September 6 Wednesday – Sam and daughter Clara were at sea on the Spree. Sam wrote on Sept. 13 to daughter Jean, about Clara’s last night on board:

She had good times on the ship & wasn’t sick, & learned to play a very creditable game of horse-billiards [deck shuffleboard]. She danced till 11 the last night, but took a long afternoon sleep the next afternoon at the Murray Hill to make up for it [MTP].

An original autographed dinner menu (in German and English) aboard the Spree is listed in the 2006 Twainucopia catalog by Robert Slotta. Vertically along the right side of the menu, Sam wrote, possibly rating the menu as an “A”:

Approved:

Attest= Mark Twain A=

At Sea, Sept. 6/93.

Note: The menu featured: “Filtered fowl and sweetbread-soup / Ragout in shells / Roastbeef with green peas & carrots / Calf’s head turle style / Roast pouiardes / Preserves & salad / Pudding Metternich style / Ice-cream & pastry / Dessert / Coffee.”