November 17 Tuesday – Sam wrote from New York City to Livy.

      Livy darling, another solid day’s work on proofreading, two hours of it at Mrs. Grant’s house, & the rest at the office…

      I am going to dine with Laffan this evening (thanks for the dress suit, which has come)—& I shall read some proof after I go to bed. Three or four days of this constant work will enable me to catch up, & then I shall have a little easier time of it.

      I am afraid I can’t go home Saturday, because they want me to go to Washington the end of this week & talk international copyright to the President. One must not refuse an office of that kind, when asked—a man who prides himself on his citizenship can’t refuse [MTP].

Sam also wrote to James W. Paige; letter not extant but referred to in Paige’s Nov. 18 reply.

Sam did dine with William Mackay Laffan in a private room at an unspecified restaurant. Joining in were James R. Osgood and “two young Harpers.” The two Harpers:

“…forced Laffan to match half dollars with them & in 15 minutes they hadn’t a cent, & Laffan had won enough to pay for the dinner.”

They then played billiards and drank champagne (Sam had none) till 1:30 AM [Nov. 18 to Livy, MTP].

Orion Clemens wrote, Orion stories enclosed. Orion had rec’d Sam’s of Nov. 12 (not extant). “I sent you the answer of the Director of the mine last Friday…but before writing to him again, I will wait till the latter part of next week, as the answer he has already made may suggest some modifications of your interrogations, or additions to them” [MTP].