Vol 3 Section 1062
Temple Press Cutting Offices wrote to Sam asking if they could collect all the clippings related to Livy for him [MTP].
Thomas Wardle wrote a letter of condolence to Sam. “At last what seemed the inevitable has arrived, and your long sorrow with its hopes and fears has been emphasized and accentuated by that transition which in God’s time must come to all of us” [MTP].
June 8 Wednesday – Clara Clemens’ 30th birthday.
Sam’s notebook: “54 lamenting cablegrams have arrived—from America, England, France, Austria, Germany, Australia. Soon the letters will follow. Livy was beloved everywhere” [NB 47 TS 12].
At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam sent a cable to Richard Watson Gilder: “Gilder we want your cottage next your house for the summer at end June” [MTP].
Sam also sent a cable to Charles J. Langdon: “The ruined household undivided sail in the Prince Oscar June 28 homeward bound.” Sam also wrote Langdon a letter and noted the day Clara was born:
Thirty years ago, to-day, Clara lay in the hollow of her happy mother’s barm—just the top of her head showing—& Susy was admitted to see the new wonder: & said admiringly, “Lat bay go to boofu’ hair.” And now Susy is gone, the happy mother is gone, & Clara lies motionless & wordless—& has so lain ever since Sunday night brought our irremediable disaster. We were wholly unprepared, we were not dreaming of danger: Livy had been brightly chatting a moment before—& in an instant the light of our life went out & we did not know it & she did not know it. It was some seconds before we even suspected what had happened. I am so grateful that she was spared any premonitions, for she stood in awful fear of the death-struggle.
It was most kind of you to offer to come or send Jervis, & I wish it could be, but you would not be able to reach Naples in time. If I feel surer to-morrow, I may cable you [MTP].
Charles J. Langdon sent Sam a telegram: “Courage dear man our love and service await you all” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers, heading the letter “Wednesday / Clara’s Birthday / June 8/04, afternoon”.
I am very grateful for your cablegram, & for Mr. & Mrs. Coe’s. I must write you a line about our plans, if I can make myself coherent—my head is stunned & muddled. I cannot think clearly. Clara is prostrate, ever since Sunday night, & seldom speaks, seldom eats anything. I am not yet alarmed about her, only troubled. Jean slept none Sunday night, & this brought on an attack—the first she has had in 13 months; but it cleared her up, & she is the executive head & manager now.
I expect to cable you tomorrow that our sad journey homeward will begin June 28—from Naples, steamer Prince Oscar—(Hamburg line, I think.)
The Consul is writing a private letter (he volunteered this) to the Collector of the Port of New York, asking him to make our way as easy & swift as he can, through the Custom’s House. I hope you will make the like request of him. I think we have nothing with us that we did not bring from America except a pair of side-saddles. Our silver all came from home, by American Express from the Lincoln National Bank last winter.
I have cabled Gilder of the Century that I want one of his up-country cottages for the summer & am expecting his answer. The girls are anxious to go there, as the Gilders are specially intimate friends of theirs. I hope there will be no disappointment. We shall stay in Elmira only a few days after the funeral, because of the associations.
We are taking a small ship because there was no large & fast one except the Princess Irene—& we came out in her.
Death came in an instant—no one was dreaming of danger. Mrs. Clemens was chatting cheerfully a minute before. She had been dead some seconds before we suspected it. It was 9.20, & I was just going to say
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.