April 13 Tuesday – Frederick J. Boesse (1844-1914) wrote from Americus, Ga. to criticize TA, and Sam’s “blunders” in German, as well as to criticize American habits [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “From a Jewish swine.” Paine later wrote under this “Amen. / A.B.P.”; Boesse was the head of F.J. Bosse & Co, NYC importers of jeweler’s materials. He was born in Germany and lived in Brooklyn for 50 years [NY Times obit Sept. 19, 1914)].

April 13 to 19 Monday – Sam and Livy enjoyed a getaway to Boston, where they spent “a day and night with” the Howellses (Howells’ Apr. 17 letter to his father) [MTHL 1: 301n3]. The two couples visited James T. Fields and wife, where they enjoyed a performance by Norwegian violinist and composer Ole Bull (Bornemann) (1810-1880), who was living with his wife at J.R. Lowell’s home in Cambridge Mass. Bull was considered one of the greatest violin virtuosos of his time, a soloist of international repute.

“…if Ole Bull had been born without arms, what a rank he would have taken among poets—because it is in him, & if he couldn’t violin it out, he would talk it out, since of course it would have to come out” [MTLE 5: 72; MTHL 1: 299-300].