April 26 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Colton Greene, a passenger on the Batavia during the rescue at sea. In relating a visit by Captain John E. Mouland earlier that month, Sam wrote:

“We talked a deal about you & your disheartening habit of cursing & swearing at the table while the ladies & the ministers needed quiet & silence wherein to coax their sustenance to go down—& stay.”

Sam told about the digging of the cellar of his new house, and invited Greene to visit [MTL 5: 356].

Sam also wrote to an unidentified man:

“Dear Sir: / I think so but can’t say positively. Shall either be here or in N.Y.—most likely here. Send a telegram here the day before is best perhaps. If it don’t find me here you will know that I am in New York—St Nicholas Hotel. / Yours truly/ Samuel L. Clemens” [eBay item #230501584371, 7/20/2010]. Note: possibly to Charles F. Wingate; see Apr. 2.

Sam also wrote again to Livy about elements of the book. “We both think this is going to be no slouch of a novel, as Solomon said to the Hebrew Children.” Sam also loved cats.

“The kitties are very frisky, now. They & the old cat sleep with me, nights, & have the run of the house. I wouldn’t take thousands of dollars for them. Next to a wife whom I idolize, give me cat—an old cat, with kittens” [MTL 5: 358].