NOTEBOOK

alive. They did meet and talk over old times, but
both were in good mental health.

Paige, the microbe.

May 2. Finished the book [American Claimant] which
I began to write Feb. 20—71 days.

May 29, 1891, 1:30 P.M. Tried to send a telegram
through telephone and couldn't. They charge you for the
use of this deaf-and-dumb thing.

Bill Styles, lobbying in behalf of a candidate for U. S.
Senator—in the legislature—spoke of the low grade of
legislative morals, "kind of discouraging you see, irs so
hard to find men of so high type of morals that they'll
stay bought."

From Mr. Hall, May 25, 1891

In re your letters from the other side: For ail letters
containing not less than 3500 words, McClure is to pay
you $1000 per letter. If they contain more than 3500
words so much the better. If the letters contain less than
3500 words he is to pay you at the rate of $300 per thou-
sand words.

I telegraphed Hall to accept these terms for me.

P.S.—Changed, June 3. Letters to contain 5000 to 6000
words, $1000 per letter.

The cost of American living had become al-
most prohibitive, and his finances were being
scraped from the bottom of the treasure chest.
Business was so bad that not only was there no
money coming in from it, but he must provide
considerable sums to keep it going. A memoran-
dum shows that of the several amounts coming
to Mrs. Clemens, from her investments, nothing
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