September 12 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Elmira, responding to an Aug. 26 letter from George MacDonald, Scottish minister, novelist and poet whom Sam met in 1873 in London. George recommended his literary agent, A.P. Watt. Sam answered that he didn’t need an agent as he was going to publish his own works. He promised to send a copy of LM when issued [Lindskoog 28].

The New York Times reported in “PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE” that “Samuel L. Clemens, of Hartford, is at the Hotel Brunswick” [p.8]. I found no other evidence that Sam made a quick trip to New York City. He wrote from Elmira on both Sept. 12 and 14, so if he did take the 10-hour trip, he wasn’t there long.

Joel Chandler Harris wrote to Sam, newspaper clippings enclosed reviewing The Stolen White Elephant.

Dear Mr. Twain: / How can you call my stupefaction at the Tile Club dinner admirable? I suffered the agony of the damned twice over, and when I reflected that probably Mr. Osgood was prepared to put me through a similar experience in Boston, I thought it would be better to come home and commit suicide rather than murder a number of worthy gentlemen by making an ass of myself. Still, you will not escape. I shall have to go to Canada any way, and I’m going by way of Hartford. Next spring probably [MTP].