April 10 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to reply to the Apr. 6 compliments from Rutherford B. Hayes, who had expressed a “happy reception” for P&P at his house. After explaining the receipt of his letter came just when their dinner friends were discussing the potential greatness of the Hayes administration (to Sam another example of “Mental Telegraphy”),  and being “deeply gratified” by Hayes’ letter, Sam added after his signature:

“I never thought of it before, but it seems strange that there should be no title for an ex-President but plain Mr. Still, it is reasonably conspicuous, since in our day pretty much everybody else is Esq.” [MTP].

William Thomas St. Clair wrote his third letter from Shelby City, Ky. to Sam after receiving his of Apr. 6 (not extant). He now offered $30 for a “few ideas” for his essay (answered by Livy) [MTP].

Charles Webster wrote a half page from NYC. He’d written to Orion and he planned to go to Fredonia on the 18th. Also, “Mr. Talbott Pres & Manager of the Railway Age wants to know what we will take outright for Chicago. He was the man who tried to get it on a royalty last spring. What do you say?” [MTP].