April 20 Monday – Howells wrote from Boston to Sam, advising him not to use his Cornell speech on Apr. 29 to defend Huck Finn against the Concord Library Committee—he thought them:

“…game too small for you, and you can’t stir it up without seeming to care more than you ought for it. You have done enough” [MTHL 2: 526]. Note: Howells was one of the few people who could be so blunt and directive with Sam and ward him off of obsession which might be damaging to his image. Clemens left it alone.