February 25 Saturday – Orion Clemens wrote to Sam that he’d finished the research for Wm. II (for the memory game). He’d sent cousin Eleanor Lampton five dollars. Ma was “so restless” that he “concluded to take her to every kind of show that comes….Ma frequently sees the apparitions of the friends of her youth, and she longs to behold again the house of Aunt Ann, and to reside once more in Columbia” [MTP].

Funk & Wagnalls wrote to Sam asking for his “views as to the daily paper needed?” F&W was planning on starting a daily in N.Y.C. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Haven’t any” [MTP].

Frederick J. Hall for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam (handwritten financial statement enclosed; bank balances totaled $14,394.34). “We are putting new men daily on your ‘Library of Humor’, and they are doing well. One agent took eleven orders in about 2 hours, down town.” W.E. Dibble vouched for a Mr. Shupe, who wanted passage back to Colorado to be the book’s agent there — Hall asked Sam’s opinion. At the bottom Hall wrote on the typed letter, “P.S. I have received three good seats No’s. 31, 33 & 35 M. Orchestra” [MTP].

Dr. Nathan Mayer wrote from Hartford to Sam enclosing extracts from his play that he “had the good taste not to read,” during their recent conversation [MTP].