Vol 3 Section 0910

The New York Times, p. 9, “A Mark Twain Play” reported on the revival of Frank Mayo’s Puddn’head Wilson play by the Murray Hill Stock Company. After Mayo’s death on June 8, 1896, his son took over for a short time but the play had not been done since.

April 24 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.

Mr. Clemens wishes me to send the enclosed from the Jewell Pin Co. to you, saying that “as they are now paying dividends, perhaps you can sell the stock—”

The enclosed notice from the Hartford P.O. came this morning, and Mr. Clemens wishes me to send that also‘ to you, saying that you will know what to do with it, and also he says that the Hartford P.O. people ought to know that they must send registered mail to you.

Mr. Clemens seems better but still keeps to his room, though he stole down stairs a day or so ago, only to be ordered back again by his daughter and the nurse. He has coughed a great deal and rackingly, but I know he’s better [MTP].

April 25 Saturday – The New York Times, p. 11:

Mark Twain Leases His House.

The property of Samuel Clemens, (“Mark Twain,”) on Benedict Avenue, Tarrytown, consisting of a dwelling, stables, and about eighteen acres of land, has been leased to Charles A. Gardiner, attorney for the Manhattan Railway Company. Although Mr. Clemens bought the property about a year ago, he has never lived there, but has continued to make the Appleton place, at Riverdale, his home.

Frank Bliss wrote to Sam.

I return here with Anderson’s letter. I have written him that we have arranged for the book and would probably issue it in the fall.

All right, I will come up and see you some day getting the Galley proofs.

Well, the Harpers have finally jumped on us; served the papers on us yesterday for a Replevin Suit to take the plates away from us. The sheriff is now hunting for the plates & I think he will have a good hunt. $8000 damages claimed; trial set for early in June.

[MTP]. Note: this arrived late, on Apr. 28; Sam answered then. He wrote on the env. “War declared!”

Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam.

I can not thank you sufficiently for that exquisite story of the mother dog and her puppy. It is everything that a short story should be….Your collected set of 22 volumes is being offered all around about at greatly

reduced rates, and incidentally in violation of the American Publishing Company’s contract with us. It is a bad thing for the set themselves and I am trying to stop it. I don’t mean to bother you about it and only mention the matter as something you might care to talk over later [MTP]. Note: Duneka also enclosed a check, amount unspecified.

April 26, before – Hilary Trent (pseud. of R.M. Manley) wrote to Sam. “I have written a book—naturally, which fact, however, since I am not your enemy need give you no occasion to rejoice. Nor need you grieve, though I am sending you a copy. If I knew of any way of compelling you to read it I would do so, but unless the first few pages have that effect, I can do nothing” [MTP]. Note: her book, Mr. Claghorn’s Daughter by the Ogilvie Publishing Co. (1903). Sam wrote on the top of the letter: “Another of those peculiarly depressing letters—a letter cast in artificially humorous form, whilst no art could make the subject humorous to me / M.T.” See AMT 1: 520n181.3

April 26 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Clemens, “still in bed—and expect to be a damlong time yet,” wrote to Frank N. Doubleday of Collier’s. He suggested a “6 or 12-volume set (or both” of other books that Harpers had

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