January 17 Thursday – According to Sam’s Jan. 4 to Johnston, he left New York for Baltimore, Maryland at 10 a.m. He may have left Hartford on an early train, or may have gone there a day or more before. Because Webster & Co. wrote to him on Jan. 16, it’s likely he left Hartford early and continued on to Baltimore. In this evening he gave a reading at the University Club [Fatout, MT Speaking 658; Jan. 4 to Johnston]. Gribben writes,

“Mark Twain planned a benefit reading with Johnston to help ‘poor’ Thomas Nelson Page…Henry P. Goddard — in Harper’s Weekly (1906) — reports authoritatively that Mark Twain turned over to Johnston the $700 that was Twain’s share for their joint reading in Baltimore; Mark Twain had replaced Thomas Nelson Page on the program, and he wished to assist the financially needy Johnston. Goddard was present at a dinner after the reading…when Mark Twain, upon being toasted, ‘paid a loving tribute to Colonel Johnston” [357]. Note: the Washington Post p.1 ran a squib, “Mark Twain and Col. Johnston,” datelined N.Y. on Jan. 12 giving Jan. 16 as the date of the reading, which is probably in error.

Rev. Thomas A. Davis, “a poor minister who is striving to help his race” wrote from Baltimore to Sam asking for “a trifle” in help. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Col’d minister asks aid” [MTP].

Robert Underwood Johnson for Century Magazine wrote to Sam: “Nelson (who you know is agent for the joint copyright committee) writes me from Washington that he & Eggleston need your help with Judge John H. Rogers of Arkansas who is a hard nut to crack, the greatest obstacle we have. Of course you’ll write to him and to any others.” Johnson wanted Sam to go to Washington with him for a vote on the bill on or before Tuesday. Sam wrote, “Answered” on the env. [MTP].