November 25 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Mary Mason Fairbanks in New York that he planned to leave Hartford Monday, Nov. 28 on the 12:30 p.m. train, then go to his office at 3 East 14th Street, and then to Chickering Hall to give a reading at 2 or 2:15 p.m., depending on the office business. After the lecture he intended to take the 4:30 p.m. train home in order to “meet a business engagement next morning (Nov. 29).

November 24 Thursday – Thanksgiving – According to Sam’s Nov. 16 to Fairbanks, Charles J. Langdon’s daughter, Julia Langdon, came up from her New York School for the holiday with the Clemens family.

In Hartford Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton.

November 23 Wednesday –

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3911  James Quinn  20.00  RR Agent

November 21 Monday – On or about this day Sam returned to New York, probably on business. He wrote of just returning from the City on Nov. 24, Thanksgiving.

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3909  Meyrowitz Bros  2.56  N.Y. Opticians

3910  J.P Griswold  100.80

November 20 Sunday – Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Wrote to Sam, calling his attention to a circular issued by the Treasury Dept. about the importation of books copyrighted in the US [MTP].

November 19 Saturday ­– In New York City, Sam responded to an invite from Bram Stoker (1847-1912) to attend a 2 o’clock performance of Faust at the Star Theater. Stoker, Henry Irving, and Charles E. Howson organized the production, which opened Nov. 7.

November 18 Friday – Sam was in New York, at the Webster & Co. Office. From his notebook:

Nov. 18 — 9,689.89

November 17 Thursday – On or about this day, Sam and Livy went to New York, no doubt at least in part in response to Mary Mason Fairbanks’ inability to visit Hartford. It was often their custom to go late in the week and return on Saturday, as at least for a period, Sam wrote there were no trains on Sunday.

November 16 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Mary Mason Fairbanks — obviously a response to a letter from her (not extant) to get together while she was in New York. Sam’s letter was addressed c/o Chas. M. Fairbanks [her son] at the New York Sun office.

November 15 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Webster & Co. He was still directing pieces in and out of the Library of Humor. Obtaining permission from the American Publishing Co. Was still on the menu, and Sam calculated that it should be asked for “one week before canvass begins,” so as to keep them from rushing “out a rival book ahead of us” [MTP].