January 15 Wednesday – Eli H. Chandler of Kansas City, Kansas wrote at sea, returning from London to Sam, and enclosed clippings from the Jan. 13 London Daily Telegraph, which he claimed had the highest circulation in the world. Chandler observed that the editor of the Telegraph “totally misunderstands and misconceives the scope and intention of your book” (CY). The article called the book a “travesty…that tries to deface our moral and literary currency” [MTP]. Note: the reception to “Yankee” in England was decidedly mixed.

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam: “La Grippe [influenza] seems to have been severe with you. We are glad Clara is better, and hope Susie will not suffer much.” Ma was still having delusions. Orion had written the Chicago agents of Webster offering to help them. He enclosed a clipping about a watch swindle in Fredonia. Mollie was washing the dishes [MTP]. Note: Orion’s letters were characteristically a potpourri.

Howell W. St. John wrote to Sam, thanking him for his prompt reply, which evidently pleased, and would be sent on to Wells [MTP]. See Jan. 13 from St. John to SLC.

Daniel Whitford wrote two letters (one with Whitford to Whitmore Jan. 15 encl.) to Sam about the P&P play mess with Frohman, Richardson, and House. Whitford was gathering affidavits [MTP].

George W. Wilson for Pickett Buchanan Camp, Confederate Veterans, Norfolk, Va. wrote asking Sam’s help to establish a monument there [MTP].