February 7 Saturday – Sam got up at 7 AM and took a train to Indianapolis, Indiana. On the train he wrote to Livy, explaining how black coffee made him “cheerful, & easy, & confidential & conversational with the audience,” but it didn’t protect him from “disastrous lapses of memory which come of over-fatigue.” Sam was counting the days now till he would be home, “at half past 3 on a Sunday morning Feb. 22!” [MTP].

At the Hartford house, Fox, Brusselars & Co., did massive work on the carpet, ceiling and woodwork (see Mar. 2, 1885 entry & bill.)

Sam and Cable gave two readings at the Plymouth Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, a matinee and an evening performance.

Anne D. Cooper wrote from Westfield, N.J. She rec’d his “kind reply” but asked more about the ghost story [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “the cheek of it”

Julia Handover wrote from London asking for an autograph; SASE in file unused [MTP].

Charles Webster, wrote, receipt by Osgood of $3,000 from Webster enclosed, to buy his interest in the Library of Humor [MTP].