January 1 Saturday – Sam wrote from Elmira to George L. Hutchings about Trenton’s True American printing a lengthy synopsis of Sam’s Dec. 28 lecture. Sam hated it when newspapers did that; he imagined that people would not go to his lectures if they could read them in the papers. He sent Hutchings his apology for being upset by being shown the synopsis [MTL 5: 685].

“An Awful – Terrible Medieval Romance,” was printed in the Buffalo Express [McCullough 123]. Note: The piece later appeared with Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography (Mar. 1871) and also revised as “Medieval Romance” in Sketches Old & New (1875).

Whitelaw Reid wrote to Sam with happy new year wishes and:

      I gave your paragraph out and think it has appeared. I’m heartily glad to be able to render a service—if so trifling a thing deserves that name.

      I got your dispatch [not extant] in time to send word to a friend or two I had asked not to come. Better luck next time / With heartiest good wishes [MTP].

Benjamin P. Shillaber [MTP]. Note: MTP staff was unable to find this letter.

January 1 to 5 Wednesday – Sam spent these days with Livy in Elmira [MTL 4: 3].