January 13 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles W. Thomas (1849- ), attorney, editorial writer and president of the Mutual Club of Woodland, Calif. Thomas evidently had written a review of CY for a Western newspaper. He also wrote Sam a question (not extant):

Yes, you are right — that is the book’s purpose. In your notice — for which I cordially thank you — you have divined its intent exactly.

I do not suppose I shall ever go on the platform again, but — well, we can’t tell [MTP]

Note: this tone of resignation contrasts with Sam’s longtime insistence that he would never lecture again save for charity. The financial drain of the Paige compositor led Sam to rethink this issue.

Sam also wrote to Webster & Co. asking for books to be shipped. His letter not extant but referred to in Webster & Co.’s Jan. 14. Hall was out of the country [MTP].

K.C. Tapley of Indiantown, St. Johns, New Brunswick wrote asking for the publisher’s address for the Mark Twain Patent Scrap-book [MTP].

The London Daily Telegraph called CY a “vulgar travesty” and asked the question, “Under which King will the American serve — the ideal or the real? Will they own allegiance to King ARTHUR or JAY GOULD?” [Tenney 18]. Note: Obviously, Sam hit a few nerves; there was great division among CY’s reviews.

Howell W. St. John wrote from Hartford to Sam, enclosing a note from his friend Wells to St. John Jan. 10. St. John wished for Sam to answer the question in Wells’ first sentence — was Mark Twain a tariff reformer or Free Trader? Sam wrote on the envelope, “David A. Wells, Publicist” [MTP]. Note: David Ames Wells (1828-1898) was an engineer, texbook author, economist and advocate for low tariffs.