September 14 Saturday – At sea on the Warrimoo, Sam added to his Sept. 13 a letter to H.H. Rogers, that he would finish Sept. 15: “Shuffleboarding is rather violent exercise for me,” and related that he won the best two of three games with another tournament winner, and was dubbed “Champion of the South Seas” [MTHHR 187: See NB 35 TS 49].

W. Vernon of the Travellers Club in London wrote (from Paris) a rather convoluted letter to Sam, sending personal examples of “mental telegraphy,” as well as a “line of introduction from Mr. Bret Harte,” which read:

My dear Clemens, / I think Mr. Vernon quite explains himself, but I may add that he is very much interested in your specialties and just as smart as in his suggestions [MTP].