January 14 Wednesday – In Washington, Sam wrote again to Livy just before 10 p.m. With no appointments until Thursday, Sam “avoided encountering people by clinging as a rule to” his room and reading. He read four acts of Cymbeline, and noted there were only two characters in the play. He ate “another vast meal” and sent information on an Italian dish for Alice, their cook. He expressed being homesick and missed even Susy, though he hadn’t had her around, lately. After his signature and a hope that when he carried this letter down to post he’d find one from Livy — Sam thanked her that he did find one waiting [MTP]. Note: Cymbeline is a Shakespeare play based on an early Celtic British king.

Kate Foote of Hartford wrote an invitation of some sort (not extant) to Sam in Washington, which he answered on Jan. 16. MTNJ 3: 624n186 identifies Miss Foote as a “‘bedridden permanent invalid’ — probably a relative of Mrs. George H. Warner’s.”

Sam’s notebook: Washington, Jan.14/91. Paige says Hamersley says he is given more than he is entitled to, in the contract, in proportion to mine. And he will give one of the two twentieths to me, under certain conditions [MTNJ 3: 599].

Note 91 from this source: “Hamersley nonetheless offered to surrender a portion of his interest ‘for the sake of success’ if Clemens retracted his letter of July 11. There is no record of an apology from Clemens, and Hamersley retained his full interest in the typesetter.”

Lou G. Stephens wrote from Centerville, Iowa announcing herself as “sister of your old friend Dan De Quille.” She offered some of her history in a rather piteous way; perhaps a begging letter [MTP].