July – Sam’s article “By Rail through France” ran in the July issue of the Overland Monthly [Camfield, bibliog.]. This was the first issue of the magazine with Bret Harte as editor. The publication was in tune with the pioneering spirit of excitement in California. Harte’s story, “The Luck of Roaring Camp,” appeared in the magazine’s second edition, propelling Harte to nationwide fame.

Sam’s “The Story of Mamie Grant, the Child-Missionary” written in his notebook during this month was a lampoon based on characters and structure of Elizabeth Stuart Ward’s The Gates Ajar (1868) [Gribben 741]. It was not printed during Sam’s life.