May 15 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to George Cumming, a Western Union Telegraph operator who had written an article in the Telegrapher, a union publication. George observed how ancient jokes are, tracing one back to the Greeks. Sam had read the article and it had made him think.

“It never occurred to me before, but I would give something to know what they are going to do with the petrified people at the general resurrection. It seems to me I would polish them” [MTL 6: 480].

Will Bowen telegrammed from St. Louis: “Eighteen fourty four J.M. White three days six hours forty four minutes in fifty two Eclipse three six four Same A.L. Shotwell three three forty Same reindeer three twelve forty five sixty nine dexter three six twenty” [MTP]. See MTL 6: 424.

H.W. Bergen sent dates of Raymond’s appearances for May 14 in Auburn, 15th in Elmira, 21st in New Brunswick, with amounts rec’d at Auburn and N.B. [MTP].

Nathaniel J. Burton wrote a postcard from Hartford that he would not be at the Club on Monday as he was “compelled to be out of the city” [MTP].