October 18 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood: 

“I am sending Webster to talk with you. I would like him to take pretty full charge of the matter of running the book, if this will disadvantage you in no way.”

This is seen as Sam’s “first step in CLW’s eventual career as MT’s publisher” [MTLTP 158-9 & n1]. Also in the works was “A Handbook of Etiquette,” planned as a trade book (never published), and much later, “Mark Twain’s Cyclopedia of Humor."

October 17 Tuesday – In Vaud, Switzerland, Howells wrote to Sam:

“What you want to do is pack up your family, and come to Florence for the winter….We are having a good, dull, wholesome time in this little pension on the shore of Lake Leman, within gunshot of the Castle of Chillon; but a thousand jokes rot in my breast every day for want of companionship” [MTHL 1: 415].

R.O. Dienwis wrote a postcard from Kings Ferry, Fla., with a non-sensical message [MTP].

October 16 Monday – From Hartford, Sam typed a letter to George W. Cable. A date for Cable’s visit had evidently been set. The weather was beautiful; they’d seen a comet and Sam hoped to finish LM this week,

“FOR I HAVE ALREADY FINSHED WRITING ALL I DON’T KNOW ABOUT NEW ORLEANS” [MTP].

October 14 Saturday – Sam wrote to Worden & Co., letter not extant, referred to in Worden’s Oct. 16.

October 13 Friday – 18 yr old Edward W. Bok wrote from Brooklyn, this time seeking “a few words of opinion” about his autograph collection, which was the subject of enclosed clippings [MTP].

October 12 Thursday – From Hartford, Sam typed a letter to George W. Cable, very satisfied with a portrait that had arrived, the artist one “Mrs. Cox” (Frances A. Cox). Sam told Cable to relate how “delighted we all are with her work.” Charles Warner and Joe Twichell were now home, so Sam hoped Cable could “come up as soon as” he could [MTP].

October 11 Wednesday – John C. Kinney wrote from Hartford to invite Sam to the Oct. 14 event at Allyn Hall, “when the Governor’s Foot Guard will entertain the Worcester, Mass. Continentals” Of course, he wanted Clemens to speak, along with others [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Maj. Kinney”

October 10 Tuesday – Milicent W. Shinn for Californian Magazine wrote to ask Sam for an article, though they didn’t pay contributors [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Begging letter”

October 9 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to his mother, Jane Clemens. He told the news that Livy and Clara Spaulding had “gone shopping to New York…for a few days.” Sam wrote how he’d sent Charles Webster to Fredonia “with a very savage article exposing that watch company,” and how they’d paid him on the spot not to publish it.

October 7 Saturday – Alexander & Green advised the court had granted a preliminary injunction against J.S. Ogilvie & Co., The New York News Co. Ogilvie’s defense was that he’d republished from newspaper clippings [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Trade-mark suit against Ogilvie & Co. They ‘holler.’ ”

Charles Webster wrote: