November 13 Thursday – Sam delivered a “snapper” in his speech, “The Babies” (See Fatout, MT Speaking 131-3) for the Army of the Tennessee Reunion Banquet, Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois—the snapper that finally broke Grant’s cast-iron expression into waves of laughter. For Sam it was a complete and devastating triumphal victory, as high as the debacle on Whittier’s birthday had been low. In a letter written at 5 AM the next morning (Nov. 14), Sam called it “the memorable night of my life.” [MTLE 4: 141] He did not qualify the judgment with anything like “beside our wedding night.”  

A reception was held at McVicker’s theater for many distinguished guests. There Sam met Melville E. Stone of the Chicago Daily News and Franc B. Wilkie of the Chicago Times [The Twainian, Mar. 1945 p.1].

Sam also met and spent time with Robert Green Ingersoll during banquet and festivities for the U.S. Grant tribute; this was the only time the two men met [Austin, MT Encyc. 395].

Dr. A. Reeves Jackson of the Quaker City excursion and several other journalists later gathered at Wilkie’s home for breakfast, possibly on Nov. 13 [MTNJ 2: 357 citing Chicago Times of Nov. 15]. An entry in Sam’s notebook for 1880 reminded to send two books to Wilkie. Sometime during the evening Sam asked why they did not have a press club for Chicago newsmen as they did in New York. From that question the Press Club of Chicago was born, though Sam did not directly support the effort beyond inspiration and encouragement from afar [The Twainian, Mar. 1945 p.1].

The Atlantic Monthly sent an invitation to the 70th birthday reception and breakfast of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Dec. 3 at 12 at the Hotel Brunswick, Boston. The printed calligraphied invite featured a large oval picture of Holmes [MTP]