January 24 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Frank Bliss, sending his compliments that he’d done “exceedingly well. Looks like a decided improvement in business…” [MTLE 3: 6]. Since Sam usually wrote to Frank for accounts of royalties, evidently Sam had received reports and checks that showed an improvement of book sales.

Sam also wrote to an old friend, Rollin M. Daggett (1831-1901) of the Virginia City Enterprise. Daggett is the “Mr. D” in Ch. 51 of Roughing It. He also founded the Golden Era in San Francisco in 1852. From 1879 to 1881 he would represent Nevada in Congress. Daggett wrote a Jan. 15th editorial about Sam becoming an editor of the Hartford Courant, “In the Harness Again,” a story which the New York Sun had printed that Sam said was “foundationless.” Sam thanked Daggett for his compliments, and said the rumor had probably started because he had a telephone line connected from his Farmington Avenue home to the Courant office a mile and a half away [MTLE 3: 7]. Note: Sam must have received copies of the Enterprise to keep up with his old stomping grounds.

Sam also replied to the Jan. 21 from John Wentworth Sanborn, who was “stuck” on Sam’s scrapbook.

‘Sh! Don’t say a word—let the others get “stuck.” I’ll tell you privately, to use a wet rag or brush—but let us leave the others to get into trouble with their fingers. Then they will abuse the Scrap Book everywhere, & straightway everybody will buy one to give to his enemy, & that will make a great sale for the inventor, who will go to Europe & have a good time [MTLE 3: 9].

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam: “My Dear Brother: — / The two years I asked for have expired, and I am satisfied that I am an idiot. I was an idiot to leave Hartford. I am told you are editor in chief of the Courant. Can’t you try me again?” the long letter contains several anecdotes [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Jan. 24/78 Orion’s Story”

Julius G. Rathbun wrote from Buffalo to invite Sam to buy some old wine vintages that his gentleman friend was unloading [MTP].