August 24 Sunday – Sam was in Washington, D.C., waiting. During this stay Senator John P. Jones of the Committee on Finance was involved in the aftermath of the compromise Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which fell short of the free coinage of silver, but did increase the amount of silver the government was required to purchase monthly. The Act passed in response to the growing complaints of farmers (beginning in 1887), who had immense debts that could not be paid off due to a series of droughts. However, as is often the case, the legislation had unintended consequences which eventually led to inflation and contributed to the Panic of 1893. Jones was one of fifteen Republican senators in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver.

Sam telegraphed Livy that he would need to remain in Washington for “several days” [Salsbury 279 quoting Livy to her mother, this date].

“Mark Twain on Kipling” ran in the N.Y. World, p.18 [Scharnhorst, Interviews 126].

Orion and Mollie Clemens wrote to Sam and Livy. Orion got their letter the prior day; he would “attend to the ticket to-morrow Ma was still delusional, “sleeping better but not eating much” [MTP].