October 8 Friday – Sam wrote to the Polar Star Mason Lodge of St. Louis, asking for a “demit,” an official release of membership to non-affiliate status [Jones 366]. Note: this letter not found in the MTP letters, and specifies Sam wrote from Buffalo, when he was in Elmira on this date, so the date is suspect.

The Waltham, Mass. Sentinel gave Sam’s IA a front page review under the heading “Mark Twain.” The review referred to Twain as “this much respected humorist,” and to IA as “unquestionably one of the most interesting works of the day.” Perhaps influenced by this good press, Sam would lecture in Waltham on Dec. 16. [eBay 280374360670 July 22, 2009].