October 23 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote a scolding apology to Henry Loomis Nelson (1846-1908) who had called on the Clemens home and been mistaken for a peddler. Loomis had been secretary of the American Copyright League and would later become editor of Harper’s Weekly. He was also an author and educator.

Great Scott, what a thoughtless man you are! Why the mischief didn’t you write on your card in the first place? …

I was “very busy” playing billiards; I hadn’t my glasses & couldn’t read the card [sent up by George]; my adversary read it & said to the colored man, “Yes, I know — tell him to name an hour & I’ll call at his office.” But George said: “This isn’t our neighbor, this gentleman is a stranger.” Now I beg a thousand pardons, but I jumped straight way to the conclusion that you had come for a contribution to a Western College — damn it, man, they all do [MTP].