September 27 Monday – In Buffalo, Sam finished the letter to Mrs. Fairbanks, mentioning the brief visit to Buffalo of Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria’s third son.

“…none of his acts in Buffalo were noisy enough for future historical record. It was Veni, Vidi, Vici, with him. He came—he saw that lunch—he conquered it” [MTL 3: 356, 361n8].

Sam also wrote Elisha Bliss about printing notices for the book. He informed him that he’d be in Elmira on Nov. 1 [MTL 3: 362].

Sam wrote on Express Printing Co. letterhead, to unidentified “Gentlemen”:

“I am going to lecture a little over half the season, & my present engagements render it impossible for me to go further west than Pittsburgh. Otherwise I would be most happy to profit by your kind invitation” [EAC Gallery auction June 16, 2009, Lot 461]. 

Nineteen-year-old Prince Arthur came to Buffalo and lunched at the Tifft House, then toured the city. Clemens covered the visit. Reigstad [78] writes Sam “was put off by the prince’s haughtily regal bearing.” Twain’s sketch, “Arthur” poked fun at the Prince. While at the Tifft House, Sam observed Millard Fillmore dining [78]. Reigstad adds in a footnote the irony that Clemens would stand next to the Prince at his 1907 Oxford ceremony [296n37].