May 2 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Elmira photographer Elisha M. Van Aken asking him to send two pictures “Wide Awake” and “Fast Asleep” to Miss Winnie Dawson, in care of Dawson Brothers, Montreal. Sam added the note:

It was a pity you sent a picture to St. Nicholas; they love me there as other people love disease & death [MTP]. Note: St. Nicholas was a magazine for children, edited by Mary Mapes Dodge; “Wide Awake” and “Fast Asleep” were two pictures, four adult cats in each, on a wicker chair..

In the evening, two tramps asked for food at the Clemens home; they were later suspected of burglary at three homes, including the Clemens home (see article, May 3).

Webster & Co. wrote to Sam that they’d received his letter from Chatto and complete sheets of the book (Library of Humor) had been mailed to Chatto. “We are pleased to report last month’s cash sales were larger than any month we have had since the Grant Memoirs.” Agents were “bitter” about the trade getting books [MTP].