January 25 Tuesday – Leo C. Evans wrote to Sam, clipping enclosed from Brooklyn Union Jan. 22, which claimed Evans called on Twain who talked of the “Obelisk” in reality being an “incomplete chimney”. Evans asked the address of Burdette’s manager. (Sam wrote on the env: “From a damned idiot”) [MTP]. See also Apr. 21, 1880 from Evans.
January 24 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Mary Mason Fairbanks, who he wished to visit and judge the finished manuscript of P&P—(or was it another?)
January 23 Sunday – Andrew Goodrich Hammond wrote to Sam (“Cadet Hammond”) to fix certain the date of his visit at Feb. 21 [MTP].
January 22 Saturday – Wm. T. Bassett, hairdresser, billed Sam $24.50 for “Dec. 23 up to Jan. 22 for shaving and haircutting, plus 1 lather brush, 1 sponge” [MTP].
January 21 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood. Sam had cut the “Whipping-boy’s Story” from P&P and:
January 20 Thursday – The Jan. 31 bill from Western Union shows a telegram sent to So. Man. (South Manchester, Conn.) on this date, recipient unspecified (see that entry).
January 19 Wednesday – The Jan. 31 bill from Western Union shows a telegram sent to Loman? on this date, recipient unspecified (see that entry).
James Wells Champney wrote to Clemens.
January 17 Monday – In Boston, Howells wrote to Sam, “glad to co-operate” in “Gebbie’s Cyclopaedia” (which became Library of Humor) project. He was “heartily in for it” at the price of $5,000 on terms acceptable to Sam. Howells also mentioned “Two cases of measles,” and “an attack of two publishers,” which referred to James R. Osgood in conflict with Henry O. Houghton after the latter had bought out Osgood.
January 16 Sunday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Will Clemens (William Montgomery Clemens 1860-1931); no relation, so Sam claimed in 1908—see Nov. 18, 1879 entry), enclosing a note to Will’s unidentified friend who evidently sought advice as to how to live life. Sam answered:
January 14 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, enclosing George Gebbie’s Jan. 12 letter, which offered to come to Hartford “on the business we have already mooted”—that is, what became the Library of Humor.