April 26 Saturday – On or just after this day Sam declined (through Franklin G. Whitmore) Amos Townsend’s Apr. 25 invitation [MTP]. See Apr. 25.
April 27 Sunday – Fatout lists this date for the Max O’Rell Dinner at the Everett House in Boston, Mass. where Sam gave a speech, “continuing his feud with foreign critics in general and with the ghost of Matthew Arnold in particular,” with “On Foreign Critics” [MT Speaking 257-60].
April 28 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Annie E. Trumbull agreeing to a visit for May 10, probably a young ladies’ Saturday Morning Club appearance [MTP].
Orion Clemens wrote to Sam having received the monthly $200 check.
I hope you are not offended by my suggestion to compromise with House which I made before the case came to trial. I find no fault with you, as you have never studied law. I blame your attorneys for encouraging you to defend a suit that they foreknew you would lose. I claim no transcendent legal knowledge [MTP].
April 29 Tuesday – The Hartford Courant, p.2, “Open Hearth Concert Tonight,” announced the Open Hearth Benefit at the Foot Guard Hall in Hartford. Sam read from CY.
April 30 Wednesday – Charles M. Green wrote on Mutual Life Ins. Co., N.Y. letterhead to Sam. Green was planning a reading of selections from CY using stereopticons to show the illustrations in the book, but in the book he had they were not sharp enough — were there originals he might borrow? Sam wrote on the envelope, “Talk with me about this, Brer / SLC” [MTP].
May – MTNJ 3: 564n255 refers to Sam dining at the George Hearst home during this month in Washington. See unresolved issues regarding a possible May 8-12 trip to Washington.
Webster & Co. sent Sam a “Books sent out during April, 1890” report, with a total of 6,524, led by 2,038 CY [MTP]. Note: the MTP catalogues this as a Apr. incoming entry.
May 1 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie, sending apologies to Mrs. Carnegie:
Oh, I am mighty sorry I left Sunday evening, but I got homesick, & hadn’t anything to do & nothing to read [MTP]. Note: Sam spoke at the Max O’Rell (Paul Blouët) dinner in Boston the Sunday prior.
Sam also wrote to John Garth, journalist, of his thoughts about lecturing:
May 2 Friday – The latest effort at International Copyright legislation failed in Congress.
May 2 Friday ca. – On or about this day Sam left for New York to raise money for the Paige typesetter. Livy wrote to him about his business worries and their planned trip to Europe, canceled.
Youth don’t let the thought of Europe worry you one bit because we will give that all up. I want to see you happy much more than I want any thing else even the childrens lessons. Oh darling it goes to my very heart to see you worried [LLMT 255-6].
May 3 Saturday – William J. Hamersley wrote to Sam: “Paige claims, as I understand, that his machine is now ready for…final exhibition.” Hamersley enclosed a three page typed document outlining the price of $12,000 for sale of the first machines, including a proposal to organize a joint stock company to raise ten million dollars for the manufacture [MTP].
May 4 Sunday – F.W. Heisler wrote from Wilmington, Del. to Sam; Where could he find a copy of Sam’s address on New England weather? [MTP].
May 5 Monday – Frederick J. Hall wrote two notes to Sam, both involving a $25,000 loan from the Mt. Morris Bank [MTLTP 260n1; MTP].
Orion Clemens wrote to Sam offering to “watch that rat-hole” (Webster & Co.) while Sam and family sailed for Europe. “you would worry less during your voyage” [MTP].
May 7 Wednesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam apologizing for not sending the daily reports.
The bank wants the amount made out in three $5,000 notes and one $10,000. We then give them a check for $9,000.00 or an agreement not to draw our account below $16,000. They discount the notes at .06% and as we only use $16000.00 of the amount they really get what is equivalent to .08% [MTP]. Note: the percentages, although written as hundredths of a percent were whole, six and eight percent.
May 8 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Grace Elizabeth King, thanking her for a gift sent:
What a noble hunk of tobacco it is! I would God you were here with me to help smoke it; then would we have a serene & unproving time & unspeakable enjoyment.
Sam also noted now that he had her address, he would send some books.
We keep up a great affection for you in this & family, & we all want to see you [MTP].
