June 8 Monday – Clara Clemens’ 22nd birthday. Sam wrote her a short note at nearly midnight, that he’d almost forgotten the date, and if it weren’t so late he’d send a “telegraphic word of condolence.” Sam sent the note to the Grand Hotel in Port Elizabeth, where the ladies would arrive the following day, June 9 [MTP].

Sam gave his “At Home” to 500 at the Town Hall in King Williams Town; it ran 90 minutes. The Cape Mercury reviewed the talk on June 9, claiming the audience laughed at Sam’s delivery not the content [Philippon 20-1].

Sam wrote to Livy with an interesting suggestion:

Livy dear, how would you like me to be U.S. Consul at Johannesburg for a year? Mr. Chapin wants to quit, & I suppose I could have the place for the asking. I might make a fortune, I might not. But a Consul there must have mighty good chances. I’ve not said anything to Chapin, but I would like you to telegraph me yes or no. If yes, I think I would stop at the Cape & write the book.

Sam also noted he’d been awake 19 hours when he hit the bed the previous night, and knew he’d feel tired the next day, June 9. He also noted they’d be at East London by now; he’d sent letters there for her to be sent on board [MTP]. Note: Livy telegraphed, “No, Colonel” to Sam’s suggestion (no date, but before June 13 as Sam responded to her telegraph on June 12) [Parsons, “Traveler in S.A.” 12].

Frank Mayo died on the train near Omaha, returning east to Philadelphia from his last stage engagements in the PW play in Denver. H.H. Rogers sent Sam the news in a June 18 letter, which was probably Sam’s first notice of it, since no prior mention is found in his letters [MTHHR 219-220 & n1].