February 2 Wednesday – William Dean Howells ended his twelve-year run with Atlantic Monthly. Thomas Bailey Aldrich succeeded him. Henry Oscar Houghton gained control of the Atlantic. Howells would sign a contract with Sam’s new publisher, James R. Osgood, Howells to produce one novel a year plus shorter pieces for $7,500 annually. Howells was working on several plays and was about to finish The Lady of Aroostook. His daughter Winny, age seventeen, suffered a nervous breakdown a few months before. Sam sympathized and offered psychological support [Powers, MT A Life 450; MTHL 1: 347n1]. Note: According to Goodman and Dawson, the “official” date of Howells’ resignation was on his birthday, Mar. 1, 1881 [212].