December 12 Tuesday – Sam replied from Hartford to the Dec. 11 of Julian Hawthorne Sam explained that the way the Canadian laws read, it was impossible for a foreigner to secure a copyright there without making false claims. He mentions that “it is said—Beecher, Jeff Davis, et al” had done it.

“The Canadian law was made, distinctly & professedly, to encourage piracy…” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Horace Russell. He had arrived at a subject for his Dec. 22 toast for the New England Society of New York at Delmonico’s Restaurant. Sam proposed to be the “5th Regular toast: Woman—God bless her! Response by Mark Twain” [MTP].

Sam also inscribed Ellen C. Taft’s autograph book; she was leaving for Europe. Sam included a poem:

Who shooeth folk with wit’s keen shaft,

      Mrs Taft?

Whose clear head maketh mine seem daft,

      Mrs Taft?

Who aye compassion had for my sad craft,

      Mrs Taft?

 And o’er my humor wept when others laughed,

      Mrs Taft?

Who into shams drives blade unto the shaft,

      Mrs Taft?

But heartening cheer to merit aye doth waft,

      Mrs Taft?

What answereth this whole raft?

      MRS TAFT!

Hartford, Dec. 12, 1882.

Whose heart doth keep the wine of life on draft—

Good-fellowship—to be by all the thirsty quaffed,

      Mrs Taft?

Thomas William Clarke wrote from Chicago that the judge had taken the trademark suit under consideration [MTP]. Note: Thomas W. Clark (without the “e”) is listed as the attorney for the complainant (Sam) in Clemens vs. Belford, Clark & Co. Jan. 8, 1883. The same man.

Karl & Hattie J. Gerhardt wrote to Sam and Livy of gifts sent to the Clemens children [MTP].