June 3 Monday – Cecil Kingstone wrote to Sam asking if he had any objection or held “any legal power to prevent” him from writing a play based on TA [MTP].
Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam (financial statement encl.) “Which shows a pretty fair month” with books sent out totaling 5,302, Sheridan’s two volumes in the lead with 535 and 543 each [MTP].
June 1 Saturday – An earlier entry in Sam’s notebook gives this as the date for Julia Langdon’s high school graduation. The oldest daughter of Charles Langdon, “Julie” had been chosen valedictorian. Sam and Susy Clemens were invited to attend; Sam wrote, “Best weather. / Bad weather up to 6” [MTNJ 3: 470n221]. Thus he and Susy may have made the trip to Elmira, weather permitting, though no further record of such a trip was found.
June – While preparing to leave for Elmira, Sam entered in his notebook The Beginnings of New England; or, The Puritan Theocracy by John Fiske (1889) [3: 495; Gribben 232].
May 31 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Miss Mary (unknown) declining to “respond in the body.”
I have reached the time of life when one has nothing to do & cannot get any time to do it in; & so I am obliged to stick close at home & seize every opportunity that offers. This does not accomplish anything, but it keeps one’s conscience easy [MTP].
May 30 Thursday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a one-liner to Richard Watson Gilder of Century Magazine:
All right; I’ll tackle it in a month hence, when we shall be out of this turmoil & in the summer nest [MTP]. Note: part, if not most, of the “turmoil” had to do with houseguests — the Wheelers and Mr. Keith left on May 27, the same day Samuel and Mary Moffett were to arrive.
May 29 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook reveals what was probably another quick trip to New York City:
Wed. 29th. Train leaves at 5.10. Diner at 6. Return train at 10 [3: 489].
May 28 Tuesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a humorous episode for Susan L. Crane pass on to her husband, Theodore Crane about Joe Twichell, who would always be oblivious when passing acquaintances on the street.
Twice in a week, our Clara had this latter experience with him within the past month. But the second instance was too much for her, and she woke him up…with a reproach. She said: —
May 27 Monday – This was the date planned for Samuel Moffett’s visit (see May 16 to Moffett). It was also the day that Dora and Candace Wheeler and their friend Mr. Keith were to end their stay at the Clemens house.
Kingsland Smith of the St. Paul Roller Mill Co. wrote to ask Sam for his autograph for his sister [MTP].
May 25 Saturday – A.B. Starey for Author’s Club sent a form letter to Sam that “the regular fortnightly meetings of the AUTHORS CLUB have been suspended for Summer recess” [MTP].
F.P. Chapin wrote from N.Y. to Sam that he would be in Hartford on Wednesday to see the Thorne typesetter at the Post Office. “I am told you are interested in a new one, for which orders are claimed, if so will you kindly inform me promptly” [MTP].
May 24 Friday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a long letter of celebration to Walt Whitman for his impending 70th birthday (May 31). The letter (part of Camden’s Compliment to Walt Whitman: May 31, 1889) reflects Sam’s belief in the fallacy of man’s perfectibility as witnessed by the many inventions and breakthroughs Whitman had witnessed in his life. Wait for another 30 years, Sam wrote and Whitman would see “Man at almost his full stature at last!” [MTP].