March 18 Tuesday – Using Franklin G. Whitmore, Sam responded to Theodore S. Parvin’s Mar. 14 request. Sam had no manuscripts to contribute for the Iowa museum [MTP]. Note: Whitmore’s note is stamped received in Iowa Mar. 20. Mail worked well in those days.

Albert Johannsen’s letter and question about HF arrived, and was probably answered this day or soon after. Sam wrote on the letter for Whitmore: “Brer, please tell him it is too long a story to tell — would require a chapter” [MTP].

Rudyard Kipling’s famous interview with Mark Twain from August, 1889 first ran in the Allahabad, India The Pioneer [Tenney 18; Baetzhold, John Bull 358n18]. Note: many sources incorrectly cite the later Aug. 17, 1890 N.Y. Herald article as the first.

W.H. Benedict wrote from Elmira soliciting money to plant a tree for Sam on Arbor Day. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Build no Monuments to the living. Could not accept. / SLC” [MTP].

Samuel Coit wrote to Sam from Washington, D.C. wishing to “dispose” of his Paige typesetter royalties and asking for Sam’s help in doing so. Sam wrote on the envelope, “He has $40 royalty” [MTP].