October 11 Monday – Sam purchased one copy of Samuel Orchart Beeton’s Beeton’s Complete Letter-Writer for Ladies and Gentlemen (1873) [Gribben 57]. He also bought “1 City Directory” from Brown & Gross of Hartford [254].
October 9 Saturday – Sam purchased “1 Eng[lish] Suiting (silk lined)” from Frank M. Wilson & Co., Bridgeport, Conn. tailors and Gents Furnishers $50.00 [MTP].
The Oct. 31 bill from Western Union shows a telegram sent to New York, recipient unspecified.
October 8 Friday – The Conways were traveling to America from England. Sam wrote from Hartford to Moncure Conway. Sam had received a reply to his last letter, but announced:
“Here we are at home, with beds & plates all fixed & ready for Mr. & Mrs. Conway & son; & ourselves anxious to hear that they shall soon be required. Say we may expect you presently—Come, we offer an added inducement: a sight of the new baby” [MTLE 5: 172].
October 7 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Christian Bernard Tauchnitz. Sam acknowledged receipt of royalties from Tauchnitz and wrote he wished to “express an author’s distinguished appreciation of a publisher who puts moral rights above legal ones, to his own disadvantage” [MTLE 5: 171].
Purchased from Mme. L. Thurn, New York dealer in children’s furnishings, a blue cashmere dress, $25 [MTP].
October 6 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Edward House. Evidently House had written suggesting he wanted to visit but didn’t have an exact day. Sam told him, “you come when your affairs permit; just choose the time which suits you best,—we are wholly unhampered.” Sam mentioned “those lovely young girls of Perkins’s” and “a crying baby which keeps Mrs. Clemens awake & busy four-fifths of the night” [MTLE 5: 170].
October 5 Tuesday – Billed from C.G. Gunther’s Sons, New York, for seal and beaver coat and muff, $420.00; paid on Oct. 8 [MTP].
October 4 Monday – Sam paid for the Daily Courant, period Apr. 1, 1880 to Oct. 1, 1880 [Gribben 299].
October 2 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Frank Fuller in New York City. Sam recommended Fanny Hesse to Frank’s friends, mentioned the new baby, and thanked him for an invitation but he’d received it just as they were just starting for Hartford [MTLE 5: 169].
October 1 Friday – Howells wrote from Boston to Sam.
October – Catherine (Katy) Leary (1856?-1934) was hired as Livy’s personal maid. She stayed with the family until 1910 [MTNJ 2: 396n136].