April 20 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Elisha Bliss. “…I don’t like to trust your man,” Sam wrote, about proofreading errors at Bliss’ company. Sam wrote and crossed out: “He is an idiot—& like all idiots, is self-conceited.” Sam returned another section of proofs with this letter [MTL 3: 197-8]. Note: Sam often crossed out sentiments but left them visible to the reader.

Sam also wrote to James Redpath (1833-1891), who had recently founded the Boston Lyceum Bureau as a central booking agency for lecturers. Sam and Nasby had tried unsuccessfully to contact Redpath while in Boston on Mar. 14-15. Sam told Redpath it would be “some time” before he knew “positively” whether he could lecture at all. This began a long personal and professional association with Redpath [MTL 3: 199].