Vol 3 Section 0903
romantic relationship” with him [MT’s Other Woman 26-7]. Note: Trombley cites Isabel’s diary, but doesn’t detail what she calls Lyon’s “best efforts” to romance Bangs, nor does she cite times they were in each other’s company.
Helen Keller wrote a lovely letter of appreciation to Livy for the words and letters of Sam.
A word from one of the dearest men in the world has put the thought in my heart to write to you. Mr. Clemens told me of your long illness in the letter I received from him a short time ago, and I write to say that you both have my loving sympathy in your troubles. I have not seen you; but because I know and love him, I feel very tenderly towards you. I remember with a glow of joy the Sunday morning we spent together last April when I was at Princeton, I remember how he talked, and I listened delightedly with the ear behind my fingers, and every word he said imaged his great, loveable personality and brilliant thought. He spoke of you many times in a way that made me want very much to see you [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. to Clara: “Can your mother be permitted to see this letter, you rat? / Vater”
April 6 Monday – Mr. and Mrs. John Bergheim lunched with Sam in the Riverdale house. They would sail for England the next morning [Apr. 7 to MacAlister].
Adeline W. Sterling wrote to Sam, enclosing letters and clippings on Christian Science. After investigating “alleged cures” of the cult, Sterling decided not to join [MTP].
E.D. Twombly from York, Maine replied to Sam. “I am sorry that you have run afoul of such an experience here in York. I easily know how it must embitter your memories of the place.” Evidently Sam had written Twombly, editor of The Old York Transcript, about exorbitant charges the doctor made for calls. Twombly assured him that the normal rate was one dollar for house calls, fifty cents for office visits; though Sam had not named names, Twombly felt sure it was “Dr. H—-“ and advised to fight the charges [MTP]. Note: the good doctor in question was Wilson L. Hawkes. It
was customary then to avoid directly naming accused.
John Livingston Wright wrote to Sam, with knowledge that James Henry Wiggin was the “literary advisor” to Mary Baker Eddy. Wiggin died in 1899 but Wright had contacted him before his death and
got the “complete history of this work Wiggin did written out as accurately and dispassionately as he and I could express it.” Wright had other books and evidence of Wiggin’s involvement with Christian Science [MTP].
Sophie King McHarg Porter (Mrs. Horace Porter) (1840-1903) died in Paris, France. After receiving a cable, Sam wrote condolences to the US Ambassador to France, General Horace Porter on the death of his wife, a lady who Livy “saw much of” at Kaltenleutgeben (May-Oct, 1898) [MTP; lists only as “Mr. Porter”;
N.Y. Times, Apr. 7, 1903, p.9, “Mrs. Horace Porter Dead”].
April 7 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam cabled John Y. MacAlister in London, receipt of £35 “in full
payment for article entitled ‘Amended Obituaries,’ sold …to Lloyd’s Weekly” [MTP].
Sam also wrote a letter to John Y. MacAlister that he forgot to post and finished on May 8.
Yours [of Mar. 27] arrived last night, & God knows I was glad to get it, for I was afraid I had blundered into an offence in some way & forfeited your friendship—a kind of blunder I have made so many times in my life that I am always standing in a waiting & morbid dread of its occurrence.
Three days ago I was in condition—during one horribly long night—to sympathetically roast with you in your “hell of troubles.” During that night I was back again where I was in the black days when I was buried under a mountain of debt. I called the daughters to me in private council & paralyzed them with the announcement, “Our outgo has increased in the past 8 months until our expenses are now 125 per cent greater than our income.”
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.