Vol 3 Section 0777

Jervis Langdon II sent a telegram from Boston to Sam. “Shall bring Aunt Sue to you eleven forty five this morning” [MTP]. Note: see above NB entry, complaint.

Sam wrote a piece not published in his lifetime: “In Dim and Fitful Visions They Flit Across the Distances”. See this memory of Susy in MTB Appendix “U,” p. 1660-62.

The Denver Post ran Sam’s article, “The Men Who Don’t Like Huck” [Camfield’s bibliog.]. Note: likely at least

as portion of Sam’s Aug. 14 letter to the Post.

August 19 Tuesday – The New York Times, Aug. 20, p.8 reported on Sam’s attempts to lower the tax assessment on his Tarrytown property, dateline Aug. 19.

MARK TWAIN PROTESTS.

One of Those Who Think Their Property Is Assessed Too Highly.

TARRYTOWN, N. Y., Aug. 19.—This was grievance day in the towns of Mount Pleasant and Greenburg. Unlike former years, there were very few objections to the assessments. This was due to the fact that in both towns the valuations remained practically the same as last year.

Mark Twain was one of those protesting. He had Henry C. Griffin to represent him. When Mr. Clemens purchased his home here, he paid $47,000 for it. The village Assessors fixed its taxable value at $70,000. There was no protest because he did not know of the assessment until too late to enter objection. The town Assessors were more moderate, and placed the value at $50,000. Mr. Griffin asked that this be reduced to $45,000, which he asserted was a fair valuation.

August 20 Wednesday – About this day H.H. Rogers made a quick visit to Sam at York Harbor [Aug 21 to Rogers].

August 21 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

As soon as you had been gone 2 hours & I had sent off an urgent letter to Boston for an air bed, then somebody mentioned that you had air beds on the yacht.

It is just my luck. I believed Mrs. Clemens had lost a whole day by that accident. Up to now she hast lost several. Of all the impossible places for the meeting of emergencies promptly & successfully, this is the impossiblest.

The illness drags along. Part of each day, now, we feel fine & cheerful—the other part of it we feel discouraged. But the worst of all is, that Mrs. Clemens feels doubtful all the time. She was never like this before, in her life.

I strongly want to write Whitmore to get rid of the house—sell it for a song. So that I can tell Mrs. Clemens that that burden upon her spirits is gone. For she secretly reproaches herself for buying the new house before selling the old one. I shall write him substantially that, now [MTHHR 498-9].

Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore.

Mrs. Clemens was taken dangerously ill on the 12th. The heart. She is still feeble & languid. We give her no messages, we read no letters to her, we sit still—only one in the room at a time, Susy Crane, Katy, & me, turn about—& avoid talk.

If I could have foreseen this I would have said “sell!” the time you were offered $35,000. If you get a similar offer, let me know, & I will speak of it to her as soon as she is able to listen.

Tell the Geo. Warners & other friends, but don’t let any one write. There is no one to answer the letters.

We know they love her—we need no letters to prove it [MTP].

August 22 Friday – Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

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