December 14 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving Bacheller.

The book has this moment arrived—just as I have finished my day’s mail & profanity. I have written 38 letters to-day (as usual, when it isn’t 48)–without help—& this one’s the very first that I find pleasure in writing [and the only one extant]. A thousand thanks: I have longed for the book, my odious labors are done, I will curse out the remnant of blasphemy left in stock, & then stretch out, with pipe, & have a good time! [MTP]. Note: See Dec. 5 for Bacheller’s inscription and the book Eben Holden; A Tale of the North Country; see Vol. II for entries on Bacheller.

William Dean Howells wrote to Sam: “Yes, I will go with you Sunday afternoon. Drop in here, and I will be ready” [MTHL 2: 725]. Note: the source puts the purpose and place of the proposed excursion as unknown.

Sam’s notebook: “Gilder’s—evening” [NB 43 TS 31].

Chatto & Windus’ Jan. 1, 1904 statement to Clemens shows 1,000 2s.0d. copies of LM were printed, for a total printed to date of 20,000 [1904 Financials file MTP].