January 6 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Osgood & Co., with directions for sets of plates, dies and printed copies of LM. Sam was anxious for success:
“We must sell 100,000 copies of the book in 12 months, and shan’t want him complaining that we are the parties in fault if the sale falls short of it.”
Sam also relied heavily on Livy’s editorial and censorship eye:
“In proof-reading I shall cause you no delay—but I don’t answer for Mrs. Clemens, who has not edited the book yet, and will of course not let a line of the proof go from here till she has read it and possibly damned it. But she says she will put aside everything else, and give her entire time to the proofs” [MTLTP 161].
Worden & Co. sent a statement with a Dec. 31 balance of $24,680.68 [MTP].