December 7 Thursday – Sam gave the “Roughing It” lecture in Sprague’s Hall, Warsaw, New York. One version of this speech is published in Mark Twain Speaking, pp. 48-63. Sam experienced mixed results with the Artemus Ward lecture, and even faced charges of plagiarism for retelling some of Ward’s old jokes. He was ready to try a new lecture. Sam probably invited his friend David Gray from Buffalo, some 30 miles away, to hear and review his new lecture.

A receipt to Livy from Spear & Whiting, Hartford dealers in greenhouse and other plants, shows $15 for various flowers, plants, and hanging baskets; also receipted for $102 to Isaac Glazier & Co., dealer in picture & looking glass frames; W.B. Willard $10 paid for flour [MTP].

December 7 or 8? Friday – Sam wrote from Warsaw, New York or Buffalo to the Staff of the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise about Thomas Kean’s tour through a Virginia City mine. Kean was a city editor and drama critic for the Buffalo Courier, and traveling in the West. He carried a letter of recommendation from Sam [MTL 5: 691].