March 23 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Hamlin Garland (1860-1940), American poet, novelist and short story writer, best known for his portrayals of Midwestern farmers. Sam did not have the time to give “the subject” Garland spoke of in his Mar. 21 letter “the proper thought so as to venture the least advice.” Sam hoped “in the near future we may run across each other; and talk the matter over” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Abraham G. Mills (1844-1929), the fourth president of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (1883-4), and is best known for heading the “Mills Commission” which credited Civil War General Abner Doubleday with the invention of baseball.  Evidently it was up to Mills to introduce Mark Twain at the Apr. 8 dinner to be held at Delmonico’s in honor of the baseball players who played an exhibition match in the shadow of the pyramids in 1888. Sam instructed him on an easy way to make the introduction:

…you will say all you choose to say; then, as a wind-up, I beg you to close with these words or their equivalent: “Mr. Mark Twain (not Clemens, for my private name embarrasses me when used in public) you have been in the Sandwich Islands — rise & talk.” [MTP]. Note: was it embarrassment or did Sam merely wish to continually promote his “stage persona”? See Apr. 8 entry.

Sam also inscribed a photograph from IA to C.W. Whiting. “Mark Twain” is written over S.L. Clemens, diagonally [MTP].

Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green wrote to Sam that Daniel Frohman had arranged a meeting at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday at 11; Whitford would report to Sam afterward [MTP]. Note: Frohman owed Sam a share of the profits from the P&P play by Abbey Sage Richardson.