October 31 Monday – In Hartford, Sam responded to Robert Underwood Johnson’s invitation for Sam to read. He agreed, provided that the date would be the 29th, not the 28th; and that he would read either second or third on the program [MTP] (See Nov. 28 entry.)
October 30 Sunday – A ballot was taken at Webster & Co. Whether to publish the late Nathaniel J. Burton’s divinity lectures. Charles Webster voted no on this date and Sam voted yes on Oct. 28 [MTBus 387]. There is no mention of a vote breaking the tie, such as from Frederick J. Hall but this may be because Sam had a larger interest in the firm.
October 29 Saturday – Richard W. Gilder for Century Magazine wrote to Sam about the “Meisterschaft experiment,” that he was “convinced it wouldn’t do to go before our two million readers with the German ungroomed” [MTP].
October 28 Friday – Sam voted yes on the proposition to publish a volume of Nathaniel J. Burton’s sermons at half-profits; Webster voted no on Oct. 30 [MTBus 387]. It’s not clear if Sam went to N.Y. for this vote, but check #3880 (below) to the Glenham Hotel on Monday, Oct 31 suggests he did. If so, he may have spent the weekend in the City, since no Hartford letters from Sam appear from Oct.
October 27 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles Webster about a book of the late Nathaniel Judson Burton’s (he died Oct. 13) lectures and sermons that his son, Richard E. Burton had assembled.
October 25 Tuesday – Hjalmar Boyesen wrote to Sam thanking him “heartily for your great kindness to my countrymen,” which he & Livy had shown to Claes Lewenhaupt; it would affect Swedish society [MTP].
October 24 Monday – The dinner engagement with Boyesen, Twichell, Charles Dudley Warner, and Count Claes Lewenhaupt at the Clemens home [Oct. 21 to Boyesen, Lewenhaupt].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3875 F.G. Whitmore 100.00 Finances
3876 Estes & Lauriat 2.00 Booksellers
October 21 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Hjalmar Boyesen, inviting him to a dinner with Charles Dudley Warner, Joe Twichell and others [MTP]
Sam also wrote to Count Claes Lewenhaupt, which probably sets the dinner date mentioned above:
Mrs. Clemens & I beg the pleasure of your company at dinner at our house at 6.15 p.m. next Monday [MTP].
October 20 Thursday – Joe Jefferson, well known actor, wrote to Charles Webster that he had contracted for his book to be published elsewhere, due to a long delay by Webster & Co. To make a firm offer [MTNJ 3: 338n113]. This loss added to the growing split between Sam and Webster.
October 19 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Webster & Co., responding to a statement sent.
You may send me $10,000; also the firm’s note or receipt for 12,073.47 to complete the $75,000 capital required by contract [MTLTP 237] Note: evidently there were surplus funds in the company, beyond what Sam had agreed and was obliged to leave in its coffers.