February 11 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam responded to William Dean Howells’ last letter (now lost) that included James A. Herne’s desire to produce The American Claimant. Sam called Herne’s letter “a fine straight-forward utterance,” and told Howells to save the comment for when it was time to write a contract. Sam called Howells’ new book, A Hazard of New Fortunes, “a great book” and liked “the high art by which it is made to preach its great sermon without seeming to take sides or preach at all” [MTHL 2: 630].

Sam also wrote a short note to Stilson Hutchins, declining an invitation to a journalist’s function [MTP]. See Mar. 1888. Hutchins had sold the Washington Post in 1889.

Mrs. Thomas W. Russell, chairwoman of the Needle-work Committee, Hartford Art Soc. wrote complimenting Sam on his letter to Elsie Leslie and his “wonderful work of art,” the slipper (in Feb.’s Harper’s). “I am impressed with the idea that you may have mistaken your Profession, and that Art rather than Lettters should claim you as its Apostle” [MTP].

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam that the doctor pronounced Ma a “very sick woman”; she was delirious and without more than an hour’s sleep for 24 hours [MTP].