March 25 Monday – Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green forwarded the draft of a new contract for the dramatization of P&P. The new agreement included Daniel Frohman as well as Abby Sage Richardson, and gave Sam and Abby half-shares of a sliding scale of receipts. Whitford offered that it was impossible “to make a more advantageous agreement.” The new contract was in force on May 13 [MTNJ 3: 466].
March 24 Sunday – Livy wrote to her mother:
It is a wonderful day…. Clara and I have been to church. Susy staid at home, she has not been feeling quite well, having had quite a sore throat….
Of course the children are full of their lessons and very busy with their studying. I feel very unsettled about what I shall do with them, nothing in the way of a school seems to be exactly what I want.
I think Susy and Clara are both doing very well with their music this year [Salsbury 258].
March 23 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Hamlin Garland (1860-1940), American poet, novelist and short story writer, best known for his portrayals of Midwestern farmers. Sam did not have the time to give “the subject” Garland spoke of in his Mar. 21 letter “the proper thought so as to venture the least advice.” Sam hoped “in the near future we may run across each other; and talk the matter over” [MTP].
March 22 Friday – Richard W. Gilder for Century Magazine wrote to Sam: “Our next Fellowcraft dinner is Wednesday, April 10th? I am after you again…” Sam noted, “Tell him I can’t” on the env. [MTP].
March 21 Thursday – L.P. di Cesnola for Metro. Museum of Art wrote that Sam had been nominated as an “annual member” [MTP].
March 20 Wednesday – Reading in Volume 1 of The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning, Sam recorded his progress along the margin on p.81: “Finished here March 20/89 I declare! What time it is!” [Gribben 105]. (See Mar. 27 for next notation.)
An unidentified person (signed, “A Bostonian”) wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].
March 19 Tuesday – Susy Clemens’ seventeenth birthday.
In Hartford, Sam wrote a long letter of explanation to Edward H. House about contracting P&P for the stage with Abby Sage Richardson. Here in part:
I was not at home when your letter of a few days ago arrived [not extant]: it followed me, but has not yet over taken me; so I get its substance at second — hand.
March 18 Monday – J.W. Curtiss for Spaulding Reception Committee (for Party of Representative American Ball Players) wrote to Sam inviting him to the Testimonial Banquet and to respond to a toast at Delmonico’s, Apr. 8, 1889. (Clipping enclosed, “The Sandwich Islands – Mark Twain’s Description of the Late King and ‘Prince Bill.’” — credit given to the N.Y. Tribune) [MTP].
March 17 Sunday – The Clemenses likely returned to Hartford.
March 16 Saturday – In the evening they took in Taming of the Shrew at Daly’s Theater, which proceeded at 8:15 p.m. [Dorney to SLC Mar. 14].