January 30 Friday – James Whitcomb Riley wrote to Sam enclosing his poem, “Honest Old Sam Hungerford.” Gribben writes:

“Riley sent this poem to Clemens from Pittsburg…; it is a ‘dialect’ piece about ‘the prince of honest men,’ someone who ‘never earnt a dollar, ner he didn’t give a dam!’ Riley wrote that he wanted to hear Clemens recite the short poem ‘in some deep, reposeful state of satirical exasperation’” [580]. Note: see Feb. 2 for Sam’s thanks.

Howard P. Taylor wrote from N.Y. to Sam, “glad you consented to the change. It only remains for Curtis to come to business. He is playing this week somewhere in Pennsylvania.” Taylor would try to “get the best terms possible,” and “Of course…would submit terms to you before closing in any case. That is part of our agreement” [MTP].