February 23 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam’s sister Pamela arrived from California for a six-day visit.

Paine writes of Sam’s Browning Class, which met every Wednesday during this period (see 1887 begin):

“Once, at a class-meeting, after finishing ‘Easter Day,’ he made a remark which the class requested him to ‘write down.’ It is recorded on the fly-leaf of Dramatis Personæ as follows:”

On the flyleaf of his copy of Browning’s Dramatis Personæ, Sam wrote :

One’s glimpses & confusions, as one reads Browning, remind me of looking through a telescope (the small sort which you must move with your hand, not clock-work). You toil across dark spaces which are (to your lens) empty; but every now & then a splendor of stars & suns bursts upon you and fills the whole field with flame. Feb. 23, 1887 [MTB 847]. Note: Paine observes that the passion for this class waned and it “was succeeded by, or perhaps it blended with” a German class.

Sam wrote to Henry (Harry) Edwards (see Jan. 20, 1886 entry), once again begging off an invitation to a show of Edwards, explaining that his sister had arrived for a visit:

The only thing that could have come in the way to prevent my being with the Lambs Sunday Evening, has happened: my sister has arrived to-day from California for a six-day visit; & as we are not likely to meet again this side of the crematory, it is naturally my desire to be with her all I can. [MTP].

Orion and Mollie Clemens wrote to Sam & Livy, mainly about the bridal money for Samuel Moffett’s present. Orion: “Your letter of 18th received, and the ‘verdict’ will be complied with.” Mollie: “I despise the ‘bridle [bridal] present’ business and ignore it — except in families. There it need not be abused. In families it should be ‘tokens of affection’ –not taxes.” Ma wasn’t as well as she had been [MTP].

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3600  Mr Eugene Meyer  30.00  Piano lessons