Vol 3 Section 0980

Also about November Sam wrote a note to Harper & Brothers on the back of galley proofs for “The Jumping Frog, Then in French, Then Clawed Back into a Civilized Language Once More by Patient, Unremunerated Toil” by Mark Twain:

Years [ago], I learned that there hadn’t been any Greek frog in the business, and no Greek story about his adventures. Professor Sidgwick had not claimed that it was a Greek tale; he had merely snyopsised the Calaveras tale and transferred the incident to classic Greece; but as he did not state that it was the same old frog, the English papers reproved him for the omission. He told me this in England, in 1899 or 1900, and was much troubled about that censure, for his act had been innocent, he believing that the story’s origin was so well known as to render formal mention of it unnecessary. I was very sorry for the censure, but it was not that I applied it. I would not have done it. / M.T.

Private. It was at Oxford, but some idiot would be certain to jump up & say he wasn’t an Oxford professor. Then I should have to come out in the Presbyterian Review & reason with him, & say “nobody said he was, you son of a bitch.” / SLC [MTP].

Between November 1903 and June 1904 – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to

Francis B. Keene of the US Consular Service:

You did quite right—do continue to “blow cold” on every enterprise that proposes to give me some work to do, however little. I could not write a single line for print without laying myself open to a fine of $500 (Harpers). I have 3 invitations by this morning’s mail—$1500 in fines for a single day if I should comply. I cannot afford these luxuries.

We are always contributing small sums to great objects like Dr. Steiner’s, but never large ones, for we cannot afford that; but to contribute words for print is a thing which my Harper contract forbids [MTP]. Note: Dr. Steiner not further identified.

November 10 Tuesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam sent a telegram to Daniel

Willard Fiske: “WE BEAR WITH DEEPEST SORROW HEAR YOU ARE ILL ALL THIS FAMILY SEND LOVE WISHES FOR

YOUR SPEEDY RECOVERY + CLEMENS” [MTP]. Note: in George Gregory Smith’s Sept. 5 to Sam, he noted that “Prof.

Fiske who is now in Copenhagen, and I am sorry to say sadly afflicted with his old enemy gout” [Orth 36].

November 11 Wednesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers that he added a P.S. to on Nov. 12 and the balance on Nov. 15 [MTHHR 541-2]. Note: The segment written this day has been lost. The Nov. 12 and 15 segments remain.

November 12 Thursday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto Sam wrote to Countess Frances R. Massiglia.

I wish to ask permission to put in 3 or 4 “pigs;” in case it shall finally seem desirable to have them. Also I wish to ask leave to remove the annunciator to the ground floor, if you have no objections,—or

put another annunciator down there, if these excursions into the unknown shall not turn out to be over-formidable & indiscreet [MTP].

Sam also wrote a PS to his Nov. 11 to H.H.Rogers. [MTHHR 541-2].

P.S. Next day—Nov. 12.

The fact is, the place improves. This is a brilliant late-September morning, with a prodigality of sunshine

      stimulating air not findable elsewhere outside of heaven. And certainly the grounds would satisfy Adam himself. Which is well; for Mrs. Clemens was sent to Italy that she might live out-doors.

Luscher gives an interview by Carlo Paladini, Italian journalist, which was published this day in the

Corriere Della Sera, and dates the interview between Nov. 7 and 9 at the Hotel Pace. Luscher writes:

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