December 24 Saturday – In Hartford, Sam answered a letter (not extant) from Dana Estes (1840-1909), of Estes & Lauriat, Boston booksellers. Estes offered membership to Sam in a group working for copyright protection, something Sam was already involved in the Authors Copyright League of New York, and had no time to add another organization to his docket.
Both as author and publisher, my sympathies are deeply enlisted in the work, and I wish I could be present next Tuesday, especially if I might chance to hear a vigorous word or two said against Mr. Pearsall Smith’s scheme to persuade the United States Government to fling a new insult at the foreign author. It seems to me that to concede that a man does own his own property, and then in the same breath deny him the liberty to do as he likes with it, is a wanton and peculiarly shabby affront [MTP]. Note: The reference to Smith may be Robert Pearsall Smith, prosperous glass manufacturer of Phila.
Sam also wrote to Douglas Taylor of the Typothetae, an association of master printers who celebrated annually on Jan. 18, the birthday of Benjamin Franklin. Sam was sorry he could not attend the upcoming function [MTP]. Note: See Jan. 18, 1886 when Sam did go and speak.
Sam telegraphed for the Clemens family to Grace Elizabeth King in New Orleans
The night is filled with sleighbells and moon shine and flying snow balls and other signes and symbols of the joyful season…The Clemens Family [MTP].
Sam also wrote Webster & Co. A short note, again opening, “Dear C L W & Co.” Sam liked a woodcut of himself for the Library of Humor, and was happy that a prospectus was on time, and he liked the plan for it as outlined by Hall on Dec. 23 [MTLTP 240n1&2]. He announced that the printing of the “Burton [Nathaniel J. Burton] book has begun,” as well as the canvassing: Yale Lectures on Preaching, and Other Writings (1888) [MTLTP 240].
Frederick Hall for Webster & Co., wrote Sam enclosing a statement of bank balances totally $12,196.94. Hall reported that
…the “Library of Am. Lit” will in the course of a month or six weeks begin to make some return, as we intend to put the first two volumes to press very shortly [MTNJ 3: 361n195; MTP].
Karl Gerhardt wrote to Sam (W.S. Chapman, S.F. to Gerhardt Dec. 16 enclosed) enclosing a “wax sketch” (not further described). Chapman was a friend. Karl asked Sam to write an attorney in S.F. on some matter [MTP].
Charles H. Taylor for Boston Globe wrote to Sam with questions that “thousands of young men in New England…would…like to read your replies to…” relating to boxing and the “moral effect of it upon our young men.” Sam wrote “Mendicancy” on the envelope [MTP].