April 15 Sunday – Matthew Arnold died while running to catch a tram in Liverpool. He was 65.

In Hartford Sam began a letter to Robert Louis Stevenson, which he would finish on Apr. 17, in response to Stevenson’s Apr. 13 letter.

How fortunate! — I mean, that I shall have a chance to see you, after all. When my wife was taken down with a savage attack of diphtheria six days ago I knew she could not be strong again for two or three weeks; so I gave up my trip to Canada (where I was hoping to see you) …[MTP].

Sam’s notebook entry in mid-April to “Telegraph Charley Lang” suggests he may have sent word about Livy’s diphtheria and quinsy (tonsillitis) to her brother, Charles Langdon [MTNJ 3: 382n276].