July 2 Monday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Charles H. Clark, associate on the Library of Humor and editor of the Hartford Courant, thanking him for his “initiation intentions” about his recent honorary masters degree.
I am the only literary animal of my particular sub-species who has ever been given a degree by any College in any age of the world, as far as I know [MTP].
July 1 Sunday – James L. Cowles for the Reform Club (New Haven) wrote to Sam, inviting him to join the newly formed tariff club. Sam, as one of…
…the mugwumps of 1884 [should join in support of Cleveland’s tariff policies]. We shall need a great deal of money and shall be compelled to perform an immense amount of labor to insure success but we shall succeed [MTNJ 3: 392n318]. Note: See July 9 entry for check Sam sent in support.
July – Henry C. Robinson wrote to Sam (enclosed in Orion July 9) [MTP].
J.G. Rathbun & Co. Pharmacists, Hartford billed $103.05 paid July 10:
Apl 2 toothbrushes .70 soap .55 El? Bark .20
Apl 4 Friedrichshall .30 Apl 9 200 cigars 8.00 Oiled silk .125 tot 9.55
Apl 10 carbolic acid, chlorides, 1/2 alcohol, &c 2.55
June 30 Saturday – Arthur H. Wright for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam of the bank balances total, $5,242.76 [MTP].
Meyrowitz Brothers, Opticians, N.Y. billed $1 for “1 Burgess spray atomizer” paid July 6 [MTP].
June 29 Friday – Sam’s notebook records check #:
4147. June 29. Mme H.M Abry — $462.50 [MTNJ 3: 392&n317]. Note: Many checks and bills in this range were for Livy’s outfits.
June 28 Thursday – In Elmira Sam walked to the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. (Charles Langdon’s new firm name) and wrote a letter to Joe Twichell on their letterhead.
June 27 Wednesday – The Clemens family probably left New York for Elmira this day. Yale University conferred an honorary Master of Arts degree upon Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Sam could not go to New Haven for the dinner and ceremony.
The New York Times, June 28, 1888, editorial article 7, p.4 ran notice of Sam’s honorary degree, among others.
June 26 Tuesday – In New York City Sam wrote to Timothy Dwight (1828-1916), president of Yale.
June 25 Monday – Joe Twichell notified Sam as the Clemenses were preparing to leave for Quarry Farm that “the Corporation of the Yale University, now in session, have just decreed you the honorary degree of Master of Arts (M.A.)” [MTNJ 3: 299].
June 23 Saturday – The Brooklyn Eagle, p.3 under “Notes” ran a squib about a bio of Mark Twain
Literature, John B. Alden, has a portrait of Mark Twain, with much matter about him and about the popular and the democratic in literary art.