April 4 Friday – Webster & Co. wrote to Sam that they’d sent the books (unspecified) to Cedar Rapids, as requested, but had not granted his signature on the title page as the letter of the purchaser had asked for. Reports (not extant) enclosed. “We have also sent a copy to the editor of the “Elmira Echo” [MTP]. Note: likely CY books.
April 3 Thursday – Matthias H. Arnot wrote to Sam, enclosing a draft for $5,000 [MTP]. Note: Arnot had agreed to purchase $50,000 worth of Paige royalties, $5,000 at a time.
April 2 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam answered Edwin Wildman’s Mar. 31 request for an article for Echoes about Sam’s cats:
There is nothing of continental or inter-national interest to communicate about those cats.
They had no history; they did not distinguish themselves in any way.
They died early — on account of being overweighted by their names, it was thought. SOUR MASH, APPOLLINARIS, ZOROASTER, AND BLATHERSKITE…[MTP].
Henry M. Alden for Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam (Lukens Mar. 26 encl.):
April 1 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam responded to William Dean Howells’ Mar. 26 letter about A.P. Burbank wanting payment to release rights to the American Claimant play. There would be time enough to talk business with the man later, Sam thought.
April – Sometime during the month, William J. Hamersley loaned Sam $2,500 to help with typesetter expenses. This was a three-month loan but still unpaid a year later. Since Sam expected “Ham” to kick in with one-fifth of ongoing expenses, he may have seen this as an offset. (See July 11 entry.)
March 31 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Joe Goodman of returning Arnot’s check and suffering from an “empty purse.”
Dear Joe — If you were here, I should say, “Get you to Washington and beg Senator Jones to take the chances and put up about ten or” — no, I wouldn’t. The money would burn a hole in my pocket and get away from me if the furnisher of it were proceeding upon merely your judgment and mine and without other evidence. It is too much of a responsibility.
March 30 Sunday – Jessie Burgoyne wrote from N.Y. to ask Sam where she might find his “Yawning Story” and “Sarah Walker.” Sam wrote on the env., “Brer please tell her I didn’t write either of them. I will sign. SLC” [MTP].
Addie M. Cooke wrote from Windsor, Conn. asking Sam if he knew someone who could “compose recitations on any subject.” Whitmore wrote at the top of the note that Mr. C. did not know anyone “who undertakes that species of work. FGW for SLC” [MTP].
March 29 Saturday – Valentina V. Whiting, a “little girl” in New York wrote to Sam for his autograph [MTP].
Lucia B. Griffin, , “The Celebrated Impersonator,” etc., wrote asking permission to use Sam’s “telephone” sketch and “a few of your funny pieces in a small book of recitations I am getting out for school rooms…” She mentioned having met Orion and Sam’s mother in Keokuk. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Brer, please tell her I can’t speak for my publishers, but I myself have no objections. I will sign. / SLC” [MTP].Note: Lucia B. Griffin’s Catchy Cullings, etc. (1890)
March 28 Friday – Matthias H. Arnot sent Sam a check for $5,000 to invest in the Paige compositor, as per a conversation the month before [Mar. 31 to Goodman]. Note: see Mar. 31 to Goodman; this check would be returned.
Orion Clemens finished his Mar. 27 letter: “Ma slept well last night — best night for a week” [MTP].
March 27 Thursday – Orion Clemens began a short letter to Sam he finished Mar. 28. He thanked for the monthly $200 check. Ma’s cough was still bad in the night but “she does not appear to suffer today” [MTP].
Press Supply Assoc. of Cleveland, Ohio per J.W. H. wrote to Sam soliciting an article 100-500 words “embodying your opinion concerning the necessity of a college education to a young man, contemplating a business career, e.i. [sic] whether it is necessary or not?” [MTP].