Vol 3 Section 0810
Mrs. Clemens is getting along pretty well & is very cheerful. She does not know that she is not expected to be up & around for months. But she probably privately suspects it, for Clara says she is intolerably bright & smart, & divines most things that are going on [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Chauncey M. Depew.
The American historian of Joan of Arc makes his best compliments to you, sir, & thanks you for the opportunity you offer him of meeting the Ambassador of the great country whose redemption she achieved by her genius & consecrated with her life. That is enough of third person & formality. I dearly wish I could be there, but as I cannot, I will trust you to make the occasion all it ought to be…knowing your all-comprehensive competency these many many pleasant years. [MTP: David J. Holmes Autographs catalog, No. 36, Item 34].
Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore.
What I want is “A Visit to Heaven.” You sent me quite another matter. It is certainly in the safe or in the pigeon-holes & is worth as much as the house.
No, I wouldn’t resume with the western man; it doesn’t look worth while [MTP]. Note: Sam was still looking for his MS “Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven”; the “western man” was potential buyer for the Hartford house, Sidney A. Witherbee of Chicago.
Jean Clemens wrote to Grace Sewell, neighbor friend in York Harbor, Maine; Sam added a bit to the foot of the last page. Jean’s:
… As to our Sewalls’ account, we were glad to get it even though it proved rather unsatisfactory. We had two
and even three rooms at your home for some time, besides the myriad of things your father did and made for
us… Our complaint is that his kindness and generosity are much too large, even though he refuses to write to
anyone save his life…
[Sam added:]
“Miss Sewall, you are not bringing your father up properly. He will go on robbing himself until he will become an abandoned & incurable criminal. Let him beware! SLC” [Heritage Auction Archives Oct. 15, 2009, Lot 35132; “Be Sure and Save the Gentians,” by Peter Salwen, 2005]. Note: the Sewalls charged far less than Sam thought appropriate for the use of their rooms.
October 24 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John White Alexander to decline the same dinner that he declined to Chauncey Depew on Oct. 23 [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Samuel E. Moffett in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. “I am just leaving for Princeton, but stop to say she is getting along pretty well, but will be bedridden some months” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Go to Princeton this afternoon. The inaugural is tomorrow in the morning at 11. Take boat leaving W. 23d at 3.55 / Must carry or express my cap, gown & hood. (See Oct. 14)” [NB 45 TS 32].
Special trains left New York for Princeton, N.J.. at 8:40, 10:25, and 11:25 a.m. for Princeton, N.J., where the big football game between Princeton and Columbia would take place the following day [NY Times, p1, “Special Trains to Princeton,” Oct. 24, 1902]. Sam took a later train at 3:55 p.m. [Oct. 16 to Hutton]. He had asked Hutton for a cap and gown for the Oct. 25 inauguration ceremonies of the new president of Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson, though his NB entry above reminded him to take his own.
A dinner was held at Princeton Universtity President-elect Woodrow Wilson’s home. The event was reported by the New York Times, Oct. 25, p.1, “Dr. Wilson’s Inauguration.” Sam was not listed among
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.