April 4 Tuesday – At 10:15 p.m. at the Glenham Hotel in N.Y., Sam wrote to Livy. He’d spent the evening with Howells and Hall [MTHL 2: 651n1; NB 33 TS 5].

Livy darling, Howells has this moment gone — has been here an hour or so. I am going to lunch at his house tomorrow. As he was leaving he said Charles Warren Stoddard was out there last night & told this story — which Mrs. Howells thought of doubtful propriety:

A little girl was telling another little girl how the Virgin showed her through the cathedral.

“Oh, no,” said the other, “You mean the verger; a virgin is a lady who has had a baby before she was married.” 

The Howells doubled himself up & laughed till his face was purple. He is really the same Howells now that we used to know….

I told him confidentially about Joan of Arc, & he wants it published anonymously in Harper’s.

Sam also related calling on Mary Mapes Dodge during the day. Dodge telegraphed her son “Jamie” (James M. Dodge) and his wife to return from Philadelphia to dine the next evening [Apr. 5] with Sam and Rudyard Kipling [MTP]. Note: See July 5, 1890 for notes on James Dodge.

Sam’s two calling cards with notes for this day to William Dean Howells survive:

Dear Howells: Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge wants you and Mrs. Howells or Pilla to drop in tomorrow evening at 8 or 8.30 — I’m to be there — also Rudyard. / I am very sorry to learn that Mrs. Howells is not well — I leave my kindest regards for her. / Yrs Ever / Mark