Vol 3 Section 1064
My dear old friend: / I had written to you as soon as I knew of the fact, just to let you know I was with you in that insurpassable sorrow of yours; but you must have known it already. Pilla and I tried to read your letter aloud; but we couldn’t. It wrings my heart to think about you. What are you going to do, you poor soul? I mean literally. Are you going back to America at once? Or shall we have any chance of seeing you again on this side? My wife arrives on the 18th; John goes straight to Italy, sailing on the 2d July; we expect, we three, to spend the winter in Italy.
My love to your dear girls; Pilla has written already.
I cannot speak of your wife’s having kept that letter of mine, where she did. You know how it must humiliate a man in his unworthiness to have anything of his so consecrated. She hallowed what she touched, far beyond priests. / Yours affectionately … [MTHL 2: 786-7].
Sam’s notebook: “Cablegram sent to Gen. C.J. Langdon: / ‘The ruined household sail undivided June 28th, homeward bound’ / Clemens” [NB 47 TS 12].
Thomas Bailey Aldrich and Lilian W. Aldrich wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Percy W. Ames for the Royal Society of Literature wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Isa Crenneoille of Florence wrote a letter of condolence to Sam after just hearing “the sad news” [MTP].
Susan Curtis of New Milford, Conn. wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Elizabeth B. Custer wrote from Paris a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Laura H. Frazer of Hannibal, Mo. wrote a letter of condolence to Sam, who wrote on the env., “From my first sweetheart. It carries me back 64 years” [MTP].
Bradley Gilman in Florence, Italy wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Darwin Pearl Kingsley wrote from NY a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Linda Villari in Florence, Italy wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Alice Von Versen in Berlin, Germany wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
June 10 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Livy’s last gift to the children was a pair of riding-horses—6 or 8 weeks ago.
Ugo (the butler) will sail with them for America from Leghorn June 22” [NB 47 TS 12]. Note: Ugo Piemontini.
Emily Gerard in Salzburg, Austria, wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Margaret Shaw Graham (Mrs. John C. Graham) of Louisville, Ky. wrote a letter of condolence to Sam. “I hope your brave heart will be your own comforter” [MTP].
June 11 Saturday – William Archer wrote a letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
Gedney W. Bunce wrote to Sam. “I knew, loved & admired her” [MTP].
Odoardo Luchini wrote condolences to Sam and Isabel Lyon [MTP].
George Gregory Smith wrote condolences to Sam by way of Francis B. Keene [MTP].
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.