November 29 Wednesday – Sam, upset that he had not received a response from De Quille, wrote from Hartford:

“Please sell me that confounded stock & send me the remains…This makes ten letters I have written you without getting an answer….you only write when you want me to run your darned publisher, Dan” [MTLE 1: 145]. Note: The Big Bonanza book, Sam’s relative success, and Dan’s problems with alcohol and his reactions to Sam’s paternalism over the stocks—all caused a rift between the two that would never be completely healed.

Phineas T. Barnum wrote to Sam, enclosing another “queer letter.” He wrote, “As you are the only ‘travelling gentleman’ whom I know—and as you are fond of literary companions, especially if ‘American by berth’ I would suggest that you consult Mrs Clemens in regard to your engaging my interesting correspondent whose letter I enclose and who must ‘lavish’ her ‘afectons’ somewhere very soon for she is in ‘despare!’ ” [MTP].