January 3 Thursday – Sam signed a contract giving Abby Sage Richardson permission to stage P&P. Fatout writes:

“Skeptical of success, he [Sam] said that three or four people, himself included, had failed to make a play of the story, and he disapproved of casting one performer in two roles, yet he gave her permission to proceed…. But since the lady proved difficult and [Daniel] Frohman objected to being left out, the contract was cancelled in favor of a new one, signed on May 13” [“MT, Litigant” 30-1]. Note: Richardson had been inspired by seven-year-old Elsie Leslie’s performance in Little Lord Fauntleroy and contacted Clemens at the urging of Frohman.

Sam also signed two presentation copies, half-morocco, of P&P and HF to the child actress, Elsie L. Leslie:

To Elsie with the kindest regards of Mark Twain Jan. 3/89. [P&P].

Dear Elsie: This is the book I told you about last night at dinner. You’ll find that what I said is true: that it is one of the stateliest poems of modern times. Sincerely yours The Author. Jan 3/89. [HF] [MTP].

Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green wrote to Sam relating a conversation with Col. Grant about Sam raising the issue of needed national support for the late Gen. Grant in a Hartford speech — and the result was a fund of $250,000 the family now enjoyed. Sam wrote on the envelope,

Well then, I also saved them from signing a contract with the Century Co. which would have robbed them of another quarter of a million cash. Yet they are such grasping & difficult people to deal with that I have told Whitford to turn over the Grant Memoirs to them & ridme of the fret of trying to do business with them. S.L. Clemens [MTP].