July 21 Sunday – In Cambridge Mass., Howells wrote Sam, “extremely sorry” he’d not been able to come to Hartford for a short visit, but “one trivial thing after another” had interfered.

Besides, we had promised a visit to Mrs. Fields [Annie Fields, widow of James T. Fields] at Manchester — Pilla and I — this week, and I could not make two absences from home so near together. I can see how my wife depends upon me almost momently. I have denied myself a great deal; I would rather see and talk with you than any other man in the world, outside my own blood. Yours ever [MTHL 2: 606-7].

July 21-24 Wednesday – Sometime during this period Sam wrote a short note to Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941) engineer, author, social reformer, and most importantly, illustrator for CY. After seeing Beard’s work and learning his terms (see July 19 from Hall), Sam gave the green light.

I have aimed to put all the crudeness & vulgarity necessary in the book, & I depend on you for the refinement & scintillating humor for which you are so famous [MTP].

Note: Sam was introduced to Beard’s illustrations in the March issue of Cosmopolitan, when his drawings accompanied a “Chinese Historical Novel,” “Wu Chih Tien, The Celestial Express” [MTNJ 3: 458; MTLTP 254n1].