July 17 Friday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Joseph J. Albright, an iron manufacturer in Scranton, Penn. His son, John Joseph Albright (1848-1931) was connected by marriage to the Langdon family (he married the former Harriet Langdon (1847-1895), Livy’s first cousin. Sam’s “certificate” entitled Joseph to first class passage, round trip, on the comet (See July 6 entry.)

“I am cheerfully furnishing complimentary tickets to all the hard-coal people (for the round trip,) because my wife owns in a soft-coal mine & she wants to get rid of the opposition” [MTL 6: 191].

Sam also wrote to Thomas B. Pugh, manager of the Star Lecture Course in Philadelphia who had solicited Sam to lecture again there. Sam’s reply:

“I would like mighty well to stand before one of your big audiences again, & sound the humorous war whoop, but alas, I have taken a long farewell of the platform! I am a lecturer no longer” [MTP, drop-in letters].

Anna E. Dickinson wrote to Sam

Dear Mr. Clemens, don’t be too busy to read how I have sprinkled ashes on my head at having supposed those people would forget what you wrote them.——and “40 pages”—too!

You are a brick! which, being translated means that you are a gentleman—and a friend worth having—and I appreciate you.

Please give my love to the whole blessed household & know me to be

Sincerely yours

Anna E Dickinson [MTP].