Vol 3 Section 0656

In reply to your letter of the 10th inst., we beg leave to say that, in our opinion, we can make a small book of “The Double-Barrelled Detective Story” and sell about 35,000 copies in a short time, at $1.50. or, we can add “The Death Disk”, and “Adam’s Diary” to the volume, and sell, say, 10,000 at $1.75. Which proposition

strikes you most favorably? [MTP]. Note: “The Death Disk” was later called “The Death Wafer,” and was published in the Dec. 1901 Harper’s.

Albert Phelps wrote from New Orleans to Sam: “I received yesterday your very kind letter, saying that you had received the MS scenario of my play, & that you would put it into Irving’s hands when he shall have returned to New York. I thank you sincerely for your kindness…” [MTP]. Note: see Grace King’s Nov. 24.

December 13 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Go Princeton. See Hutton. Returned in evening” [NB 44 TS 19].

In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added a note to his second Dec. 12 to Rogers: “Sent no proxy. SLC. Riverdale, Dec.

13/01” [MTHHR 477n1].

December 14 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner, Hutchinson” [NB 44 TS 19].

In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Harper’s Dec. 14 by writing on it:

“Dec. 14. In talk with the Major, he thought that only the Detective Story should be in the book—thought it could be filled out to $1.50 bulk with marginal drawings” [MTP].

William Dowling’s article “Twainiana” ran on p. BR15 of the New York Times. It was an anecdote laid to Joaquin Miller in Sam’s days in San Francisco, relating to how poor he’d been at one time there.

December 15 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Rice, dinner” [NB 44 TS 19]. Note: Dr. Clarence Rice.

December 16 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Jules Hart of the Hebrew Infant Asylum. Hart’s address: 173 St. Nicholas Ave., N.Y.C. “When politics enter into municipal government, nothing resulting therefrom in the way of crimes and infamies is then incredible. It actually enables one to accept and believe the

impossible.” This is often quoted. Sam ridiculed Hart’s statement that “the death-rate at the slaughter-house on Blackwell’s Island called the Infant’s “Home” is 900 in the thousand!” and suggested with a death rate that high they should bury the “poor little creatures” as soon as they arrived and save them the suffering

[MTP].

Note: Misdated by Sam as Dec. 17. The Asylum was established in 1895. Hart has not been further identified, though in 1930 the NY Times announced his library was going to sell. See also Sam’s letter of the next day, Dec. 17 to Hart, which implies that Hart had asked to use Sam’s reponse to the issue in a publication. See also Dec. 26, Sam’s reply to another from Hart (not extant) agreeing use of the letter was not a good idea.

December 17 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Ralph David Blumenfeld.

I have had a stunner from Virchow on what he calls Cellular Chirography. I have never seen so many long words. They twirl and twist like so many long words. They twirl and twist like a like a cowboy’s lariat. I have responded to-day by sending him a copy of my new book, ‘The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg.’ Let him chew on that awhile” [MTP: R.D. Blumenfeld, In the Days of Bicylcles & Bustles, 1930, p.168-9]. Note: Sam had conferred with Prof. Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow on Plasmon.

Sam also wrote two sentences to Mr Fischer: “I am very glad to have that. I shall keep it till I get a chance to use

it” [MTP]. Note: the reference is obscure, but this may be to the journalist Henry W. Fisher (Fischer).

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