March 15 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells. He sent a piece for the Atlantic and also simultane-sheets to go to the Canadian Monthly and to Chatto & Windus. He doubted he would go to the Taylor banquet (though he did go) as he would be in Elmira. Sam said he wanted to see Howells before he sailed, but couldn’t travel to Boston and leave Livy alone to lose “another nights rest,” after being away two days in New York. It’s likely the two decided to attend the Bayard Taylor Banquet on Apr. 4 to say goodbye, yet Howells was also at the dock when they left (see Apr. 11 entry). The Farmington house goods had been packed up and Sam wrote that the:

“drawing & pink rooms have a melancholy look, to-day—uncarpeted & wholly stripped & empty. This work of desolation is to go right on, day after day” [MTLE 3: 28].