October 28 Sunday – Sam wrote Orion, letter not extant but referred to in Orion’s Nov. 1 reply.

Nine year old Florence Dean Cope (1873-1951) wrote from Columbus, Ohio to praise TS and ask if Twain would “write a book of his manhood….All of our family would enjoy a book of Tom’s manhood and whether he turned out robber or not at all” and “I think Tom is just perfect. I am getting very tired so I must stop here” [MTP]. Note: Florence’s mother, Ione Cope (1845-1923) was first cousin to Wm. Dean Howells. Her father, Alexis Cope (1841-1918) was a successful attorney.

Karl Gerhardt wrote to Clemens & Livy about a sketch they’d sent that was returned, and hopes they weren’t discouraged with Karl’s “slow progress” [MTP].