Vol 3 Section 0947

1903                                                                            ⁸⁸⁵

 

I never once thought! It is my fault that the hay was cut & sold—Martin proposed it & I said “go ahead,” never reflecting that it was your hay & not mine. But I give you my word it wasn’t coldly intentional, it was only habit. I often sell other people’s things—not that I want to do wrong, but merely because I am so used to it, & it was always the way in our family.

The money hasn’t been collected, & so I hope you will intercept it; but if it comes to me, Mrs. Clemens, who is distressed & ashamed, will be on the watch & see that you get it. (I could have been wealthy before this if I had had the right kind of help) [MTP].

 

August 2 Sunday

 

August 3 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Aug. 3 deposited $500 coupons, in Guaranty [Trust Co.] / [Horiz. Line separator] / The farmer sows, the broker reaps” [NB 46 TS 22]. Also, he rec’d receipt from Charles Fairchild & Co. for $16,000 in American Mechanical Cashier Co. bonds [TS 33].

 

August 4 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Deposited $1,000 in Lincoln for Guaranty Trust. Sent by messenger from Grosvenor” [NB 46 TS 22].

 

Richard Watson Gilder wrote to Sam.

 

I took your daughter [Clara] to Four Brooks Farm, Tyringham, Friday night. I told her on the way up that her agent had cancelled all her other New England engagements. When she got to Tyringham Mrs. Gilder took the matter in hand and, assuming a ferocious air, forbade the young lady to go wandering around into strange New England places when she ought to be taking care of herself quietly at Four Brooks Farm. She thought it was not safe for a person who had been going through all she has, mentally and physically, lately to be let loose in that manner. I think she was right. I told Clara there were moments when young people should allow older people to take their consciences in their hands and act for them. She said she realized the necessity of this and seemed to be happy in Mrs. Gilder’s implacable decision, which I hope will be endorsed by both parents [MTP].

 

Samuel Merwin (1874-1936), novelist, wrote to Sam: “I like to think that ‘Tom Sawyer’ and ‘Huckleberry Finn’ will be looked upon, fifty or a hundred years from now, as the picture of buoyant, dramatic, human American life….They won’t be looked on then as the work of a ‘humorist’ any more than we think of Shakespeare as a humorist now” [MTLP 743]. Note: Sam replied Aug. 16.

 

August 5 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Brought away International Navigation Co. coupons for Feb. & Aug. 1904 and Feb. 1905 ($1,500), & shall leave them with Mr. Rogers. / Paid for my box at Produce Exchange Safe Deposit, in advance from March 1904 to March 1905 ($10.)” [NB 46 TS 22].

 

Chatto & Windus’ Jan. 1, 1904 statement to Clemens shows 2,000 2s.0d. copies of The Stolen White Elephant were printed, for a total printed to date of 14,600 [1904 Financials file MTP].

 

August 6 Thursday – Walter Reid of The Lincoln Safe Deposit Co. wrote a receipt to Sam for “1 Bdl.

Of blankets in white condition unknown No. 27898” [MTP].

 

Sam’s notebook: “The comedy-tragedy visit to the Austrian Grand Duchess” [NB 46 TS 22].

 

Note: Sam was recollecting. Also put under Aug. 7 was a listing for Nov. 4—see entry.

 

August 8 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “20 Manufac / 20 commission / 30 branches & collection / 8% losses. / 7 wear & tear, clerks &c / Profit is 15%. / It is really 25% no doubt” [NB 46 TS 22-23]. Note: musings about Am. Pub. Co.’s profits?

 

 

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