Vol 3 Section 1102
Lindsay Graham-Toler, 4th Earl of Norbury) had suggested a meeting between them and promised “to seek, if able, to interest you and enlist your sympathies in the question of Congo misrule” [Hawkins 154-5]. Note: See Oct. 15 and 16 for Sam’s reply.
October 11 Tuesday
October 12 Wednesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Isabel V. Lyon in Lee, Mass. to address all Harper letters to “Col. Harvey, Personal”, and never to send them to another.
“Clara is not going to Dublin, but was coming down here to see me. It is too late, & I am sorry; I leave to-morrow for Fairhaven—this time to have a real rest. I go thence to Dublin about a week from now. I’m not needed here any longer; the lawyer & Mr. Rogers can do the rest” [MTP]. Note: Sam did not go to Fairhaven on Oct. 13.
Sam dined with his niece, Julia Langdon Loomis and her husband, Edward Eugene Loomis [Oct. 13 to Langdon].
October 13 Thursday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Charles J. Langdon.
Dear Charley— / Will you attend to this? It is Livy’s Texas land. I think you took the papers & kindly offered to look after it for her.
I dined with Julie & Edward last night, & had a delightful time. Julie profoundly touched me (even to moisture in the eyes) with her charming tale of “Mark Twains Rule.”
I send my love to you all, & welcome-home to the Idas.
I am at the Grosvenor again, which is very handy to our house & enables me to superintend the outside of it [MTP]. Note: See Archer County, Texas Land entries, Vol. I.
Sam’s notebook: “Executed my Last Will. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Now I’ve got a word for it when ‘purring’ is a shade too strong to properly describe that almost undetectable soft rumpling sound which you feel, rather than hear, when you press a kitten to your ear. I pressed the kitten to Clara’s ear & said, ‘There— now you can feel him smouldering’” [NB 47 TS 17].
Francis T. Miller wrote for The Connecticut Magazine asking Sam for a few lines for their Dec. issue.
On or just after this date Sam directed his assistant to answer, writing on the bottom of Miller’s letter:
“Miss Lyon, please tell him that by my contract I can write nothing for print, except in the Harper publications” [MTP].
Elizabeth S. Ward wrote to Richard Watson Gilder, who then passed on the letter to Mark Twain for his response. Ward requested “a few lines, not expressed exactly as Dr. Leffingwell has expressed it,” on the subject of vivisection abolition. Sam directed his assistant to answer, writing on the top of Ward’s letter: “Miss Lyon, please decline. Courteously, if possible” [MTP]. Note: Dr. Albert Leffingwell (1845-1916) social reformer and leading advocate against vivisection of animals.
October 14 Friday – Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote two letters on Koy-Lo Co. letterhead to Sam. The company was connected with The International Spiral Pin Co. “In accordance with our conversation over the ‘phone yesterday, while you were in Mr. Rogers’ office, I have offered the $2,000. of shares in International Sprial Pin co. to Mr. Stanchfield, and he has accepted them. / This, therefore, cancels the option extended to you on them.”
In his second note Ashcroft enclosed “a copy of the Butters matter”. “I will come to the hotel to-morrow evening, if possible, to see you, and go over it with you” [MTP]. The enclosed is a four & half page double-spaced typed statement, titled, “STATEMENT of R.W. ASHCROFT / in regard to S.L. Clemens’ purchase of shares in the Plasmon Company of America”
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.