September 11 Monday – The Clemens family returned home to Hartford [Sept 14 to Fairbanks]. The train trip from Elmira to Hartford took ten hours, and always exhausted Livy. On this trip Sam first hired a sleeping car, which gave the family privacy and lessened the stress for Livy. Their German nursemaid, Rosina Hay, was able to keep the girls occupied and Sam wasn’t bothered by other passengers’ talk and autograph requests. Sam promised that the luxury of a private car would be a permanent one for the family [Willis 103].

September 11 or 18 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Daniel Slote, his old Quaker City excursion buddy, proposing that Dan’s firm of Slote, Woodman & Co. publish his Scrap Book invention.

You see by the above paragraph [describing the Scrap Book] that it is a sound moral work, & this will commend it to editors & clergymen, & in fact to all right feeling people. If you want testimonials I can get them, & of the best sort, & from the best people. One of the most refined & cultivated young ladies in Hartford (daughter of a clergyman) told me herself, with grateful tears standing in her eyes, that since she began using my Scrap Book she has not sworn a single oath [MTLE 1: 108]. Note: Webster Woodman (b. ca 1828) ; Daniel Slote.

September 11-15 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford during this time to Charles H. Bladen (1841-1899), member of the New York Press Club. Sam had received a notice that he’d been elected a member of the club and was invited to their Fall Reception. Sam expressed regret that he would not be able to attend [MTLE 1: 107]. Note: Bladen was a vet of the Civil War and on the NY Times staff from 1870 to 1885.