October 31 Wednesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote to Mary Mason Fairbanks, who was considering publishing a book (probably on the Quaker City excursion) and asked Sam’s advice. He answered that it was not “absurd” to offer a “best effort…to the public for trial & judgment.” Sam offered to write the introduction, and recommended Osgood if she was considering an eastern publisher. Then he dropped this jewel of writing wisdom:

But there’s a good safe rule to follow—considering that Providence always makes it a point to find out what you are after, so as to see that you don’t get it: Publish for fame, & you may get money; publish for money & you may get fame: but the true trick is, publish for love, & then you don’t care a (I can’t seem to get hold of the word I’m after) whether you get anything or not [MTLE 2:185]. Note: Sam often teased Mary about swearing.

In Cambridge, Mass., William Dean Howells wrote to Sam:

“The glimpse I had of you last week was such an aggravation that I almost wish I hadn’t seen you at all. I want a good old three-dayser, next time.”

Howells also wrote of Sam’s last “Rambling Notes” segment, and of wanting the amateur detective play story for the Atlantic [MTHL 1: 206-7].  

Charles W. Stoddard wrote from Perth Amboy, NJ to Sam:

“It was not necessary for you to see me to the Station that rainy day; I’m used to going alone in all sorts of weather and environs had you gone with me I should have felt as if I was taking you from your work and that would have made me wretched.” He thanked Sam for the signed books, and told a tale of a young man about to commit suicide who started reading IA and then “postponed his suicide indeffinitely”[MTP].