February 25 Friday – Sam gave a reading at Twichell’s Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford. He wrote of this reading in his Feb. 27 letter to Howells:
“…the thing that went best of all was Uncle Remus’s Tar Baby” [MTLP 394-5].
Sam also wrote from Hartford to Charles Perkins asking if he had “Mills’s agreement for Colorado.” This was a contract for Kaolatype work. Sam requested a copy [MTP].
February 24 Thursday – Sam gave a dinner speech at the Papyrus Club Dinner, Revere House, Boston, for the annual “Ladies’ Day” [Fatout, MT Speaking 148-50]. The speech was a funny account about no vacancies on a sleeping-car. Sam was given a sleeping car berth when a colored porter recognized him as a famous man. The only problem was, the porter thought Sam was “Jennul McClellan.”
February 23 Wednesday – Sam traveled to Boston [MTHL 1: 350, 360n3].
Robert J. Burdette wrote from Syracuse, NY., stuck in a snowstorm and unable to lecture this night in Union Springs, “where ever it is to night.” He felt Twain had “abandoned the rostrum too soon,” as this was the “boss” winter. “I am going up town to hear the Jubilee Singers”. After his signature he drew a humorous sketch of a train buried by snow.
February 22 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Hattie Gerhardt sending enclosed sheets for Karl Gerhardt to sign and return to Sam for use in sending a letter of credit for the Gerhardts at European banks. Sam wrote that he was going to Boston the next day and return Friday [MTP].
Western Union bill of Feb. 28 shows a message sent to New York, recipient unspecified.
February 21 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, describing at length the account of Hattie Gerhardt coming to their home, the trips to their apartment, and the ultimate decision to send them to Paris, where Karl would take lessons in his art. Sam agreed to support the Gerhardts for three years. “They will sail a week or ten days from now,” Sam wrote.
February 19 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Edward House. He’d read rumors in the newspapers that Howells, no longer editor of the Atlantic, might be “going to Switzerland as our Minister.” He added:
“I hope it is true. Winny’s health is getting mighty bad & that country would build her up” [MTHL 1: 350n2].
February 18 Friday – Joe Twichell wrote from Hartford to Sam. “All right, and I’m a thousand times obliged to you. Stevens (the Committee on Entertainment) says I had better not advertise you on Sunday, or that makes it next to impossible to keep it out of the papers. I’ll speak of it at the Monday Evening meeting. But there’ll be folks enough there, no fear of that. Governor Bigelow is going to be invited, for one.
February 17 Thursday – Western Union bill of Feb. 28 shows a message sent to New York, recipient unspecified.
Bissell & Co. wrote to Sam, receipting him for 500 shares of Am. Exchange in Europe, enclosing the certificate [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Receipt for paid-up stock in American Exchange Europe. $5,000”
February 16 Wednesday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam:
February 15–18 Friday – Sometime between these dates, Sam and Livy spent a “couple of days” in New York City, but were back in Hartford by Feb. 19. (See Feb. 15 or 16 entry, & Feb. 19).
T.W. Alexander billed Sam $28.05 for 1,870 lbs of hay @ 30 per ton; paid [MTP].