December 13 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood. Sam placed a small order for two books and added,
“I’ve accepted invitation for supper in N.Y. midnight, 20th —they said you & Howells & Aldrich would be there” [MTLE 5: 225].
Sam’s “Letter to the Bazaar Bulletin” for a charity event in Buffalo, was reprinted in the Hartford Courant [Camfield, bibliog.].
Sam purchased a copy of Higginson’s Young Folks’ History of the United States from Brown & Gross, Hartford booksellers, for $1.20 [Gribben 313]. He also purchased a “one Six Seat Sleigh” from Darrow & Roberts, “Mfg. & dealers in first-class carriages” Hartford, for $325.00 [MTP].
Howells wrote from Boston, offering constructive criticism of P&P. Still, he loved it “immensely”:
“The whole intention, the allegory, is splendid, and powerfully enforced. The subordinate stories, like that of Hendon, are well assimilated and thoroughly interesting” [MTHL 1: 338].
Dean Sage wrote from NYC to Clemens that just before leaving Albany he received “an incoherent sort of a letter from Joe [Twichell] which I gathered he could not come to New York this month, & that he wanted me to persuade him to accompany you down here this month…” [MTP].
Sam answered Sage, but his letter is not extant; referred to in Sage’s of Dec. 16.
Francis Hopkinson Smith wrote to Clemens.
My Dear Mr Clemens / When I was last in Boston our good friend Howells spoke so heartily about you, and your interest in the Tile Club and the Tilers, and I have for so many years had so much stronger interest in you than you ever dreamed of, that I am emboldened by a variety of considerations (which as I proceed you will appreciate) to ask you to join a conspiracy in which I have associated with myself such ruffians as Osgood and Anthony and Howells, and Lawrence Barrett and Aldrich…” He invited Sam to an oyster feed in his studio the night of Dec. 20; Laffan would also be there [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “F. Hopkinson Smith artist”
Charles W. Rhodes (1846-1916), NYC cheese dealer, wrote to Sam after reading several of Twain’s books.
What I want to know is by what rule a fellow can infallibly judge when you are lying and when you are telling the truth. I write this in case you intend to afflict an innocent and unoffending public with any more works. I would suggest the next volume be published with the truth in italics. They usually have small fonts of these in printing offices [MTP]. Note: some readers and academics will remain humorless throughout eternity. Sam wrote on the env., “Ha!—ha! / captured another idiot. SLC”