Vol 3 Section 0970
shoulder, but down between his legs…I didn’t know commissions were collectable a year in advance on unsold houses” [MTP].
October 20 Tuesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote a short note to William H. Hoyt
Co., authorizing them to “look after my Tarrytown property, and any repairs or details regarding the same…” [MTP].
Sam also wrote again to George W. Reeves, real estate agent for Hoyt & Co.
I sail on Saturday, and as I still have doubts regarding the matter in hand, I will not try to finish it myself. I have turned it over to Mr. H. H. Rogers, who has an unlimited power of attorney from me, and some day you can arrange an appointment with him by telephone, and settle it. / Yours truly, / …/ P. S. Mr. Gardner’s [sic Gardiner] monthly check you can send to Mr. Rogers, who has an unlimited Power of Attorney from Mrs. Clemens.
You have not enclosed the letter of instructions for my signature. Please draw it up and send it to Mr.
Rogers [MTP]. Note: Charles A. Gardiner, leased, and then purchased the Tarrytown house.
Sam’s notebook: “HARPER PAGE [See Oct. 20 NB entry] / Mr. Rogers will bank the Harper $1,000 & the Hillcrest $200 with the Guaranty Trust Co & order his Paris banker to send me $1200 every month to Italy / [Horiz. Line separator] / In 1894 Harper’s Monthly paid me only $75 a page for Joan of Arc. See below [referring to the Oct. 21 entry]” [NB 46 TS 27].
October 21 Wednesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka.
Won’t you send Vols. I & II of Poultney Bigelow’s History on board the ship?—“Princess Irene,” North German Lloyd, Hoboken. She sails Saturday, 11 a.m.
My address on board is “Suite 1 (promenade deck.) [”]
And tie this red C on the parcel.
See you to-morrow night. / Mark.
[in left margin:] And can you send “Madam Bovary” too? [MTP]. Note: Poultney Bigelow’s History of the German Struggle for Liberty. 4 vols. (1899-1905); Sam inscribed vol I with “S.L. Clemens / 1903”; [Gribben 70].Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (1857). Sam’s reading material for the voyage.
Sam also wrote to George J. Helmer, N.Y. osteopath: “I’ve tried desperately to get to you, but couldn’t—& so I
sail Saturday with a stiff back.” Sam gave his Florence address and noted he was taking a N.Y. checkbook with him
[MTP].
Sam also wrote to Joseph Johnson, Jr.
In boxing & labeling the family for Europe I have been so overwhelmed with labor & errands that I could not find time to answer letters. To-morrow I must work 25 hours, next day 27—then sail Saturday & take a rest.
I know the cause is just as good as it was before, & I wish I could have answered the compliment of your invitation with a word & a shout for the clean ticket from the Acorn platform, for certainly I am for that ticket with all my little might. But I am so crowded that I have not even had a chance to go to Madison Square—which I greatly regret, for now I shall never see Elijah this side of —— [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Robert Underwood Johnson, editor of Century.
“I’ll be sure to come if I can, but it is very doubtful, for to-morrow is cyclone-day. We sail Saturday, you know. I’m sending my love to you-all—& you better send the mag. (AND the photo) to Suite 1 (promenade deck) ‘Princess Irene,’ Hoboken—so as to make sure. I want it” [MTP].
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.