Vol 3 Section 0943
Ambassador (who is a stranger to me) commanding the Customs people to keep their hands off the Clemens’s things. Now wasn’t that lovely of him? And wasn’t it lovely of me to let Livy take a pencil & edit my answer & knock a good third of it out. I refer you to the rough draft, & ask for admiration.
And that’s a nice ship, the Irene!—new—swift—13,000 tons—rooms up in the sky, open to sun & air—
all that. I was desperately troubled—for Livy—about the down-cellar cells of the ancient “Lahn.” The cubs are in Riverdale, yet; they come to us the first week in August.
With lots & lots of love to all of you … [MTP]. Note: David Cushman Twichell, and Miss Harmony Twichell, two of Joe’s nine children.
Sam also wrote to George Daulton, enclosing his July 21 letter of introduction to several notables in publishing. They would invite the Daulton’s to visit them but for Livy’s health. Would Daulton remember him to his father, Frank M. Daulton, typesetting co-worker from Hannibal days [MTP].
Annie A. Fields wrote to Sam.
“I am more than grateful for your letter—your charming letter—an adjective somewhat pre-engaged you will say in these degenerate days (if one has a mind to think so) but fresh as June when it really deserves to be applied,—and a letter so full of friendliness as yours possesses a healing and ‘happyfing’ quality which does our human nature good. The above terrible word is quoted from the distinguished Mary Baker Eddy. Her followers seemed to like it, so I thought I would try it on you!” She wished Sam a good Italy trip, told of her live-in partner, Sarah Orne Jewett’s “severe carriage accident of last autumn” and if she recovered enough they might travel to Italy or Egypt. “Please thank Mrs Clemens for her post-script and tell her I shall think of her ‘under Fiesole’ and I know Sarah would send her best wishes with mine if she were here” [MTP].
July 22 Wednesday – In Kittery Point, Maine William Dean Howells wrote to Sam, needling him about a book lent.
One of the times when I was fool enough to come out and comfort you in your last sickness, I brought a book and read some sketches out of it to you; but instead of considering the peculiar make of miscreant I was dealing with, and keeping it chained to my wrist, I actually left it with you. It was called “Every One his own Way,” and Miss Edith Wyatt wrote it. I know that I cannot appeal to any high principle in you; but is there no crevice in your brazen armor through which one can get a borrowed book out of you? Try and think, and if you find one let me know. That book was very precious to us all, especially Mrs. Howells—the only Howells you fear, because she isn’t a real one, perhaps.
Howells had heard from his son John Howells that Livy was well again. When did the Clemenses start for Florence? He wished they were going along. Currently he suffered from “a high old bilious colic”
[MTHL 772-3]. Note: Edith Franklin Wyatt (b.1873) Every One His Own Way (1901) [Gribben 790]. Sam answered on July 25.
July 23 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Harper—note about Tom Sawyer renewal of copyright (completing it) Sent it to Robert Collier” [NB 46 TS 22].
July 24 Friday
July 25 Saturday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Dean Howells.
O, hellfire! as Mrs. Clemens says when stirred to vexed admiration, you incurable old ass, how could you go & put me under the thousand-ton weight of a book to watch & care for? I’ve long long ago stopped borrowing books because I suffer so while they are in the house, & I never could remember to return one. Oh, that volume of Heine! The worrying nights it cost me! Indeed & double-deed, no man leaveth a valued book in my responsibility if I catch him at it!
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.