December 5 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to his mother and family in Fredonia, asking for any two of them to visit during the winter and for “a couple of you here for Christmas.” Livy couldn’t handle any more than two guests at once [MTL 5: 240].

Sam also wrote to Whitelaw Reid, editor of the New York Tribune about the Missouri disaster of Oct. 22. Enough lifeboats and proper training, Sam said, would save many lives [MTL 5: 241].

Sam also wrote a hard-hitting letter to the editor of the Hartford Evening Post, where Orion had recently landed a job. The letter was about Mayor Abraham Oakey Hall (1826-1898) (“Elegant Oakey,”) who was aligned with the corrupt “Boss” Tweed and Tammany Hall of New York.

“…all men, in their secret hearts believe him to be an oath-breaker & a thief…Is there no keeping this piece of putridity in the background?” [MTL 5: 244].

Sam also sent an autographed note for a friend of Dan Slote’s, one Albert W. Whelply [MTL 5: 248].