October 2 Saturday – The Brooklyn Eagle, in a page two article, “American Humor – From Artemus Ward to Max Adeler,” (citing the Cincinnati Enquirer) concluded that “American humor is becoming rather scarce.” Reflecting perhaps a popular belief that Sam’s slowing of literary output and immersion in business marked the end of his career as a humorist, the article offered:

Mark Twain is a real humorist and has given the world some amusing things, but he has finished his work. He has given the world his best and will never startle us with another “Jumping Frog” story, or make us shed tears with him over the grave of Adam.

The New York Times (Oct.3) on page one, carried an update on the Wanamaker lawsuit:

GEN. GRANT’S MEMOIRS.

WANAMAKER’S ANSWER TO THE SUIT

OF C.L. WEBSTER & CO.

PHILADELPHia, Oct. 2. — The answer of John Wanamaker, Thomas B. Wanamaker, and Robert C. Ogden to the suit brought by the publishing firm of Charles L. Webster & Co., growing out of the sale at Wanamaker’s of the personal memoirs of Gen. Grant, was filed to-day in the United States Circuit Court. A motion was argued before the court a short time ago to have the defendants restrained from selling the book over their counter upon the ground that it was only to be sold by subscription, but Judge Butler refused to grant the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction. The matter will again come up upon final hearing and the answer now filed appertains to that part of the suit. The defendants claim that since the litigation was begun they have ascertained that the books purchased by them were sold by the plaintiffs to their general agents, who sold them to Hill and Harvey, their sub-agents, from whom Joshua Barney, the party who sold them to the defendants, purchased them, and that the books were forwarded to the agents without regard to the number of subscriptions which had been taken. It is also stated that the books were not obtained by the defendants by wrongful collusion with any agent, but that they were bought from Mr. Barney with the assurance that he had a right to dispose of them. The defendants also claim to have information by which they expect to prove that the plaintiffs have been selling the book otherwise than by subscription, and ask that the proceedings instituted against them may be dismissed. The matter will be heard upon argument.

Sam wrote to Elizabeth E. Jenkins (Mrs. Edward Jenkins) on Suburban Street in New Haven, Conn., asking about tiling the wall next to the fireplace in the “new bedroom” [MTP]. Note: For Sam to undertake this task suggests Livy was again ailing.

Sometime later this day or thereafter, Sam and Livy went to New York City and stayed at the Murray Hill Hotel. They undoubtedly had Clara with them, as Sam’s notebook lists an Oct. 5 appointment with Dr. Farrar for her.

Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam with news of William Hamersley’s progress — it looked like General Philip Sheridan “intended to place the book in our hands,” he wrote. Hamersley was at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to confer with the General; Hall thought Hamersley would “probably start for Washington today.” Hall also wrote he’d telegraphed “thinking possibly you might want to telegraph him” [MTP].