Vol 3 Section 0497
Living Age ran an anonymous review of The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, p.695, using the same language as the Nov. review by Blackwoods [Tenney 32].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Frank E. Burrough (1865-1903), son of an old friend, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. (incoming letter not extant):
I should say it was 1852 or 1853. I remember, at any rate, that the Know-Nothing disturbances were brisk at the time. Your father & I boarded & lodged with the Paveys, corner of 4th & Wash streets. It was a large, cheap place, & had in it a good many young fellows who were students at a Commercial college. I was a journeyman printer, freshly fledged, & your father was a journeyman chair-maker. He was fond of Dickens, Thackeray, Scott & Disraeli, & was the only reading-man in the establishment, & was the only one equipped with fine literary appreciation & a sound & competent literary judgment. He & I were close comrades & close
friends [MTP]. Note: Frank’s father was Jacob H. Burrough (1827-1883). See Aug. 7, 1854 entry, Vol. I.
Sam also wrote to Burton N. Harrison (1838-1904), past secretary to Confederate president Jefferson Davis, declining an invitation from the New York Southern Society. Sam had only two accepted invitations left on his list and he hoped to “get excused from them, so that I can shut myself up & get at
my work” [MTP]. Note: the New York Southern Society was formed in 1886 “to promote friendly relations among Southern men, resident or temporarily sojourning in New York City, and to cherish and perpetuate the memories and traditions of the Southern people” [Yearbook of the New York Southern Society 1910, p.5].
Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote to Sam to announce that if Howells had not told him so, his family was increasing with the marriage of his son (a twin) Charles Aldrich. “…we all are as delighted as if we were going to marry her ourselves.” The betrothed were coming to dinner and Aldrich wanted to study them for “literary purposes” [MTP].
December 16 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Two tickets in card-case for Xn Science lecture by ex-Judge Clarkson
(Omaha) Carnegie Hall 3 p.m.” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Joseph Clarkson gave a lecture to a packed hall in support of Mrs.
Eddy and Christian Science, which he claimed had performed two million cases of healing [NY Times, Dec. 17, p. 7].
Sam likely took a planned excursion to parts unknown for purposes unknown with William Dean Howells. See Howells’ Dec. 14 invitation.
December 17 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Possible dinner with Harvey. See Thursday / The whole family dinner Rogers—telephone or Thursday” [NB 43 TS 31].
Sam wrote a reply to Richard Watson Gilder (incoming not extant), about the price of an article:
Dear Gilder: / But won’t you offer a price yourself? And make it a final one, so’s we shan’t lose time dickering.
I am scandalously tardy in answering you, but I’ve been very much pressed for time. / Ys ever / Mark [eBay 160282783890 Sept. 14, 2008]. Note: See Dec. 18 to Gilder; evidently he offered $1,500 right away. Thanks to JoDee Benussi.
Eduard Pötzl wrote (in German) from Vienna to Sam:
Please accept my warmest thanks for sending the amusing epigram which will grace our Christmas number. I thank you also for the message that you and your family still think of me frequently. The memory of the pleasant hours I spent with your family are unforgettable. …
I enclose a little article for you which we printed in the paper on information from your German publisher Lutz, which keenly interested the many friends you left in Vienna. … [MTP].
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.