February – Sam inscribed a copy of John Marshall’s (1818-1891) Anatomy for Artists (1878) to Karl Gerhardt, dating the inscription [Gribben 453].

Florence Finch’s (later Kelly) article, “Two American Humorists” ran in The Family Defender Magazine, p. 76-8. Finch compared Mark Twain with Artemus Ward:

 The two who have done the most to make our humor national, and who are regarded as most distinctively American, are Mark Twain and Artemus Ward. Bitwean the humor of these two men there is often much similarity as well as sharp contrast. A vein of sarcasm runs through the writings of each, which in Twain’s takes a sharp, cynical turn, but in Ward’s is disguised by his hearty good nature. Ward is always genial, jolly, unsuspecting, unsophisticated. Twain is frequently morose, usually cynical, but always funny.

Linus T. Fenn, Hartford “Mfg. & dealer in furniture, bedding,” etc., billed Sam $24.28 for repairing cradle, mattress, new tick on small feather bed; paid Apr. 16 [MTP].