November 16 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote a short letter of compliment to Grace King on her novella, “Earthlings,” which ran in the November issue of Lippincott’s Magazine. The theme of King in this work and in Monsieur Motte, was that of worthy New Orleaneans and their struggles after the Civil War.

Dear Miss King:

I do suppose you struck twelve on Earthlings. It does not seem possible that you or any one else can overmatch that masterpiece. I cannot find a flaw in the art of it — I mean the art which the intellect put there — nor in the nobler & richer art which the heart put in it. I felt the story, just as if I were living it; whereas with me a story is usually a procession & I am an outsider watching it go by — & always with a dubious, & generally with a perishing interest. If I could have stories like this one to read, my prejudice against stories would die a swift death & I should be grateful [Gribben 371; Bush 41-2].

Frederick J. Hall for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam, having received his letter about Mr. Wright’s dismissal. Hall had not heard back about purchasing the Grant pictures from Mr. Howe. The books had been examined in view of Wright’s dismissal:

The expert finds that the books have been honestly kept, so far as the present investigation goes, but very badly, they are full of clerical mistakes, and are being straightened out rapidly. Mr. Wright is now canvassing for us and will continue to do so for some time. I think he is better in this capacity than any other…but he has prove himself such an unmitigated liar that I don’t feel I could be comfortable with him in this office [MTP].

Clarence C. Rice wrote to Sam: “In regard to Miss Susie’s method of swallowing, I believe it to be a nervous phenomenon not due to disease of the food passage — but reflex — that is due to irritation of some portion of the throat or larynx” [MTP].

Marcel Schwob wrote two notes from Paris, France to Sam. Schwob was evidently a stranger to Sam, but a great fan, who addressed him in one note very familiarly, and apologized in the second note for it. Schwob’s uncle, Leon Abaun, author of Le Capitaine Magon [?] Les Mercenaires, etc. “begs me to tell you what a great pleasure he took in reading” HF, likening Huck to “a modern Sancho Panza”  [MTP].