June 15 Tuesday – The Clemens family and governess Rosa Hay (a party of six) left Hartford for Elmira and spent the night at the [Sam to Orion June 2] Gedney House at 40th Street and Broadway in New York [Hotel stationery on Sam to Whitmore this date; Salsbury 230].

In New York City Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, whom he often addressed as “Brer Whitmo.” He’d left behind his “big field-glass” and needed it especially on the lake leg of the journey. He asked Whitmore to express ship it to him in Elmira, though Sam wasn’t sure if it was in the billiard room and didn’t recall seeing it lately [MTP].