September 20 Sunday – Sam and Twichell walked to Talcott’s Tower, as was their custom in the summer and fall, about a ten mile trip. Joe wrote in his journal,
“To the Tower on foot with M.T. Plenty of delightful talk. Much to tell on both sides” [Yale, copy at MTP].
September 19 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to General William Tecumseh Sherman. After sending a telegram in the morning, he sent a note of apology for not answering Sherman’s letter sooner. Sherman had asked if Sam would consider for publication his manuscript, a collection of Sherman’s travel notes from Europe. Of course he would read it, Sam answered.
September 18 Friday – Livy wrote in her diary: “We arrived home safely on the 18th of Sept. and the children began their lessons on the 21st” [Salsbury 212; MTP].
September 17 Thursday – Sam entered a list of fifteen things to do, an “order of procedure,” relating to the Paige typesetter and business organization for it [MTNJ 3: 187-8].
September 16 Wednesday – The Clemens family intended to spend “a day or two” in New York City before traveling on home to Hartford for the winter [Sept. 5 to Gerhardt].
Susan E. Dickinson wrote forwarding Sadie E. Bond’s note of thanks for Sam’s assistance [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “From the Normal School girl”
September 15 Tuesday – The Clemens family left Elmira and Quarry Farm and traveled to New York City [Sept. 5 to Gerhardt; MTNJ 3: 189].
September 14 Monday – Livy was depressed about leaving Quarry Farm, but was encouraged at Susy’s unselfish instincts in making up a bag of amusements for Jean on the trip. Livy’s diary entry:
We start for New York tomorrow the 15th leaving this beloved Quarry Farm. We expect to spend a few days in New York & then on to Hartford….The blessed child…was doing some thing for the pleasure of some one else [MTP].
September 11 Friday – Sam wrote a rather long reply, from Elmira to Henry Ward Beecher, who wrote on Sept. 8 asking to see the Grant Memoirs to aid in a eulogy Beecher was to deliver on Oct. 22. He asked for Sam’s views on Grant and especially his opinion on Grant’s drinking.
September 9 Wednesday – Sam entered in his notebook Bissell’s acknowledgement of Chatto’s notes [MTNJ 3: 188].
Webster & Co. per Frederick J. Hall wrote: “Your favor enclosing statement from Chatto & Windus is received; we have placed it in the safe.” More sales numbers on the Grant books, this time from Indiana and Illinois [MTP].
September 8 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Chatto & Windus, acknowledging receipt of their Aug. 21 letter with notes for £986.10.5.
“It is true that Huck Finn has not treated you kindly, but it must be because the English people do not understand that dialect; for here, where the people do understand it, the book has sold more than 60,000 copies, at my usual high prices—$2.75 to $4.50 a copy.”