Vol 3 Section 0406

356                                                                        1900

You will perceive that he has mapped out an excursion for me. It won’t take place. It is to circusy for my tastes; & too much work. I don’t like work. …

He is due here soon, & if he doesn’t take a course of Kellgren he is booked for the cemetery; & I shall consider it bad politics to have commercial relations with a man whose business-office is so soon to be transferred to a better world.

Sam noted his recent visit with the Stanleys (in Surrey) and then explained they were stuck in England until they could determine a “reasonably competent” osteopath in American to transfer Jean to Katharine I. Harrison had suffered from tonsillitis; Sam noted that “Kellgren would have had her back at her desk in twelve hours. No—he wouldn’t have allowed her to leave her desk at all for a disorder so swiftly & easily removable as tonsillitis.” After his signature Sam added a P.S.

Mrs. Clemens has just come in, & says she has about made up her mind (the Fates not intervening) that we shall sail in the American liner leaving on the 16th June. I’m glad.

I suppose we shall stay in a hotel—possibly the San Remo—till we can hunt up a flat for the winter (to be furnished from the Hartford house); Then go out of town for the rest of the summer [MTHHR 442-4]. Note: Paul Kester was arranging to dramatize TS. See Apr. 11.

Basil Wilberforce wrote to Sam about his acceptance to give the Joan of Arc talk on May 30.

Your kind letter [of Apr. 17] has given Mrs. Wilberforce and myself the greatest pleasure—nothing could be better than that you should read the paper you have written for Mr. Murray’s book and intersperse it with remarks in your won inimitable manner. I have read everything that has been written about Joan of Arc and nothing can approach your book upon her for power vividness and appreciation of her character [MTP].

April 21 Saturday

April 22 Sunday

April 23 MondaySam’s notebook: “also Shakespeare’s day. / Wrote the letters to Sam Moffett & Lilly & Daisy

Warner about Dr. Helmer” [NB 43 TS 8]. Note: Sam’s notebook had printed “St. George’s Day”.

At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam replied again to William James (incoming from James not extant) that he was right to go to Sweden for Kellgren treatments. Sam described the trip to Sanna and the facilities there (see July 8, 1899 for excerpt from this letter). He also described his use of Plasmon and promised to send Professor Virchow’s report on the product. He enclosed directions of “How to Dissolve Plasmon” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Lilly and Daisy Warner about Dr. Helmer, the letter not extant but referred to in his notebook entry for the day; see above.

Sam also wrote to his nephew, Samuel E. Moffett, editorial staff of the N.Y. Journal, heading the letter “Private.”

I reveal to you in strict confidence—Jean’s disease is epilepsy. Keep it to yourself. It has been told to two others—Dr. Helmer, Osteopath, 136 Madison avenue, cor. 31st st., & Mrs. Crane, Elmira; I wrote him about the case—for we wish to come home if we can venture to leave Kellgren. He answered, but only briefly; & what we need is all the information we can get. I wish you would go there & pump him dry; then pour out the result upon me without stint. Kellgren promises a cure, if we can wait long enough; & he has cured cases, & we know the people.

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