October 15 Saturday – Sam’s July 24 letter to the Australian public, ran in the Adelaide Observer (see July 24 entry).

Sam wrote a short note from Hartford to Orion, that “his entire day” had:

…gone to the devil with answering letters…send us another sack of those big hickory nuts, like those that came a year or so ago [MTP]

Sam also wrote to Howells, answering his Oct. 12 and 13 about pages of the P&P manuscript Howells was editing, and his suggestions to change certain words. Sam replied:

Slash away, with entire freedom; & the more you slash, the better I shall like it & the more I shall be cordially obliged to you. Alter any and everything you choose—don’t hesitate. …

I am hard at work on Capt. Ned Wakeman’s adventures in heaven—merely for the love of it; for laws bless you, it can’t ever be published. At least not unless I trim it like everything & then father it on some good man—say Osgood. This is my purpose at present [MTHL 1: 376]. Note: The story eventually was published as “Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven” in Harper’s Magazine in Dec. 1907 and Jan. 1908.

Sam also wrote a short note to Osgood & Co. about the dies and die-sinkers. He added, “Irving for $13.34 is satisfactory—send her along” [MTP]. Note: Works of Washington Irving, 12 vols. [Gribben 346-7].

Charles Webster wrote from Fredonia to Sam of his father’s illness, of a lack of any vacation, and of his busy schedule [MTP]