June 5 Saturday – Sam acted as auctioneer for the Grand Bazar for Union for Home Work, Hartford. The Hartford Daily Courant of June 7, 1880, p2, in a story titled “The Bazar,” reported:

Mr. George G. Sill acted in the capacity of auctioneer at the south end of the hall and Mr. Samuel L. Clemens at the north. The latter gentleman, after successfully disposing of a number of articles in Booth J, generously offered to dispose of the booth itself and all the people in it, including himself, but as no satisfactory offers were made, the lot was withdrawn. The audience remained to a somewhat later hour than usual on account of the auctions, although the band was dismissed early in the evening so as not to interfere with the anticipated brisk bidding.

Moses S. Beach wrote to Sam.

Friend Clemens; / Compulsion to read your telephonic reverie has prompted the remark that, with my experience during the last few weeks, you would possible have given an inside as well as an outside view of the indescribable. But before I go into that subject let me say what comes uppermost, now and here.

      You have been to Alexandria and Arcadia, to Bagdad and Burpaw—pootah—all over the world in fact but this little paper house, with its breezy verandah, which tempts other men has given you no shelter. Now I want you to shine the light of your—cigar—on it; and Emma who overhears my thought, as she lies in her hammock by my side, shouts “yes, and we all want him to bring his charming wife too—they would like it, I am sure.” And from her strolling place out in the woods I am quite sure I hear the echo of my wife’s “Amen” [MTP]. Beach then told a story of his brother’s experience with the telephone. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Beach. / Answered”.