February 6 Saturday – Sam signed a contract with James Paige, agreeing to pay him $7,000 annual salary, and undertake up to $30,000 in improvements to the typesetter, with no overall ceiling on his investment responsibilities. He was also obligated to raise capital for the machine and to promote it upon completion. In exchange, Sam would gain a larger share of the profits. Hamersley, for money already invested and for legal advice, was let in for ten per cent. Powers writes:

His business agent, Franklin G. Whitmore, an old Hartford billiards-playing pal, was appalled, and warned Clemens that he was courting bankruptcy. Clemens assured Whitmore that he knew what he was doing. Paige tinkered happily on, with the serenity of one who has secured a lifetime research grant [MT A Life 506].

Paine writes of what the Paige machine would soon become:

What the Tennessee land had been to John and Jane Clemens and their children, the machine had now become to Samuel Clemens and his family. “When the machine is finished everything will be all right again” afforded the comfort of that long-ago sentence, “When the Tennessee land is sold” [MTB 908].

William Tecumseh Sherman wrote from St. Louis to Sam explaining “that letter written hastily.” A better editor than this one might be able to read Sherman’s handwriting, but the ending reads: 

I do not mistrust Scott, but I do Fry — I have furnished the North American Review the copies of the correspondence which Scott furnished me. After the damage was done. / With respect as always / Your Friend [MTP]. Note: General James Barnet Fry (1827-1894) was a West Pointer; he served at Harper’s Ferry capturing John Brown and on Gen. McDowell’s staff during the war and authored a few books on the military.

From Susy Clemens’ diary:

We have just had our third “Prince and Pauper” and we have had more fun acting it than ever before, the programme was the same except that Papa lengthened the “Lady Jane Grey Scene” in which Clara was the Lady Jane Grey. He also added a little to the interview between the prince and pauper, by putting in a little scene behind the scenes to represent their talking while changing clothes [Papa 174].