Vol 3 Section 0569

April 21 Sunday – At the Riverside Inn, Saranac Lake, N.Y., Sam wrote to John White Alexander, apologizing for a missed dinner date. They had been trying to “hunt up a summer-place on high ground for the ailing member of the family”

“And now, on top of it all, there is a possibility that after this harassed & fatiguing three-days’ railroad-race, our errand to these remote regions has failed & we return home tomorrow defeated. But that is nothing—I am only poignantly sorry about the other failure” [MTP].

Sam’s notebook: “MacLaren’s Imperial Cheese” [NB 44 TS 9]. Note: a very sharp, cold-pack Canadian cheese.

April 22 Monday – Sam and Livy left Saranac Lake, N.Y. and returned to N.Y.C. [Apr. 21 to Alexander].

Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Pike 136 E. 61st  Mr. Borden” [NB 44 TS 9].

April 23 Tuesday – In N.Y.C., Sam wrote a short note to George S. Seymour, enclosing a 1899 photo of himself: “Here you have it, & on Shakespeare’s birth-day at that” [MTP]. Note: Seymour is not identified.

Sam received a letter and check from John Y. MacAlister [Apr. 24 to MacAlister]. Note: incoming not extant.

Sam’s notebook: “Read in Princeton Heptagon — 7.30” [NB 44 TS 9].

April 24 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10^th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Rudolf Lindau, in care of the German Embassy, Constantinople, Turkey. Lindau’s incoming is not extant. Sam was glad to hear from Lindau, whom they held “in strong affection.” He claimed the Clemens family was “in much robuster health than we were either in Berlin or Vienna.” He laid that health in part to “the American air,” and part to “few cares now, and no harassments.” Sam explained he had not done much writing due to “too much speech-making,” and “criticising the American missionaries in China.” He related their failed attempt to find housing in the Adirondacks (Saranac, N.Y.) and said “so we must start out again in a day or two.” Sam closed by recalling the night ten years before when the Emperor had spoken with Lindau for twelve minutes, denoting his approval; he apologized for dictating the letter, byt his “mail matter has piled up pretty high since we have been absent” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to John Y. MacAlister, rejoicing at the receipt of a letter, though he was sorry MacAlister was not well. He encouraged him to travel to America for his health in the “clear atmosphere.” Sam acknowledged the “very pleasant news” about the Plasmon business in England, and related Samuel Bergheim had just advised that English sales had increased to seven or eight tons a month. He mentioned it being a “handsome stroke for us, securing General Hamilton for three thousand shares…Sandow is a good second. He is a valuable advertisement.” He added that the American Plasmon

Co. “don’t fly along as you do over there, but they will arrive by and by sure and you and I will be glad then to have a share in their pool” [MTP]. Note: Eugen Sandow, world famous strong man.

Sam also wrote to William Lyon Phelps, Yale University.

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