henry M. Stanley, who had been treated by Dr. Henrick Kellgren from Sam’s recommendation. Stanley had improved greatly since his first treatment on Feb. 15; he had bacon and eggs and spoke with Sam for an hour and a half [Feb. 27 to Rogers]. See also Feb. 15 letter from Mrs. Stanley.
February 17 ca. – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Mollie Clemens. This letter is not extant but referred to in a Feb. 27 from Pamela A. Moffett to her son; the news was that Livy had influenza, too serious for a doctor, so they called an osteopath [MTP]. Note: if Pamela wrote on Feb. 27, then Sam’s letter to her would have been ca. Feb. 17 at the earliest, giving time for the Atlantic crossing and mail delivery. The MTP puts this as “before Feb. 27”. Livy’s influenza, however, was likely over by this time: it was referred to in at least six letters from Sam to Sue Crane, H.H. Rogers, Laurence Hutton, and Joe Twichell, between 22 Dec. 1899 and 8 Feb. 1900, so that by Feb. 17 it would not have been “news.” This puts the date here as suspect.
February 18 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “There are no wild animals until man makes them wild” [NB 43 TS 6].
February 19 Monday
February 20 Tuesday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam sent an aphorism to Alfred E. Ann (b.1851) in Finsbury, a borough of London. “We ought never to do wrong when people are looking” [MTP]. Note: Ann is listed as a mine owner and owner of Mining and Scientific Press, a journal of mining, popular science and General news. See Feb. 23 to and from Ann.
February 21 Wednesday
February 22 Thursday – At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.
I suppose that when Whitmore called on you for asphalt money he did as before—brought you a written order from me. In that case it is all right & regular, but I have no recollection of sending him any such order. Did he bring you such an order? Please tell me; my memory may be at fault….
I do not know where the plates of the “Library of Humor” are. Use them if you can find them. I bought all the Webster plates, but I don’t know what was done with them. Suppose you write & ask Mr. Rogers. He may know.
Yes, use “My First Lie” if you wish.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.