Vol 3 Section 0594
July 21 Sunday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to F.R. Underwood, about the circular to be used by R.G. Newbegin Co. in the sale of Sam’s Uniform Edition through American Publishing Co.
I have tried to embody your entirely reasonable request, and I enclose herewith the result. I think it is in proper form for use in a private circular, either through the mails or by the canvasser, or both; but it is not well suited for publication as an advertisement, since it would suggest to the public that there is friction—and also of a private sort—therefore not [a] matter of concern to them, and not proper to be intruded upon them. I will ask Mr. (H.H.) Rogers to examine the circular, and to forward it to you if it meets with his approval
[MTP: Am. Art Assoc. catalogs, 24 Nov. 1924, Item 87].
The New York World Sunday Magazine ran W.B. Northrop’s interview with Mark Twain, done at “The Lair” in Saranac, p. 1-2, “Mark Twain in the Woods” [MTCI 394-98].
July 22 Monday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y., sometime during this week, the Clemenses had two visitors, John Howells, son of William Dean Howells, and Dr. Edward K. Root, one of their family doctors in Hartford days [July 28 to Twichell].
July 23 Tuesday
July 24 Wednesday – G.&C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass. wrote to Sam:
We see that Mr. Winston Churchill in “The Crisis” states that a stateroom on a river boat derives its name from the fact that the first staterooms with wooden partitions instead of curtains were named after different states and that the texas was so called (after the annexation of Texas) as being a structure “annexed” to the states or staterooms.
We do not know whether there is any basis in fact for this etymology or not and it occurs to us that you may be able to aid us in tracing the story to its source, as we see that you frequently use the word texas in your “River” books [MTP: Word Study (Newark, NJ) Nov. 1933, p.5]. Note: Churchill later claimed his idea had been mischaracterized.
July 25 Thursday
July 26 Friday – Jean Clemens’ 21st birthday.
In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to the July 24 of G.&C. Merriam Co., .the dictionary people, discussing the origin of two words associated with nautical vessels: “stateroom,” which Sam thought was “rosy” and he liked it but had never heard it used “till to-day”; and “Texas” on a steamboat.
The vision of my memory goes back to ’40; & while at that early date it is possibly true that there were passenger packets with no more than 30 staterooms, they certainly were not named for States, but only numbered. And this was sane & right. With 15 State-names on a side, it would have taken a man the rest of the night to find his own, even if sober. Which he wasn’t—in those days. Five men per night would have blundered into the wrong cabins & gotten themselves shot….
I think it very likely indeed that the Texas was but a few years old when Texas was annexed; that it had a cumbrous long name; that some freshwater wit suggested that as it was a recent annex, like Texas, it could be appropriate & an advantage to give it that name… [MTP].
July 27 Saturday
July 28 Sunday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to Joe Twichell. Sam opened with a short discussion of the impracticality of him appealing to President McKinley, whom he sarcastically referred
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.