June 20 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles W. Fairchild, Howells’ friend and neighbor in Belmont and brother of Lucius Fairchild. Charles had invited Sam to a farewell dinner for James R. Osgood, who was leaving for Europe. Sam decided not to go because the banquet was the same day the family had planned to remove to Elmira. The illnesses in the family no doubt also played a part in his declining the invitation. He sent his apologies [MTNJ 2: 487n191].

Would I go to a farewell feed whose object was to get rid of old Osgood, that majestic accumulation of iniquity? You bet you! By George I would walk to such a banquet rather than miss it. But you see, I am anchored here for the summer, 510 miles from Boston, & so long a journey, in this weather, would kill me…[MTP].

Sam also wrote to Howells (typewritten letter):

After infinite labor and fatigue, Mrs. Clemens has got her menagerie ready to move, but now we are brought to a halt by Jean’s illness. She has had hoarseness and a pretty sick time of it in one way or another, during the past four or five days, and now a rash has broken out on her which the doctor is not willing to say is not scarlet fever. So we shall stay still and wait a day or two, and then go or stay according to results.

Sam offered to advance $3,000 to Howells on the “Encyclopedia of Humor” project. He also spoke of the recent visit to Belmont:

I not only had a prodigiously good time at your house, but as usual I brought away some material results. I wrote an article for the Tile Club [“The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm”] which would never have been written if I had not gone to Belmont. I always make expenses, and a hundred dollars or so besides out of a visit to you. Yours as ever, Mark [MTHL 1: 406]. Note: This piece ran in the Harper’s Christmas Supplement, 1882.

Sam also wrote to George W. Cable. Sam’s plans for a traveling lecture “menagerie” had to be postponed:

Both Howells & Aldrich are to be absent a long time in Europe; & then Uncle Remus vanished southward again, without giving us a chance—according to agreement—to try the strength of his voice in some empty Boston hall. I suppose that if we ever do get the menagerie on its feet we can’t hope to have Remus [Joel Chandler Harris], because he evidently can’t conquer his diffidence. …

Our packing is all finished, to-day, & a special car engaged to transport out family to Elmira N.Y. for the summer—but now a horrible rash appears upon the body of the baby!—& there is much scarlet fever in the town [MTP].

Charles Webster wrote to Sam, more about purchasing stock for him, and also about Osgood coming in for a talk [MTP].