March 18 Monday – J.W. Curtiss for Spaulding Reception Committee (for Party of Representative American Ball Players) wrote to Sam inviting him to the Testimonial Banquet and to respond to a toast at Delmonico’s, Apr. 8, 1889. (Clipping enclosed, “The Sandwich Islands – Mark Twain’s Description of the Late King and ‘Prince Bill.’” — credit given to the N.Y. Tribune) [MTP].
March 17 Sunday – The Clemenses likely returned to Hartford.
March 16 Saturday – In the evening they took in Taming of the Shrew at Daly’s Theater, which proceeded at 8:15 p.m. [Dorney to SLC Mar. 14].
March 15 Friday – Sam and his “tribe” went “New Yorkwards” checking into the Murray Hill Hotel.
March 14 Thursday – Abby Sage Richardson turned down Sam’s Mar. 11 offer [MTNJ 3: 463n192].
R. Dorney for Daly’s Theater wrote to Sam that he’d been directed “to send you 4 front seats for Saturday night next” [MTP]. Dorney used Daly’s same bad pen.
March 13 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Augustin Daly, announcing that “the tribe” was about to “march New Yorkwards Friday for a couple of days.” He asked that four tickets (with bill) for Taming of the Shrew might be sent to the Murray Hill Hotel, the current favorite hotel due to its proximity to the rail station. Sam asked that the children might be “within 5 rows of the fiddlery” [MTP].
March 12 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Annie A. Fields, widow of James T. Fields, in Boston who was involved in a “Boston marriage” with Sarah Orne Jewett. Sam had been invited to a dinner with the two ladies, but did not receive the invitation. Charles Dudley Warner, who was their other guest, told Sam, who sent apologies and explanations:
March 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook discloses a new offer made to Abby Sage Richardson, one she did not accept, but one which was similar to that made with Gilbert B. Densmore for stage rights to GA.
March 10 Sunday – This was the day of deadlines — first for Abby Sage Richardson to come up with written proof she had procured Elsie Leslie for her P&P dramatization; second for Charley Langdon, his wife and his mother to agree to invest in the Paige typesetter. No one made this deadline.