February 1 Saturday – Sam went to New York City and would return Feb. 3. Clara Clemens also went for an appointment with her orthodontist. Miss Lilly Gillette Foote, the Clemens’ governess accompanied them [Livy to her mother, Feb.2, MTP].

Sam’s notebook:

Feb. 1/90. Sir Wm. Gull is just dead. He nursed the P. of W. back to life in ’71 & apparently it was for this that Mr. Gull was granted knighthood, that doormat at the threshold of nobility [MTNJ 3: 538]. Note: Sir William Withey Gull, physician to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, died on Jan. 29, the N.Y. Times reported on Jan. 30. Perhaps Sam wrote this on the train.

George W. Cable wrote to Sam asking for an autograph for a “sweet girl, and native to England, and who loves you and is afraid you will find it out” [MTP]. Note: the girl is not named.

Scribner’s & Sons wrote to Sam asking if they might use his portrait as the frontspiece for their monthly The Book Buyer; they always pictured “some distinguished author” in the publication [MTP].

H.H. Collins sent Sam a newspaper clipping [MTP].

Robbins Brothers, Manufacturers and Dealers in Furniture of Every Description, Hartford, billed $3.25 for “Jan 7 repg Portfolio, repairing inlaid chair”; Paid Feb 5 [MTP]. Note: “repg= repairing”