November 12 Tuesday – Sam went to Boston and gave a dinner speech at the Press Club [Fatout, MT Speaking 659].

William and Elinor Howells took Sam to see A Foregone Conclusion [Nov. 14 to Elinor Howells]. Since the play was to be performed only Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and since Sam was back in Hartford on Thursday, it leaves only this day. His dinner speech probably followed the performance. Alexander Salvini played the part of the priest, Don Ippolito; it haunted Sam, who thought him “embodied music.” The Howellses were temporarily living in Mount Auburn, Mass.

According to Ketterer, Sam “presumably” stayed at the Parker House. Since Sam’s letter of Nov. 14 about the visit does not thank the Howells for their hospitality, usually the case had he stayed with them, this may be correct. Ketterer also points out that the Parker House was “a short stroll” from Lee & Shepherd’s bookstore at 10 Milk St., Boston, where he recalled buying a copy of one of Charles Heber Clark’s (Max Adeler’s) books, probably The Fortunate Island and Other Stories [Ketterer, 24-5].

Daniel Carter Beard wrote to Sam. The two men saw alike in championing the struggle of the common man against elites and aristocracies, which undoubtedly contributed to the unity of the book.

Unless the signs mislead me, the time is ripe for Hank the “Boss” to make himself felt both here and with our cousins across the water. I would like to see a copy of your book in every palace house and hut in the United States, not because I had the honor of illustrating it but because I consider the story a great missionary work to bring Americans back to the safe honest and manly position, intended for them to occupy, by their ancestors when they signed the declaration of independence [MTHL 2: 611-12n3].