April 17 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam finished his Apr. 15 letter to Robert Louis Stevenson. Livy was better (Sam likened her to a battered ship “slowly undergoing repairs”), and would be out of her sick room in about a week he thought.

…if all continues to go well; & then I will run down & see you — timing myself to get within the dates you name for your stay at the St. Stephens, — 19th to 26th — see you & thank you for writing Kidnapped & Treasure Island, & for liking Huckleberry. Those two books! — how we bathed in them, last summer, & refreshed our spirits. [Note: Stevenson had written Apr. 13 he would be in New York].

Sam remarked on the death of Matthew Arnold:

I am glad he passed away before he knew that his article was judged by this heedless press here before it was read…before he knew that his kind intent had been misconstrued & basely received [MTP].