Vol 3 Section 0990

Sam also wrote to Thomas Cook & Son, Florence, about his claim for an unused ticket. His letter is not extant but is referred to in the Company’s Dec. 12 reply William Deason by.

Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam. “Harper & Brothers have sent for account of Mrs. Clemens $1663.77 (regular books,) and $6516 (six volume editions), making $8179.77. This amount was sent the first of January, although the vouchers are dated November 1, 1903. …the Total amount received is $10,346.43.” She expressed hope that Livy was improving [MTP].

Thomas W. Lewis, “an aspiring young man,” wrote from Duenweg, Mo. to Sam. He was 23 and left lame by a childhood fever. He had since left school, discouraged by obstacles. He was asking for help in return for several inventions and literary works [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Put the whole of this amazing production in the Auto.”

December 12 Saturday – William Deason for Thomas Cook & Son, Florence wrote to Sam, that they rec’d his letter of Dec. 11 and were “most anxious to recover the amount which is due you” [MTP].

George Gregory Smith wrote a letter and a follow up note to Sam. Evidently, Arthur Higgs the real estate agent was suing Countess Massigila for leasing the Villa Quarto without paying his fee, in violation of her listing agreement. The follow up note revealed that after a talk with Higgs, he’d agreed to withdraw his action, and Smith wrote that “the more I see of Higgs the better I like him” [MTP].

December 13 Sunday

December 14 Monday – James Jourdan for Brooklyn Union Gas Co. sent Sam a form letter announcing a stockholders’ meeting for Dec. 30, at noon in the company office, Brooklyn [MTP].

December 15 Tuesday – Sam wrote a MS of ten pages, “Major General Wood, M.D.,” and a TS of five pages, typed and revised before Dec. 28. Not published until 1992 in Zwick [AMT-1: 707].

December 16 Wednesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam began a letter to H.H. Rogers that he finished on Dec. 18. Sam enclosed a copy of Susan Crane’s Dec. 3 about John T. Lewis that Jean typed.

I am not at all sure that I wasn’t a little premature in wanting ten thousand invested, but I hope not. It’s all right, if I pull $10,000 out of the Harpers in 1904 on magazine articles—& that I most certainly mean to do. I’ve already written $7,500-worth of it—so there is plenty of time left in which to do the rest.

I was afraid to tell them to send this magazine-money to me, because they are always tardy & have to be stirred up; you are there close by & can remind them by telephone, you know. The money is due as soon as the article is received, but I have always had to send them a reminder. I will post you whenever I ship them a MS. I shipped them a brief one a few days ago; 2,000 words exactly—I had them counted, word by word. Due, $600—30 cents a word. Title of the article, “Italian Without a Dictionary.” Read it—it will make you cultivated & wise. Like me.

First 5 weeks expenses here—up to last night—$2100. This does not include gas, fuel for the winter, nor doctor-bills nor specialist-bills. They’re not in, yet. It includes many extras which are one-timers & will not repeat—but it’s an even bet that there will be new ones to take their place. Servants’ wages are lower here by two-thirds than in the States. That is the one solitary economy; if there is another one I haven’t come across it.

Meantime I have found a villa for you, & a mighty choice one & well furnished. It stands in solitary state on a hill, & looks down upon the roofs of Florence, & out over wide expanses of hill & valley bordered on one side with a distant vast upheaval & tumult of snowy alps. One can drive down

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