June 26 Tuesday – In New York City Sam wrote to Timothy Dwight (1828-1916), president of Yale.

To be made a master of arts by your venerable college is an event of large size to me, & a distinction which gratifies me quite as much as if I deserved it. To be noticed in this way by the university would be pleasing to me at any time, but it is peculiarly so at this juncture. The late Matthew Arnold rather sharply rebuked the guild of American “funny men” in his latest literary delivery, & therefore you honorable recognition of us is peculiarly forcible & timely.

Sam felt the calling of a true humorist was,

…the deriding of shams, the exposure of pretentious falsities, the laughing of stupid superstitions out of existence; & that whoso is engaged in this sort of warfare is the natural enemy of royalties, nobilities, privileges & all kindred swindles, & the natural friend of human rights & human liberties [Fatout, MT Speaks 141-2].

Sam apologized for not being able to make the dinner of the following evening, June 27, for the ceremony (he was on the way with Livy and the children to Elmira for the summer). The letter was reprinted in the Hartford Courant of June 29, p.5. Note: A. Hoffman writes that the degree was “awarded …at the instigation of alumnus Joe Twichell” [346]. Camfield writes that the 1888 degree “was proposed and supported by Joseph Twichell, who was an active alumnus” [Oxford Companion 265].