March 13 Friday – In Hartford, Sam wrote to Charles Webster about an offer made by the Rose Publishing Co. of Toronto, Canada (see also Dec. 8, 1884 entry). Sam advised Webster not to trust Rose’s word, but to draw a contract or bond that would “tie him fast to it,” such as a forfeit.

“I think his proposition indicates two things, 1. That our Canadian copyright is strong, this time; & 2, that he wants the Grant book” [MTP].

On or about this day Sam sent a one-liner to Howells about D.W. Howland:

“Who is this man, Howells? tell me, & return me his cheeky damned letter. Mark [MTP].

The note was written on a letter from D.W. Howland to Sam, dated Mar. 12, 1885. Howland wrote that he was gathering after-dinner speeches for a book and would Sam offer suggestions [MTHL 2: 522].