Vol 3 Section 0443

The second letter, less harsh than the first:

I am afraid you did not quite clearly understand me. The time-honored etiquette of the situation—new to you by reason of inexperience—is this: an author’s MS is not open to any editor’s uninvited emendations. It must be accepted as it stands, or it must be declined; there is no middle course. Any alteration of it—even to a word—closes the incident, & that author & that editor can have no further literary dealings with each other. It was your right to say that the Introduction was not satisfactory to you, but it was not within your rights to contribute your pencil’s assistance toward making it satisfactory.

Therefore, even if you now wished to use my MS. in its original form, untouched, I could not permit it.

Nor in any form, of course.

Sam asked that his original be returned “when convenient” and that any copies, amended or otherwise, be destroyed, “lest they fall into careless hands & get into print” [MTP].

August 28 Tuesday

August 29 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “There are bigots who can accept nothing which their party-opposites approve. If you could work the mulitiplication table into a democratic platform the republicans wd vote it down at the election” [NB 43 TS 25].

August 30 Thursday – T. Douglas Murray wrote to Sam, that he “admired immensely” the Introduction Sam had written for the Joan of Arc reference book he was editing [MTP].

August 31 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Send book to Mrs. Lart, Wellington Ct.” [NB 43 TS 25].

September – Review of Reviews (London) anonymously reviewed The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, p.398. Mostly extracts [Tenney 32].

J.E. Hodder Williams’ article, “Mark Twain” ran in Bookman (London) p.169-74. Tenney: “A very general sketch of MT’s life and works, providing no new information and very little critical comment.”

September 1 Saturday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Colonel Green (not further identified).

I thank you very much for the “Franklin,” which I have read with amazement & deep concern. I doubt if a thousand men in America know of the infamous wrong that was done to Franklin. And to the country—in robbing it of the services of such a man at such a time. After all these years the tale stings one like a personal

insult [MTP]. Note: the reference is obscure, which is how an academic says, “I don’t know.”

September 2 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Short Story: American Children playing at royalty” [NB 43 TS 25].

At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam inscribed a copy of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories and Sketches to Andrew Chatto: “To Mr. Chatto / with the kindest regards of / The Author

/ London, Sept. 2, 1900” [MTP].

Sam also inscribed a copy of the same book to Percy Spalding: “To / Mr. Spalding / with the kindest regards of / The Author / London, Sept. 2, 1900” [MTP].

September 3 Monday

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