November 2 Tuesday – Sam gave a speech for Hartford Republicans at the Hartford Opera House. It was a celebration of the victory of James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur (1839-1886) in the 1880 presidential election. Sam’s speech was title “Funeral Oration Over the Grave of the Democratic Party.” Some in attendance were taken back by Sam’s doleful presentation [Fatout, MT Speaking 146-7].
November 1 Monday – Park & Tilford billed Sam for “2 doz Glen Whisky” total $28. Note: this made 5 dozen year to date. J.P. Newton, Hartford “meat, poultry, game, fish & vegetables” billed $9.16 for Oct. 5, 6, 8, 15, 16, 20, 22, 27, 29, 30: lobster, salmon, halibut, misc., paid Nov. 6; Fox & Co. $72.92 bill for pass book billed to date (monthly), paid Nov. 6 [MTP].
November – An envelope without contents survives that Sam addressed from Hartford to Cornelia Ward Smith (1831-1897), care of the U.S. consul, Mannheim, Germany. Cornelia was the wife of Edward Meigs Smith (1827-1884), U.S. consul, appointed by President Grant in 1876.
October 31 Sunday – Howells wrote from Boston to Sam.
I have read your Hartford speech twice; and your memoranda, even, can’t put it out of my mind….I await with curiosity your result with the Scotchman [George Gebbie]. If he does not behave honorably, the question for us to consider will be how we can honorably steal his idea. But if we try to be good, we shall be helped [MTHL 1: 337].
October 30 Saturday – Sam telegraphed from Hartford to Frank Fuller in New York City, answering an invitation to speak at another political meeting, this one on Sunday.
“I have no superstitions about sunday myself but I would not preside at a political meeting on sunday for it would be certain to injure the cause you must get a man whose religious reputation is better than mine” [MTLE 5: 188].
October 29 Friday – The Hartford Courant, in a page two article titled “German Republican Meeting,” reported that President Edmund Maerklein presided at the meeting. Judge Sherman Adams spoke in German; Mr. George H.
October 28 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, sending him the hieroglyphic notes of his Oct. 26 political speech. It was his plan to “get the advantage of a bad memory.” Though Sam kept the notes in his pocket, he claimed he didn’t have to refer to them [MTLE 5: 186].
October 27 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Clara M. Wilson, a girl who had written asking for an autograph with sentiment. “Most of these swell proverbs which we have fed on, morally, all our lives, are brim full of humor…” Sam gave an example: “A lie carries with it its own antidote.”
October 26 Tuesday – Sam gave a political speech at a Republican Rally for James A. Garfield at the Hartford Opera House. The speech and exposition is in Fatout’s Mark Twain Speaking [138-144]. Sam used hieroglyphic notes, which he sent to Howells in a letter of Oct. 28.
October 25 Monday – Sam wrote instructions from Hartford to Charles Perkins. Orion was now to receive $75 a month, beginning with Nov. [MTLE 5: 184].
Paid to Madame Fogarty, New York $495 for various “costumes.” E.L. Bullock billed $11.50 for work on house [MTP]. Note: Bullock later cleaned chimney.