September 23 Wednesday – Twichell’s journal reveals how the Twichells and the Clemenses spent this evening:
H[armony] & I dined at M.T.’s where we met Hon. John Russell Young late U.S. Minister to China. The talk was largely of Gen. Grant of whom he had intimate knowledge having made the Great Tour with him and written the book “Around the World with Gen. Grant” But though so well furnished with matter of interest (of various kinds) he was so unskillful a talker as to make the least of it [Yale, copy at MTP].
Sam wrote from Hartford to President Grover Cleveland. As a Mugwump, Sam wanted Cleveland to know that Mugwumps were not dissatisfied with him, that they would all vote for him again.
“…they believe in you, rest in you, stand by you, & are day by day increasingly proud of you & grateful that you are where you are. We are not disturbed by the Brooklyn Weigher & the New York Custom house matters…”
These were merely mistakes, Sam assured; they had faith that Cleveland would correct them [MTP].
Sam also accepted an invitation from Henry L. Dawes [MTP]. Note: back on Mar. 1 Sam made a reminder in his notebook to speak in Pittsfield, Mass. for the “Young Ladies Club” in October. The promise made was to “Miss Dawes,” Anna Laurens Dawes, daughter of Henry. The invitation most likely related to Sam’s Oct. 7 reading in Pittsfield, perhaps to stay with the Dawes family.
Sam also wrote to Frank Finlay of Belfast, Ireland, who was about to visit the U.S.
My Dear Finlay: / I am home all those days except the 6th & 7th. Now then, you reach New York Oct 1; can’t you get through with your business there by the 3d & run up here & stay till the 6th? (I don’t go away till the morning of the 6th.) Give me a line saying you’ll come [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Courtlandt Palmer, New York lawyer, resident of Stonington, Conn. and head of the Nineteenth Century Club, who on June 21 asked Sam to speak at the club. He’d tried several times to come up with a humorous speech and failed, so he finally declined the invitation to speak:
“ wrote the thing three times & put each attempt in the fire where four-fifths of my manuscript goes to, of late years. I gave it up then; for the same thing which had caused my defeat up to that time, would keep on causing it for an indefinite period: the Grant book”[MTP].