April 4 Monday – Western Union Telegraph Co. bill of Apr. 30 shows telegram sent this date to New York, recipient not specified (see that entry for others).
April 6 Wednesday – Western Union Telegraph Co. bill of Apr. 30 shows telegram this date to and from Ft. Hamilton (Brooklyn), recipient not specified (see that entry for others).
Edward Duffy wrote from Utica, NY to ask Clemens’ advice for a little book describing the country home of Horatio Seymour (1810-1886), twice Governor of NY and loser in the 1868 election of Grant [MTP].
April 7 Thursday – Western Union Telegraph Co. bill of Apr. 30 shows telegram sent this date to New York, recipient not specified (see that entry for others).
E. Muchall wrote to Clemens asking for “a few lines” from him. Muchall wrote for a religious paper in NY but the “remuneration is so small I do not care to waste my time” [MTP].
April 8 Friday – Sam wrote two letters from Hartford to Frank Bliss, the first receipting a royalty check for $630.56 for the sale of “old books” which Sam felt was “Very good, indeed, in spite of the weather.” The second note asked for a cloth Tramp book to be sent to H. L.
April 9 Saturday – Yung Wing wrote from Wash. D.C. having rec’d Grant’s letter to Li Hung Chang and two letters from Grant to Clemens. He had forwarded copies to John Russell Young and to Edward House [MTP].
April 10 Sunday – Karl Gerhardt wrote from Paris to Sam and Livy about his entrance into and positive experience in the Ecole des Beaux Arts [MTP].
Joe Goodman wrote from Fresno to Clemens.
April 11 Monday – Sam began a letter (in Hartford) to Karl and Hattie Gerhardt which he completed Apr. 19.
April 12 Tuesday – A.G. Newman, burglar alarms, NYC wrote to Sam. “Referring to enclosed Statements of a/c would say that with your permission I propose drawing on you for the Amt $222.46 on the 22nd inst., when I trust you will find it convenient and agreeable to honor the same, and greatly oblige” [MTP].
April 13 Wednesday – Laura C. Redden Searing (1839-1923; pseudonym: “Howard Glyndon”) wrote from Sherwood, NY to ask Sam for coaching about subscription publishing [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Howard Glyndon Poetess”; not in Gribben.
April 14 Thursday – Emma E. Brewster wrote a postcard from Kingston, NY to ask Clemens how he pronounced his name, Clē–mens or Clĕm-ens? [MTP].
Jane Grey Swisshelm wrote from Hyde Park, Illinois to thank Sam for pictures sent, and to relate her difficulties in sitting 20 times in hope of a good portrait for a frontispiece in her book [MTP].
April 15 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Frank Bliss. Sam had lost Hinckley’s address and asked Bliss to:
“…drop Hinckley a line & say the Postmaster General has responded favorably…therefore he can notify that fellow to retire from the pirate-book trade” [MTP]. See insert.
April 16 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Mollie Fairbanks, asking for the date of her visit and the train she’d be on so he might be at the station to meet her [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Laura C. Redden Searing, who wrote on Apr. 13, seeking advice on subscription book-selling. Sam advised:
April 17 Sunday – In Boston, Howells wrote to Sam about Osgood and questions of the contemplated Library of Humor, about being pressed to finish his novel, A Modern Instance, being serialized in the Century Magazine; and about another proposed work for Sam, an etiquette book [MTHL 1: 361-2].
April 18 Monday – Charles Webster wrote from Fredonia that it would take him until Saturday to “arrange his affairs,” then he could stay longer when he came. He related judgments about Slote’s employee, Robb, “who was a good designer & engraver and understands his business.” He also related experiments with Kaolatype, using an iron plate and a glass plate. He was getting familiar with Sam’s various business interests, so he might take them over [MTP].
April 19 Tuesday – Sam completed the Apr. 11 letter to the Gerhardts by adding a paragraph about Livy being too busy to add to his letter [MTP].
April 21 Thursday – Clement T. Rice wrote from Brooklyn to ask Sam for his endorsement to be used in securing a position in the customs house [MTP].
April 22 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Francis Augustus Teall (1822-1894). Francis was one of the most distinguished proofreaders of his time. He was associated with Appleton Publishing House. He had charge of the Proof Department of their Encyclopedia. He was Assistant Editor of the Century Dictionary published in 1889.
April 23 Saturday – Wm. Hudton, Hartford billed $31.05 for 2,300 lbs., “hay & weighing” [MTP].
Karl & Hattie J. Gerhardt wrote from Paris to Sam and Livy with details of their expenses since arriving in France. Hattie was taking French lessons, and Karl was hard at work on his art school projects [MTP].
April 26 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster.
“All right. The reasons why Kaolatype hasn’t paid, seem to be very simple. But I think you will make it pay. You will remember I gave Sneider a week’s grace—let his wages cease with that” [MTP].
Western Union Telegraph Co. bill of Apr. 30 shows telegram sent this date to New York, recipient not specified (see that entry for others).
April 27 Wednesday – Hartford and New York Steamboat Co. billed $1.50 for “1 box plants from Elmira; Apr. 25 from NY, Lake Eire & Western RR” [MTP].
Western Union Telegraph Co. bill of Apr. 30 shows telegram sent this date to Brooklyn, recipient not specified (see that entry for others).
April 28 Thursday – Sam wrote a short note from Hartford to the A.V.S. Anthony, that he would:
“…hand that book to Osgood, when he comes, & he can take it to Boston; if it is too bulky, I guess we’ll tear out that particular fac-simile & let him take that” [MTP].
April 29 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster.
April 30 Saturday – Mrs. Gilbert of Hartford billed $54 for “36 lessons in German from Mar. 21 to May 1”; paid [MTP]. Note: Four different Mrs. Gilbert’s are listed in the 1875 City Directory.
May 1 Sunday – Sam wrote three letters from Hartford to Webster, explaining that he considered the $5,000 loan to Slote, three days before Slote, Woodman & Co. failed, to be a debt of honor, and that “Slote should have antedated the firm’s note to the beginning of 1878 so that Clemens could get full payment of the debt” [MTNJ 2: 392-3n119; MTP].
May 2 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster:
“Let Dan furnish money to pay bills with, just as long as he will” [MTP].