April 11 Tuesday – Sam was still somewhat delayed in New York, but wrote William Dean Howells from the Hotel Glenham that he was leaving for Chicago at 10 a.m. the next morning (Apr. 12), to be gone “some days, possibly a week” and would look in on him when he returned.

What a pity! By the postmark your note [not extant] was due here as early as 9 this morning, but when I left the hotel at noon it had not then arrived. I find it now at 5 p.m., just as I am getting ready to meet a dinner engagement. Nothing occurs to me to say, except Damnation! & that seems so inadequate. I am infernally disappointed [MTHL 2: 651].

Agriculture Secretary J. Sterling Morton replied to Sam’s request that the “seed corn is forwarded at once,” and,

The water-melon seeds are also sent, and will no doubt produce fruit calculated to inspire larceny among all the youthful lazzaroni who may long for lusciousness [MTP].