Vol 3 Section 0586
Sam’s notebook: “Human Glory. Laugh at it. Quote the death-beds of the renowned. See George I, Prince Charlie, Robert Walpole, Swift, &c in McCarthy. Also Clive & others. Wolsey. Napoleon. Lear, Macbeth. Dupleix.. | Death-Beds of the Famous. | Not all sad. Washington, Franklin & others | Joan of Arc. | Put in blighted insignificants, too—Dan de Quille, Jim Quarles, &” [NB 44 TS 12]. Note: Gribben refers this first part to Justin McCarthy’s (1830-1912) A History of Our Own Times, from the Accession of Queen Victoria to the General Election of 1880 (1880) [435].
Charles H. Crane of the Beaufort West Printing and Publishing Co. in Cape Colony, S. Africa, wrote to Sam enclosing a prospectus on the publishing business; it was “a cheeky note” he admitted “but I seem to know you so well” [MTP].
June 11 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer at 19 Union Square, N.Y.C., asking her to come the next day at 10:30 a.m. [MTP].
June 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Augustus T. Gurlitz, forwarding Eli Perkins’ June 9 letter:
I have received the complaint and will chance its being everything it ought to be for just now I cannot get time to read it. Enclosed is a letter just received from that blatherskite Eli Perkins [see June 9] which I shall not answer. If you wish to answer it all right. If you can make him useful in any way you perceive he offers the opportunity [MTP].
June 13 Thursday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam, enclosing $700 and referencing “a certain conversation held in George B. Harvey’s office, some several weeks ago” about selling a special set of Mark Twain’s books (CY, P&P, HF, LM, TS, and Hadleyburg) by their subscription dept. They asked for Sam’s signature on a voucher which would lower his royalty from 27 & ½ cents per book to 20 cents, as they felt they could only sell 12,000 books at the higher rate but 30,000 if he agreed to the lower [MTP]. Sam wrote on the letter: “Declined this proposition in a letter dated June 16”
June 14 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Susan Crane that he liked “that proposed gravestone exceedingly” and thanked her for arranging it. “I have penciled a comma into one of the verses—the only correction needed”[MTP]. Note: the mention of verses denotes possibly Susy’s gravestone.
Sam also wrote to George V.W. Duryee, of Adirondack Park Co., rental agent in Lake Saranac, N.Y., dictating to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer.
To my astonishment I find that most people never heard of a Thaget, therefore the joke of giving the house that name would not be successful. Therefore we have substituted for it The Lair. Everybody knows what a lair is, and it is a good and unworn name. Lairs do generally contain dangerous animals, but I bring tame ones to this one.
Sam also noted he’d seen an “old-fashioned yawl” opposite the Riverside Inn and wished to rent it when they arrived [MTP: TS: The Bookman, Vol. 58, Jan. 1924, p.537]. Note: See May 10 for the contract between the Clemenses and George Duryee.
Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers on E. Leon’s June 1 letter.
“Helmer allows us to go to-day week (Friday, 21st) . I shall see you before then. It will crowd us to get ready, but if working night & day will accomplish it we shall succeed, for the heat is having an alarming effect
upon Jean” [MTP; not in MTHHR]. Note: George J. Helmer, Jean’s osteopath in NYC.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.