August 16 Monday – In Shirley Village, Mass., William Dean Howells sent Sam proofs on “The Curious Republic of Gondour,” which would run anonymously in the Oct. Atlantic Monthly [MTL 6: 523]. “I like Gondour greatly, and wish we could keep your name,” Howells wrote, “Send me some more accounts of the same country” [MTHL 1: 97].

Note: The sketch parallels some of Sam’s later writings, and was a serious, if ironic proposal that the more propertied and educated should have more votes than the masses—a somewhat English and aristocratic idea, which he felt best not to risk his reputation on. There are also similarities to Connecticut Yankee [Rasmussen 103]. Sam’s experiences in England no doubt led to some of this thinking, but it was wise to leave this piece unsigned, even though Howells wanted it signed.

Sam wrote from Newport to sister Pamela Moffett. He sent congratulations to Annie Moffett and Charles Webb, who had set a date of Sept. 28 to be wed. Sam wrote that he and Livy were “miserably homesick” but would stay in Newport until Sept. 8 or 10 [MTL 6: 524].

Sam also wrote a one-liner to James R. Osgood, enclosing an advertisement of William F. Gill’s “Treasure Trove” series that still included the name Mark Twain. The agreement reached with Osgood’s attorneys stated that Gill could sell 2,000 copies already printed, but could not advertise Sam’s alter-ego name [MTL 6: 524-5].