February 17 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall of a “very pleasant visit” by an unspecified man. He also enclosed a paper which, if Hall liked it for publication, to make a copy of it and mail the original to Grace King. Sam expressed some urgency as to developing the memory game, feeling it would provide some needed income:

Come quickly, & discuss my historical game. It is the important feature now [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Grace King, who had asked (letter not extant) if Webster & Co. would consider publishing the biography of Charles Gayarré (1804-1895), the Louisiana historian, former US Senator (1835) and her close friend.

Dear Miss Grace:

You see my partner says the straightforward thing in the business-like way. That is, let Mr. Gayarré’s friends gather the stipulated subscribers & the money, without commission, & we will undertake to manufacture and deliver — dividing the profit, over & above all legitimate costs (cost of any kind which would not have been entailed upon us but for the book) between the widow & our firm in the proportion of ½ to each.

As I am going to send this through Mr. Hall for his approval or emendation, I shall withhold those eruptions of affection always sure to happen in a letter to you from Mrs. Clemens or me. She has been ill but is better. Sincerely yours / S.L. Clemens [Bush 45; citing ALS in the possession of Mr. John M. Coxe]. Note: Bush footnotes that Sam mistakenly thought Gayerre was dead, but he lived until 1895.

Andrew H.H. Dawson wrote a rather pompous note to Sam “after him” as an “undiscovered friend” to dine on Feb. 28 at 18 West 25th at the HQ of a Southern Society where about 180 would attend if they knew Sam was coming. A photo of Dawson was enclosed. Sam wrote on the envelope, “I have answered this bugger SLC” [MTP].