March 11 Wednesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote to Charles Casey. He addressed Casey as “Ex-President.” This is probably the Charles Casey Sam wrote to on May 15, 1876, president of a “Mark Twain Fan Club” in Ireland.

I hurried all I could, but it was a very very severe strain upon that part of my bowels which is called my intellect, & I perceived long ago that I had not asked for time enough on that problem by as much as two years. Well, there is a another & a longer world, & I will think it out there. It is not one of these ephemeral questions, anyway [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Andrew Chatto, informing him of excellent sales of Huck Finn in the U.S., his completed reading tour, and Grant’s autobiography, which he planned to issue Dec. 1.

General Grant will own his foreign copyrights himself, but Webster will go abroad in August & make the contracts with publishers for him. Webster will necessarily have to make the best trade he can for the General, but I want you to think it over & be prepared to make an offer that will put the book into your hands.

General Grant’s death will strike this country to the heart when it comes; & we are afraid it is not far away now. He is failing steadily, & the disease is incurable [MTP].

Sam also wrote to James Whitcomb Riley. Sam admired Riley and complimented him on his poem the “Old Swimmin’ Hole,” saying “what a strong text it was,” and how well he handled it [MTP]. Note: see Mary Bowe’s article in Fall 1995 Traces, “On Stage and Off with James Whitcomb Riley and Mark Twain.”

Howells wrote an invitation for Sam and Livy to visit him in Boston [MTHL 2: 522].

George Farquhar Marchmont wrote from the Phila. Hospital for the Insane [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “lunatic”