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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Thu, 30 Nov 1995 10:38:42 -0500
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According to the Kevin MacDonell, current owner of the suicide notations of
SLC, the story is:

Clara Clemens held a garage sale/estate sale in 1951 to pay off her current
husband's gambling debts.  Books were sold for $5 to $10.  Among the books
was a copy of _Letters of James Russell Lowell_ 1893, ed. by Elliot Norton.
The book was requested by SLC in 1909.  He received a 1905 printing.
The book contains approximately 675 words of marginalia.  Among them the
suicide reference which was marked at the passage of Lowell discussing
Coleridge's suicide attempt.  The marginalia is dated 3:00 AM, April 21,
1909
(shortly after Isabel Lyon's firing).  It is a rather lengthy marginalia
including "...I am with him down to the trigger".  The LA Times apparently
quoted from the marginalia in their newspaper story.  The book containing
the marginalia was auctioned on October 27, 1995 (this year) by Christie's
in New York as a part of the Mrs. Charles Engleheart estate.  According to
MacDonnel, Christie's did put out a catalog on the book which contains
reproductions from it.  And catalogs may still be available.

According to McDonnell, another interesting marginalia refers to having
to bribe officials to get relatives into West Point.

McDonnell says he would be glad to answer any question about his holdings
for
any forum member.  His phone number is 512-345-4139.  He hopes to be on-line
this weekend and has a wealth of knowledge to share on SLC.

Note:  He doesn't know who Mildred was.

Barb

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