June 10, 1888 Sunday 

June 10 Sunday – Sam and Livy met the Finnish Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg (1857-1913) at 8 p.m. at the Hartford home of George Warner. She was a leader in the temperance and suffrage movements. The Baroness came to America as a delegate to the meeting of the International Council of Women inM Washington on Mar. 26. She arrived in Hartford on June 7 to visit her friend, Isabella Beecher Hooker.

June 9, 1888 Saturday 

June 9 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Nellie Bunce (1853-1922) (daughter of Edward M. Bunce). Sam complimented Nellie’s singing [MTP]. Note: On Oct. 24 of this year Nellie would marry Archibald Ashley Welsh and found the Hartford School of Music, later called the Conservatory of Music. Edward (Ned) Bunce was a longtime friend and Friday Evening billiards player.

June 8, 1888 Friday

June 8 Friday – Clara Clemens’ fourteenth birthday.

Sam’s notebook entries: Murray Hill telegraph the Delavan for me [and] check # 4146 — Delavan House, June 8 — $2.25. [MTNJ 3: 391n309]. Note: The Delevan was an Albany hotel; Sam sent a check to hold a room but it’s not known if he traveled to Albany. No evidence of such a trip was found.

June 6, 1888 Wednesday

June 6 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam responded to Andrew Chatto that “everything proposed” by Christian (Baron) Tauchnitz was “satisfactory” [MTP]. No doubt this had to do with publishing Sam’s Library of Humor in Europe.

It’s not clear where Livy was at this time (New York?), because Sam, in Hartford, telegraphed her:

When you see House tell him to save that remark about publishers it may come good yet [MTP].

June 5, 1888 Tuesday

June 5 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to President Cleveland’s wife, Frances F. Cleveland. An excerpt of Sam’s letter relating to Cleveland’s birthday, Mar. 18, when Sam was in Washington, may be seen in that entry [MTP].

Sam also wrote a short note to General Lucius Fairchild:

June 4, 1888 Monday

June 4 Monday – Webster & Co. per Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam that business was “picking up,” though a good many books went out West, where net 60 days was the rule, i.e., cash flow problem [MTP].

June 2, 1888 Saturday 

June 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook entry lists check # 4145 for $6 to the Norwood House, a New York apartment built in 1847.

Mary Fairchild (age 23) daughter of General Lucius Fairchild wrote to Sam enclosing a program, and a clipping about the production of his play Die Meisterschaft by the German Conversation Club of Madison, Wisc.

June 1, 1888 Friday

June 1 Friday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam (Dr. Wilson of the Smithsonian to Twichell May 26 enclosed). “That prehistoric man romance in Puck, I wouldn’t have missed seeing for a good deal. Much obliged to you for for it. How bright it is!” Dr. Wilson’s letter invited both men to the museum [MTP].

Clarence L. Palmer & Co, dealers in Meats, Poultry and Vegetables, Hartford, billed $99.02, “Amt Bill per pass book” (no detail) [MTP].

June 1888

June – Beginning this month, Arthur H. Wright would send Sam extensive reports of Webster & Co.’s finances. Wright had been hired as a cashier. Some shift in responsibilities since Fred Hall’s May 19 “glaring deficiencies” letter is evident by Wright’s reports [MTNJ 3: 388n297].

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