April 14 Saturday – Sam wrote a letter of condolence to Nancy Fish Barnum (Mrs. P.T. Barnum) on the loss of her youngest daughter, Pauline Barnum Seeley:

“My wife and I are greatly pained to learn of the decease of Mrs. Seeley, whom we remember so well & so pleasantly. Words are of but little value at such a time, but still we are moved to tender our deep sympathy to you and your household in your great bereavement . / Truly Yours / Samuel L. Clemens” [Sotheby’s Dec. 11, 2006 auction Sale No 8251; lot 38].

April 14 and 17 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Mary Mason Fairbanks, congratulating Mary’s son on his wedding plans. Charles Mason Fairbanks married Pauline St Armont Merrill on Apr. 25 1877 in Hudson, Summit, Ohio. Sam could not attend as he wrote he’d “either be in the neighborhood of New Orleans, then, or hard at work on a book.” He then corrected himself to say he’d be in Washington on Apr. 25 supervising the rehearsals for the play, Ah Sin. Mary had evidently asked Sam where he wrote.

“In the billiard room—the very most satisfactory study that ever was. Open fire, register, & plenty of light” [MTLE 2: 42]. See insert; Sam’s writing desk at far right with lamp. Photo taken by this editor in 2009.