February 13 Sunday – In Belmont, Mass., Howells wrote to Sam. After resigning as Atlantic editor, Howells now announced an agreement with Osgood for a weekly salary enough to afford him full time for writing. His daughter, Winny, was better, and was in Boston with the wife [MTHL 1: 348-9].

Robert J. Burdette wrote from Clyde, Ohio to Sam about his missed lecturers, wanderings, obstacles, etc. He added, “We were all pleased, clear down to the baby, that you should take time to write me, as you did. I can only account for it from what I know of your irrepressible mania for writing letters, any how” [MTP].