December 19 Wednesday – Sam wrote two letters from Hartford to Charles Webster. The first enclosed $271 and asked him to go to George Jones (editor of the N.Y. Times) and ask for the same amount and tell him that it’s an interview and that Sam wants to “build a magazine article & get that money back without any trouble.” Samuel Webster calls this mystery “intriguing.” Sam’s second letter may explain:

“Dear Charley—It occurs to me that you could have got that information in 24 hours by paying the Sunday Mercury’s dramatic Editor $10 to furnish it to you on a piece of paper. Do it, & let’s hurry along. Yrs SLC” [MTBus 239]

Sam wanted to know how many times John T. Raymond had performed in the play Colonel Sellers. Sam also disclosed he’d taken a social trip to Boston.

Sam also wrote to his mother, Jane Clemens, and to Orion and Mollie Clemens:

“We would like you to drink $10 worth of whisky apiece in honor of Christmas, & I enclose the money” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Jervis Langdon II (1875-1952) inscribing and sending a copy of Howard Pyle’s 1883 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, etc. Sam wrote:

“I have always regretted that I did not belong to Robin Hood’s gang” [Gribben 564].

Sam also wrote to Pamela and Samuel Moffett, wishing them a:

“Merry Xmas…love & no news—which, according to the proverb—is good news” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to an unidentified person:

“I am very sorry I cannot take a hand in trying to select the right & best motto, but I am much too pressed for time” [MTP].

In Boston, Howells sent Sam a postcard having seen William Warren (1812-1888), a celebrated comic actor. In light of John T. Raymond’s refusals, Sam and Howells were searching for another actor to play Col. Sellers in their new play. Warren, Howells said, had only a “slight acquaintance” with William Jermyn Florence (1831-1891) another comedian who specialized in dialect impressions. Why not telegraph? Howells asked [MTHL 1: 454].

Worden & Co. receipted Sam $3,000 sent Dec. 18 [MTP].