March 15 Tuesday – Sam accepted an invitation from a Mr. Nicholls to read for the G.A.R. [MTL 4: 92]. Note: Reigstad credits Martha Gray (Mrs. David Gray) with persuading Twain to speak as part of the Grand Army of the Republic’s lecture series. Reigstad writes:

“Twain read from ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County’ and also from a chapter of The Innocents Abroad to a very large crowd that had braved bitter ten-degree cold and heavy snowfall to pack the room. Twain shared the bill with English elocutionist Henry Rogers.” [136]. Note: Twain declined to have ex-resident Millard Fillmore introduce him as he was afraid Fillmore would say something that would make him laugh or cry.