Vol 3 Section 0446
September 17 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, with Livy adding a line or two and signature. They expressed the “perfect visit” of Hall. Sam recounted an anecdote he read the night before in Domestic Annals of Scotland:
Last night I read…under date 1637 (cattle-stealing times) that a statute was framed forbidding the sale of hides, flesh, etc., until proof was forthcoming that the property was “lawfully becomit”…So they had German words there in those days, & it is quite likely that a person couldn’t even become a canary without considerable risk, in case the would-be seller lacked the backing of two reputable witnesses…[MTP: Sotheby’s London Catalog, July 21, 1992, Item 47]. Note: the text quoted from this letter, as with many others sold in auctions, is incomplete.
Sam also wrote to W.H. Helm, London publisher, thanking for “that welcome review,” hoping he deserved “the good & graceful compliments” paid him.
Already the packing & fussing & arranging has begun, for the removal to America; & by consequence the peace of life is marred & its contentments & satisfactions departing. There is not much choice between a removal & a funeral; in fact a removal is a funeral, substantially, & I am tired of attending them. I hope your bicycle is in order & that you will let me see you again before we go [MTP].
September 18 Tuesday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Frank Bliss, reminding he had not received his July statement and asking it be sent to H.H. Rogers. Sam wrote they would reach New York about Oct. 16 (they arrived on Oct. 15). He also advised that Chatto & Windus would send him his “Hadleyburg” story with “one or two things…left out of the Harper edition, but need not be left out of the Uniform.” Chatto would also send a book containing “The Californian’s Tale,” which Sam wanted published someday, “in spite of the Authors’ Club copyright claim upon it—which claim is a swindle” [MTP].
September 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Moberly Bell & wife. Tea & dinner” [NB 43 TS 25].
At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister on several items. Though he would like to write for “Lloyd’s Christmas number,” his contracts debarred him from doing so. He expected the MacAlisters to come to them for a last visit, either “some evening, or eat with us in the hotel when we move to London”; Sam would “leave the particulars” to Livy.
Our last Sunday evening in England will be spent here in cussing & trunk-packing until midnight; then we remove next morning to Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle street.
Coincidence! Two days ago I was building an aphorism, with myself as target—& now you have almost exactly repeated that aphorism: where you say that until a man tolerates bigoted intolerance he is intolerant himself. Dam true, too [MTP].
Messrs. Jones & Son, wholesale Jewelers billed Livy for several items purchased on Aug. 18 totaling £14.12.6 [MTP].
September 20 Thursday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to W.R. Dunn, District Councilor and father of Arthur Dunn, photographer. “I have received your letter & Mr. Ball’s, & you & your son will be welcome.” Sam wrote he would be “up & at leisure” after 9:45 a.m. [MTP: Sotheby’s London catalog, Dec. 17, 1998, Item 128]. Note: Arthur Dunn was the local photographer who took the photographs, about which Clemens said, on September 20, “I have not seen finer photographs than those six pictures of Dollis Hill
the family” [R. Hirst, Bancroftiana Newsletter, Vol. 119, Fall 2001]. See Sept. 6 to Stanley W. Ball.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.