Clemens, Samuel L.

A group of three letters to daughter Jean written in the summer of 1908.



Autograph letter signed ("Father"), 3 pages, on 21 Fifth Avenue stationery, New York, 5 June 1908, naming the new house in Redding as "Innocence at Home", reporting that the village library there has been named after him, and that he must be in Portsmouth at the end of the month for the Thomas Bailey Aldrich Memorial. — Autograph letter signed ("Goodbye, dear heart, with lots of hugs & kisses — Father"), 3 pages on 21 Fifth Avenue stationery, New York, 14 June 1908; complaining about a trip to Portsmouth to attend a memorial for an old friend, wishing to spend more time with Jean but that her doctor approves of no more than a few hours. Together with: holograph envelope; browned, stained, and soiled. — Autograph letter signed ("Father"), 3 pages on Innocence at Home stationery, Redding, Tuesday [28 July 1908], glories in the fine weather, encourages her to go on with her boating, draws a sketch of a dining table for birds rigged from a cigar box and stick, which doubles as a cat teaser. Together with: holograph envelope.

Much talk about the new house in Redding. In mid-June 1908, Clemens's secretary Isabel Lyon was busy readying the house, which he initially named "Innocence at Home," for occupancy.  He is dreading a trip to Portsmouth as it is a long journey to make in summer heat but "it is a memorial service in honor of an old friend & I think he would reciprocate by & by, if he could. Jean has taken up sailing, and Clemens encourages her to continue this recreation which he enjoyed in boyhood.

"I worked 60 years & if I am ever going to take a holiday it is time I was at it."  He confides that he is slowing down: "I am doing very very very very little work. I am sorry, but I can't help it—without an effort & I have ceased having a liking for efforts. I seem to greatly prefer cards, billiards, & reading, & smoking, & lying around in the shade."