December 16 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, again about the “Library of Humor” book.
No, don’t keep the check—collect the check & keep the money…you & I will probably be bald & toothless before the Library is published; for if I get the two books I am expecting to get, they will come in ahead & shove the Library along a couple of years; & by that time other books will intervene again & keep shoving it along.
Sam also announced that he and the children would act the P&P [again] “about the middle or the end of January,” and invited the Howellses to come [MTHL 2: 546]. Note: the two books Sam hoped for were General Grant’s letters to Julia, his wife; and an authorized biography of Pope Leo XIII [n2].
Sam also wrote two short notes to Charles Webster. The first announced he would reach Webster’s office about noon the following day (Dec. 17) and return home Friday (Dec. 18). He enclosed a letter (from Howells?) to be put with the “Library of Humor,” or where Webster could find it when it would be needed. Sam’s second note shows a change of mind. He wouldn’t come right away unless needed. He referred to a “new book”— the beginnings of Connecticut Yankee:
“I am plotting out a new book, & am full of it; so unless there is use for me down there, I shall not come yet awhile…”
Sam wanted Webster to telegraph him when the matter of Grant’s death mask was settled:
“…for I am full of solicitude & shan’t feel easy & comfortable till it is settled to Mrs. Grant’s satisfaction” [MTP].(See Perry’s note, entry Dec. 10-13?.)
“Puckograph” of this day featured Mark Twain [Puck 18.458 back cover]. See insert.
John Fiske sent a telegram: “Cannot speak above a whisper. Too much New England climate have telegraphed Pond to postpone lecture one week. Perhaps somebody ought to explain to audience if assembled. Could you” [MTP].
Frederick D. Grant wrote “I find there is some difficulty about my mother’s getting possession of the death mask…I write hoping that you will be able to influence Mr Gerhardt to deliver the mask to my mother, without a break in the friendly relations which have existed between him and us”[MTP].
Charles K. Tuckerman wrote from Paris, France for autograph [MTP].
Charles Webster wrote: “I can’t do a thing with Col. Grant. He says if I do not deliver that mask by Monday he will get an order in court compelling me to do so. I told him I could not deliver it that I was not a competent court to decide whose property it was, that I could deliver it only to the person from whom I received it or upon his order. He then told me I must not deliver it to Gerhardt” [MTP].