St Nicholas, 26th.
Livy darling, we came through [a-whooping], to-day, 6 hours tramp up steep hills & down steep hills, in mud & water shoe-deep, & in a steady pouring rain which never moderated a moment. I [be] was as chipper & fresh as a lark all the way & arrived without the slightest sense of fatigue. But we were soaked, & my shoes full of water, so we at once stripped & went to bed for 2½ hours while our traps were thoroughly dried, & our boots greased in addition. Then we put our clothes on hot & went to table d’hote.
Made some nice English friends, and shall see them at Zermat tomorrow. Gathered a small bouquet of new flowers, but they got spoiled. I sent you a safety-match box full of flowers last night from Leŭcherbad. [slantwise outline of mountain range and words: The great mountain profile.] [note]
I have just tle telegraphed you to wire the family news to me at Riffle tomorrow. I do hope you are all well & having as jolly a time as we are.—for I love you, sweetheart, & also, in a measure, the Bays. Give my love to Clara & also to the cubs. Lovingly always,
Saml.
[in ink:] Mrs S. L. Clemens | Hotel Jungfrau | Room 60 Interlaken [in another hand:] Beaurivage | Ouchy [postmarked:] st nicolaus 27 viii 78 [and] interlaken 29 viii 78–3 [and] ouchy 30 viii 78k1– [and] viege [remainder illegible]
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:MTL, 1:335–36; Christie’s catalog, 9 June 1992, no. 7498, lot 36, partial publication.
Provenance:Chester L. Davis, Sr., probably acquired the MS from Clara Clemens Samossoud sometime between 1949 and 1962 (see Samossoud
Collection in Description of Provenance). After his death in 1987, the MS was owned by Chester L. Davis, Jr., who sold it
through Christie’s in June 1992. Then or thereafter it was purchased by CLjC.
Emendations and textual notes:
a-whooping • a-|whooping
be • be- |
