Vol 3 Section 0995

1903                                                                            931

December 30 WednesdayAt the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Frederick A.

Duneka.

Happy New Years to you all—last shout for this year!

Before I forget it. You & the Colonel will naturally be on the lookout for first-class short-story talent— therefore, seek out the man that wrote the police-story (Irish & New York) in the Evening Post of Dec. 14, & secure him. If that story isn’t well told, tell me so & I will take my medicine.

Yes, I’ve written the Midsummer story (“You’ve Been a Dam Fool, Mary. You Always Was,”) & the next-Xmas story (“The $30,000 Bequest”), & Mrs. Clemens is editing the hellfire out of them. The typewriter will take hold, next.

Two weeks ago I wrote a pretty pison article about “Major General Wood, M.D.,” & took a great pains with it, & worked at it several days & got it to suit me exactly—then pigeonholed it with a sigh; for I’m not as free to make enemies now as I was before the contract was signed; I mustn’t make any except when citizenship makes a plain duty of it—& the lousy Wood case doesn’t reach up to that. But I shan’t destroy it, I’ll keep it for my own occasional reading when I am feeling vicious & need a tonic.

I am writing “Italian With Grammar,” & will send it to the Colonel if it reads to suit me when I get it done.

Good—close the trade with the Englishman on the Dog-story pamphlet. I wish we could spread it over America in the like form, if it would do no harm to the Xmas-issue of it. It might be a good advertisement, possibly. With the kindest regards to all of you, … [MTP].

Note: neither the Midsummer Story or the attack on Gen. Wood were published in his lifetime. The former was submitted to Harper’s in Feb. 1904 but the title was objectionable; it was eventually published in Fables of Man (1972), p. 249 -78 “The $30,000 Bequest” was first published in Harper’s Weekly Dec. 10, 1904 and in 1906 would be the title story for a book of sketches. “Italian With Grammar” ran in the Aug. 1904 issue of Harper’s Monthly [Wilson 259; Camfield’s bibliog.].

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

I am very glad indeed that Mr. Benjamin has Reeves in charge & has “pinned him down,” for he needs a strong grip on him (& more sense than I keep in stock) for his proper management. (Found the check-book—next-commission hasn’t been paid.)

I can’t find the Brooklyn-Gas document; I am sure it is on this big table somewhere among the wreckage

      literature, but I can’t get on its track. Will hire a detective. I think it entitles me to one to two thousand dollars of the issue, & I hope you will capture it for me.

I am sorry to hear that Mrs. Braughton is tired out. That is a malady that makes me shudder,—the very suggestion! Once I took it quite easy when Mrs. Clemens was tired, for I did not know what it was prophecying. Send the Braughtons over here; & you & Mrs. Rogers come along with them. I have instructed a real estate man to let me know if a roomy & attractive villa comes his way. It will be well for you to have a rest, if you can get away. Your evidence is all in, at Boston if I read the news aright, & I hope I do.

We were uneasy about Mrs. Clemens, but she is picking up nicely these last 3 days.

Merry Xmas & happy New Years to you all, in which Mrs. Clemens joins me. And to that good bachelor, Rice [MTHHR 548-9].

Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Sam. “Your letter of the 15th received. I am very glad to have your address. I herewith enclose your statements for three weeks of ‘Pudd’n Head Wilson’ in the Stock Houses. I also enclose you a check for these three weeks royalties”[MTP]. Note: statements show amounts of $23.12, $16.45, and $18.40 for the three weeks ending Oct. 24.

Mrs. Peurlyn Neville sent an “at home” calling card to Mr. & Mrs. Clemens, with Wednesday, Dec. 30th,

“music 4 to 6.30 p.m. R.S.V.P.” written in [MTP]. Note: nothing was found to show they attended.

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