Vol 3 Section 0935
in that way all the rich flavors were retained—I can almost taste them now, and I wish I could as a matter of fact.”
[Note: neither Downing (1834-1914) nor Jacob “Jake” Estep (b.1841) are listed in MTL volumes or NB volumes. Downing and Sam served on the Edward J. Gray (Gay?) (Aug. 2 to Oct.1, 1859). Sam did write Downing: see entries vol. I: Aug. 15, 1881, Aug. 18? 1881.]
Sam’s notebook: “Probably laid Bliss’s letter before Mr. R. on Monday June 29” [NB 46 TS 20].
June 29 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.
“Mrs. Clemens wants me to ask if you will kindly see Mr. Jack Bunce about Mr. Clemens’s bust. Will you have a man sent there to pack it and ship it to Elmira—by freight. and all charges to be sent to Mr. Clemens. I saw Mrs. Clemens today for the first time. and she looks much better than I had expected” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Geo. W. Perkins’s 7.30. To meet Sir Clinton Dawkins” [NB 46 TS 20]. Note: Clinton Edward Dawkins (1859-1905), British businessman, was at this time a full partner in the London branch of J.P. Morgan.
June 30 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote an aphorism on Riverdale on the Hudson letterhead to an unidentified person: “Work & Play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / June 30/03” [Heritage Auction Galleries for Oct. 14-15, 2010; MTP].
Sam also wrote to George Walbridge Perkins, Sr., purchaser of the Wave Hill house earlier this year.
I am enclosing $250 for the month of July. We then, to our sorrow, cease to be your tenants in the pleasantest home & the pleasantest neighborhood in the Republic. (But I hope we shall come back & be under your sovereignty again some day.)
When you come to re-ceil the south drawing-room, I beg that you will make it expensive & send me the bill—I will stop it out of Jean’s salary, & it will (possibly) teach her not to again meddle with water-works which she is not acquainted with. Although Clara is not responsible for the ceiling in her room, if you will send me a bill I will make her pay it, for it may teach her something, I don’t quite know what. She needs a lesson.
It was a delightful evening, yesterday, & Mrs. Clemens was very sorry she had to lose her share of it. / We all send our warmest regards to you & to Mrs. Perkins & the family, & do most reluctantly say Good-bye … …
Our tenants the Davises were paying $12 a month, but we knocked off $2 because they were going to have a marriage. They are very nice people; but if they default on the marriage you can raise the limit on them again [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Mr. R. [Rogers] probably talked with Bliss & disapproved of my purchasing. / [Horiz.
Line separator] / B & the others probably discussed & concluded to try Scribner” [NB 46 TS 20].
July – In Elmira, N.Y. sometime during the month, Sam wrote to Annie A. Fields.
Alas, and alas, we are packed for Italy, and all valued letters are packed and stored with the silver and hymn-books. There were not many, of course, we being near neighbors, and communicating mainly by mouth. I wish I would send you Warner’s Invocation on St. Valentine’s morning, beginning:
“Come out into the slush, dear,
In your gracious galoshes shod,”
but that is packed, too. I am of no use in reminiscing—my memory is worthless. Warner was always saying brilliant things, felicitous things, but one can’t carry them in the mind in their exact language, and without that
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.