June 23 Monday – From Lucius Fairchild’s diary:

“Up in the balloon with Mark Twain – Mrs. Twain, Miss Spaulding & Guilwoodford” [Rees 8].

Mr. & Mrs. Fairchild were also in the balloon, which could accommodate 38 people [MTJ&N 2: 315n50]. See also May 3 entry.

In a letter of April 28, 1880 to Fairchild, Sam referred to the balloon ride at St. Cloud. Did Sam think of “that lunatic” Jules Verne while he was aloft? [MTLE 5: 88].