Vol 3 Section 0760
It is 3.30 now, & a brilliant day, but we have missed the most of it through having to stay below & watch Jean [his daughter], who was perfectly well yesterday but is under threats to-day…There is no way to thank you for this lovely trip…I think this is Cape Cod, but I haven’t inquired. Sand-banks all along & no business going on…[ MTP: Christie’s East catalog, 12 Nov. 1997, Item 20; not in MTHHR]. Note: Sam gives more detail of the trip on July 7 to Rogers.
Academy reviewed “A Double-Barrelled Detective Story,” p.14. Tenney: “A short review, briefly describes the
beginning; then: ‘The story thus launched is of breathless interest, and it is short’” [36].
June 27 Friday – The Kanawha docked in York Harbor, Maine, and the Clemenses took possession of their cottage, “The Pines,” so named because it stood in pines. Sam sent a telegram to H.H. Rogers:
“Housed and home by noon a perfectly lovely voyage / SLC” [MTHHR 489].
Livy wrote to Susan Crane of the place.
We are in the midst of pines. They come up right about us, and the house is so high and the roots of the trees are so far below the veranda that we are right in the branches. We drove over to call on Mr. and Mrs. Howells. The drive was most beautiful, and never in my life have I seen such a variety of wild flowers in so short a space [MTB 1176].
Sam also wrote to Paul Kester [MTP]. Text not available.
Sam read Harry Leon Wilson’s book, The Spenders; A Tale of the Third Generation (1902) [June 28 to Wilson].
June 28 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Harry Leon Wilson after reading his book, The Spenders; A Tale of the Third Generation (1902).
“Between you & me & the gate-post, I think it’s a dam-nation good book! It cost me my day yesterday.
You owe me $400. But never mind it. I forgive you, for the book’s sake” [MTP].
June 29 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to cousin, Dr. James R. Clemens in St. Louis.
We arrived here day before yesterday & are comfortably & smoothly keeping house already; I am at work & we are all feeling at home & in condition to put the summer through in good shape.
I admire Katharine’s courage; I hope I shall never have a baby, for I know I should dread it so, that every one would be ashamed of me. We are wishing our very best that she will come happily & fortunately through with her trial, & to that wish we all add our best love.
I’ll open up a fire of questions presently, maybe, but not yet, for Livy did not begin the regime until she was settled for the summer yesterday & situated to give it full & uninterrupted attention.
Got the umbrella—many thanks. I knew I had left it behind, but I hoped you wouldn’t find it out—so I didn’t say anything [MTP]. Note: Katharine Boland Clemens was expecting again. The good doctor had given Sam a regime for Livy’s gout. Sam again left an umbrella behind—a habit!
Sam also inscribed, signed, and sent seven of his books to James B. Pond:
IA: “Here they are, old man!”
FE: “Dear Pond—You started this work”
Sketches: “You ought to be tired of these stories by this time”
RI: “To my dear friend Pond who was there.”
P&P: “To Major Pond, Mark Twain”
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.