March 21 Monday – In Hartford Sam responded to a neighbor’s note, Charles E. Thompson, that he would “report at the Armory at 8 tomorrow evening.” He also gave Thompson permission for his son to tie up his boat on the creek at the rear of Sam’s property.

…& if he will speak to my coachman, he will provide a place for his oars in our stable, if he would like that [MTP]. Note: The Armory event is unknown.

The New York Times p.5 reprinted a short article from the London Pall Mall Gazette:

MARK TWAIN’S ENGLISH ROYALTIES.

From the Pall Mall Gazette

Until some aggrieved author assassinates the President of the United States so long will the brains of the English author be stolen and served up as chap plats by the pirate publishers of America. Messrs. Chatto and Windus publish some of Bret Harte’s books, Artemus Ward’s, and Mark Twain’s. As might be expected, there is little sale for Artemus. Bret Harte is popular, but Mark Twain makes a really handsome income by his books, which are, of course, copyright. Messrs. Chatto and Windus are Mr. Clement’s [sic] English publishers. His books, I should say, are 11 in number, published at prices varying from 7s.6d. to 2s. The following are the payments made to him in royalties: £1,281, £1,522, £610, £904, £356, £979, £471, £70, £162, £398, £960; total, £7,713, or an annual income of over £1,000. Verbum sap.

Sue Crane wrote to Sam: “Sour Mash wishes me to write you that she rejoices in four of the most beautiful kittens that were ever created” [MTP]. Note: Sour Mash was a Quarry Farm favorite of Sam’s.

A.T. Saunders wrote from Akron, Ohio asking if “The Legend of the Castles” told in TA (appendix E) “is in fact a stock legend or a fiction of your own?” If it was his own could she use it for an operatic libretto? Duly credited of course [MTP].

Rev. William J. Tilley wrote from Brandon, Vt. Sending Sam a complimentary copy of his book (unspecified) [MTP].