May 15 Sunday – The Brooklyn Eagle, p.7, “Books & Magazines” included a paragraph on Sam’s latest readings:

Mark Twain is working “English as She is Taught” for all it is worth. He has been reading in public from it in Boston, the first instance, probably, of a joke book put to such a use, unless Artemus Ward and Josh Billings were before him.

May 14 Saturday – J.E. Jenks of the Boston Herald, Washington office, wrote asking for Sam’s photo and autograph for a collector in his office [MTP].

May 13 Friday – In Auburndale, Mass. at Lee’s Hotel, Howells answered Sam’s May 9 letter.

I will write the introduction, and perhaps the Harpers will let me sign it. But I should prefer to do it after I’d seen some proof of the book, for that thing’s got cold in my mind now. Save some of the beginning for four or five or six pp., and I’ll have it ready [MTHL 2: 593].

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

May 12 Thursday – William L. Alden from the U.S. Consulate in Rome, wrote to Sam offering an autobiography of Garibaldi “of 89 chapters, and 693 pages of MS” [MTLTP 218n1 (top)].

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3691  Mssrs Wm Wander & Son  9.00  Pianos & Tuning

May 11 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles Webster:

Joe Jefferson has written his Autobiography! You see, by George we’ve got to keep places open for great books; they spring up in the most unexpected places. [¶] I will read for “literary quality,” & then take it down to you on the 18th, to be read for pecuniary quality…[MTP].