June 30 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner, (7.30?) Skrine, Queen Anne’s Mansions Wednesday, 30th” [NB 41 TS 32]. Note: Sam confirmed Skrine dinner, but for July 1, back on June 26; the date was then changed.

From the Brooklyn Eagle, p. 6, an editorial response to Mark Twain refusing charity efforts to pay his indebtedness:

Mark Twain.

It relieves the feelings of the American public not a little to know that Mark Twain has declined the money that has been raised for him, in the supposition that he was impoverished. This sum had begun to indicate a possibility of tempting proportions, so that it argues some courage on the part of the expected recipient to refuse it altogether. It shows, however, that Mr. Clemens is a good American in spite of the fact that, like some other writers, he no longer cares to live in America. He commands high prices for his writings. He can at least support himself by his pen, he draws something of a royalty from his books; but the failure of the publishing firm of which he was backer involved him in a debt which he gave up nearly all of his possessions to pay. Like [Sir Walter] Scott, he is beginning late in life to earn his livelihood again; but he is the typical American writer, if we have one, and he stands high in the esteem and affection of the American people. They were willing to help him out of his pecuniary difficulties, but like him the better because he has resolved to get out by his own efforts.