April 1 Monday –Sam returned to Hartford in time to give a reading at “Lib” Hamersley’s, including “Encounter with an Interviewer,” “The Skinned Man,” selections from HF and the Jumping Frog [MTNJ 3: 446; Fatout, MT Speaking 659]. Note: This reading was originally scheduled for Apr. 2 but was changed by Ellen T. Johnson in her Mar. 8 letter. Sam later noted to send thanks for the roses he was given for this event [MTNJ 3: 469n217]. 

April – St. Nicholas Club, N.Y. sent Sam an engraved invitation and ticket to the May 1 Centenary celebration of Washington’s inauguration [MTP]. Note: Sam would not attend.

March 31 Sunday – With the Booth Supper beginning at midnight, Sam thus spoke afterward. Augustin Daly read a letter from George William Curtis, who could not attend. Stephen H.

March 30 Saturday – At supper party for Edwin Booth, held at Delmonico’s in New York, Sam gave a speech called “The Long Clam.” The New York Times, p.4 reported the event on Apr. 1. Many of Sam’s friends, associates and acquaintances attended.

THE BOOTH SUPPER

March 29 Friday – In Hartford, Sam and each member of the family including the youngest, Jean Clemens, inscribed an album to their German governess, Marie Koerner, who was leaving their employ. Sam wrote:

You leave a great many behind you, here, Marie, who will always rejoice to know you prosper & sorrow to know the world does not go well with you; & of these I am one. S.L. Clemens. Hartford, Mch 29/89. [MTP].

March 28 Thursday – Annie Brown wrote to Sam acknowledging his positive response to give a reading at her home in New York on Apr. 13 [MTNJ 3: 468n211].

Sam’s notebook:

Mch. 28/89. Told Paige of my talk with Hamersley, & he expressed his hearty willingness to let us raise the capital by selling the English patents for $10,000,000 — either outright, or we to retain 4/10 of the English stock [3: 468].

March 27 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Abraham G. Mills about his upcoming stay in New York and speech at the Baseball event at Delmonico’s. Sam answered that he would stay at the Murray Hill Hotel and so would

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].