February 16 Wednesday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam:

“Dear Mark, Will you read for us—and for me in particular—in the Chapel next week Friday evening, Feb 25th? It will be for you a preparation for West Point, and for our good folks a service that will be much appreciated” [Messent 387]. Note: See Feb. 15 or 16 entry—Messent puts this as Feb. 16, 1881 but also footnotes it as “undated letter to Twain.” Since MTP lists Sam’s reply as Feb. 15 or 16, Sam’s response precedes Twichell’s letter. Both the request and the response could have been on Feb. 16.

Western Union bill of Feb. 28 shows a message sent to New York, recipient unspecified.