Vol 3 Section 0812

Sue Crane left Riverdale and arrived back in Elmira in the evening. The arrival of Clara Stanchfield allowed Sue to end her duties to Livy [Oct. 31 Crane to Sewell].

October 26 Sunday – Sam left Princeton, N.J.. and returned home to Riverdale, N.Y. [NB 45 TS 32].

Sam’s notebook: “Look out & pay ‘Village of Tarrytown’ c/o John W. Free, Collector, $588.02. (Bill in

Livy’s desk)” [NB 45 TS 32]. Note: property taxes on Tarrytown house.

Muriel M. Pears, “the Member for Scotland,” wrote a rather long and rambling “chatty” letter to Sam about her recent travels and thoughts, along with “Notes for the Club” (Sam’s Juggernaut) [MTP].

October 27 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow.

All success to your formidable venture! My German rights are handled exclusively by Chatto, and he always sells the books to Robt. Lutz of Stuttgart for publication in the German tongue, but I should think he might let you have them first for serial publication if you don’t mind asking the said Chatto. By George! I wonder where you will turn up next! [MTP]. Note: Sam gave a brief note of Livy’s illness.

Sam also wrote to Charles Bancroft Dillingham: “Just back from an absence. / Yes, from present appearances I believe I can be counted upon for the 8th at Hartford. / Mrs. Clemens improves a little” [MTP]. Note: Sotheby’s “The Mark Twain Collection of Nick Karanovich” (2003) p.88, Lot 107, letter 3 of 4, lists this as Oct. 22. See July 1, 1897 for more on Dillingham.

Sam’s notebook: “Wrote Dillingham ‘You know I am acquainted with the play in its York Harbor form only—a form wh I was willing to see staged, but not willing to be held partly responsible for as a collaborator’” [NB 45 TS 32]. Note: the Oct. 27 to Dillingham that survives does not contain any of this language—it’s possible he wrote the above as a second, follow-up to the first.

Sam also wrote to Charles M. Underhill.

It isn’t much I’m sending, but I can’t spare much time because I have piles of gratis work to do, yet, before I can begin on my own work to-day. I am very glad to be able to say that Mrs. Clemens is making a little progress, now. / Ys Ever / Mark.

over

Private.

If they would only send addressed envelops I would get down on my knees and worship! I have addressed 21 this morning—an average of 10 words on each. At magazine rates (20 cents a word) this is $42 [MTP].

Sam also wrote to William Henry Venable (1836-1920), author, editor, and educator in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I have only been able to steal time enough to read the first chapter, but if the rest is up to that standard it is a good boy-book. I thank you very much for sending it to me” [MTP]. Note: Gribben identifies the book as Tom Tadd (1902) [725].

George B. Harvey wrote to Sam, somewhat “delayed…a little in getting at the matters we were discussing the other day in Mr. Rogers office.”

First. That an advertisement should appear each month in the Magazine and the Review and occasionally in the Weekly…

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