January 12 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to President-elect, James A. Garfield to “speak a word for” Frederick Douglass, who had been appointed U.S. Marshal of Washington in 1877.
So I am writing this as a simple citizen—I am not drawing on my fund of influence at all. A simple citizen may express a desire, with all propriety, in the matter of a recommendation to office; & so I beg permission to hope that you will retain Mr. Douglas[s] in his present office of Marshal of Washington….He is a personal friend of mine, but that is nothing to the point—his history would move me to say these things, without that. And to feel them too. With great respect, I am, General, Truly Yours/ S.L. Clemens [MTP].
George Gebbie wrote to Sam concerning the “Encyclopedia of Humor” project [MTP].
Jane Lampton Clemens wrote from Fredonia (misspellings intact):
This letter is such a task I am so tired [written at the top it seems an afterthought].
Dear Children. / I have grieved until I am sick & all the medecin will not help me. my trouble is my only two sons are not like brothers. I know I used my best to raise my children right many nights I lie awake most of the night & how I feel next day. O my dear Sam I fear you have more to answer for than you think. When you banished your brother I consented but when I saw him my heart sunk it is no better now. I have grieved over it ever since. When I was out there friends told me they never felt so sorry for a man as they did for him his wife told me secretly she thought, he would loose his mind. Now his mind is not right. We have been very particular not to let it be known there is any thing betwen the brothers but brotherly love. It is so mortelying to a mother. But I have reason to think it is known here in some families. There is a pain in the side of my head which prevents me from writing with out a wet cloth on my head. My dear Sam dont say light things about your brother it grieves your mother. I have to stop. I don’t know any thing that would give me more pleasure than to see my only two sons have a brothery like brothers should have. my dear son if I remember right you told me something about writing something to keep him from troubling you my dear son I never was so happy as when I could write something to make my sister happy. Now my dear son write to him & tell him to finish his book & send it to you and you will take it to Boston & have it publeshed don’t send It. take it yourself he will doit but he will not listen even to his mother. That is a plain proof to me that his mind is not right. Both write when you feel like it. you know I dont say any thing about his mind any where but to Mela.
I don’t wish you or Livy to say any thing about it to any one. Neither Annie nor Charlie. Love to the children. Livy I know you will say nothing about it. When my children were small I was fritting over them, an old uncle came in he called me Jan never mind Jean he said they are tramping on your toes now bind they will be on your heart. O how true. / Love to all [MTP].
January 12 and 13 Thursday – Sam was advertised as part of the entertainment at this two-day Hartford event. (See insert.)
[Inserts from Volume 2 corrections]