May 9 Friday – Franklin Chamberlin, Sam’s Hartford neighbor wrote that he and Livy had inquired if their dogs were troublesome; Fencing was discussed although the note is mostly unreadable. [MTP].
May 10 Saturday – In Hartford Sam spoke at his Saturday Morning Club. His remarks were not recorded [Fatout, MT Speaking 659].
Robert Underwood Johnson wrote for Mrs. Hearst an invitation to Sam to dine at 7 p.m. this evening, or the next if that wasn’t agreeable. [MTP].
May 11 Sunday – F.J. Earll for N.Y. Morning Journal wrote to solicit “a few lines” on International Copyright from Sam, who directed Whitmore to decline for him (on the env.) [MTP]. Note: the bill failed in Congress on May 2.
Fox & Whitmore Co., “Practical Decorators and Designers,” Hartford, wrote asking Sam “the probability of your redecorating your library and dining-room ceilings, this summer” [MTP].
May 12 Monday – In Hartford on or just after this day Sam answered through Franklin G. Whitmore, the May 11 invitation of F.J. Earll [MTP]. Also about this day Sam used Whitmore to answer Charles W. Felt’s May 10 inquiry: “Brer, tell him it is out of my line, & refer him to Paige” [MTP]
If Sam did make a quick trip to Washington on May 8, he would have returned home by this day.
May 13 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to his sister, Pamela Moffett:
May 14 Wednesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam about securing the $25,000 loan from the Mount Morris Bank [MTLTP 260n1].
The Players Club, N.Y. receipted Sam for $10 for dues ($20 crossed out for $10) [MTP].
Charles J. Langdon wrote to Livy that he was sailing for Europe on June 18 and could not be at the June 17h stockholders’ meeting, and so sent a proxy for her vote; he mentioned that Matthew Arnot could not “possibly get away” to Hartford to see the machine [MTP].
May 15 Thursday – Edward Bellamy wrote from Chicopee Falls, Mass. Introducing Henry Holiday, evidently a visitor from England. This was enclosed in Holiday’s May 16 to Sam [MTP].
Emerson W. Judd, secretary for Mass. Tax Reform League wrote offering to make Sam a member of the Mass. Tariff Reform League, now changed in name to the New England Tariff Reform League, for only one dollar [MTP].
May 16 Friday – The Monday Evening Club, Hartford sent Sam an invitation to the May 19 meeting at Frank W. Cheney’s home. Sam wrote on the env., “Brer, say I am gone to New York for a few days & probably will not be back in time / SLC” [MTP].
May 17 Saturday – Webster & Co. wrote advising Sam they’d sent out some 600 circular letters lately to various students, though some 60 were returned for more postage, even all were had the same postage [MTP]. The student marketing effort was intended to keep up sales of CY throughout the summer.
May 19 Monday
May 19 Monday ca. – On or about this day Sam was in New York City where he put a card on Andrew Carnegie’s door, “I mean to ring your doorbell toward 8 this evening, Mr. Carnegie.” The card had Sam’s name and the Murray Hill Hotel on it [MTP].
James W. Paige telegrammed Sam at the Murray Hill Hotel: “Hamersley in NY will write the papers myself” [MTP].
May 20 Tuesday – E.W. Stephens for Herald Publishing Co. wrote inviting Sam to attend a gathering of the press in Missouri on Aug. 22. Sam would not have to speak [June to Stephens].
W.H. Patten for Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam and sent a drawing by Mr. Sterner of Elsie Leslie in her dressing room at the Broadway Theatre. [MTP].
Daniel Whitford wrote to Sam that the Edward House case was put over until October and Sam “need fear no annoyance; he agreed that Sam’s “plan of preserving strict silence” about the case was best [MTP].
May 21 Wednesday – In New York at the Murray Hill Hotel, Sam wrote to Livy that he’d just received both her letters, which suggests he’d been in the city perhaps earlier than Monday the 19th. Estimated here, the prior Thursday, or May 15.
I telegraphed you a while ago, before going down to get shaved, telling you I am going yachting to-day & to-night with Laffan, up the Hudson river & back. I ought to be starting, now, but I steal a moment to write you this line, & say again, as in the telegram, I like the outlook, & think it promises to accomplish things.