November 4 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Howells that they’d had a “royal good time” on their visit. Sam related how once back in Hartford, he’d “caught it” from Livy, for several social faux pas, including “personating that drunken Col. James,” (unidentified.) Sam claimed Livy ran into George, the butler, in the hall and took it out on him [MTL 6: 581].
November 3? Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Oliver Wendell Holmes, sending an inscribed cloth copy of Sketches, New and Old. Sam wrote: “The author of this book will take it as a real compliment if Mr Holmes will allow it to lumber one of his shelves” [MTL 6: 580]. Note: Holmes wrote thanks on Nov. 4.
November 2 Tuesday – Sam breakfasted with Lord Houghton at the Brevoort House at 9:30 AM [MTL 6: 579]. That day or the next morning, Sam and Livy returned home to Hartford.
November 1 Monday – Sam and Livy went to New York [MTL 6: 579]. A bill was paid to Farmington Creamery Co. for deliveries the prior month [MTP].
October 31 Sunday – Sam and Livy called on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at his Cambridge home, Craigie House. Sam previously met Longfellow at the Feb. 16, 1874 Boston dinner for English author Wilkie Collins [MTL 6: 582n4].
October 30 Saturday – Mrs. E. H. Bonner wrote to Sam (envelope only survives) [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Mrs. Bonner / The fraud”
October 29 Friday – Sam received an invitation from Lord Houghton to breakfast at the Brevoort House in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 9:30. Sam wrote back that he was leaving that day for Boston and would be there until Nov. 1, but would “gladly run down to New York & breakfast with you the next day” [MTL 6: 579].
October 28 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote to H.O. Houghton & Co., thanking them for a proof copy of Longfellow’s portrait [MTL 6: 578].
October 27 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles E. Flower, who was building a Shakespeare Memorial in England. America was still suffering from the Panic of 1873, and Sam wrote of business being “utterly prostrate…money is distressingly scarce.” Sam enclosed his picture for Edward Fordham Flower, Charles’ father [MTL 6: 575].
October 26 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Jane T. Bigelow who had requested an autograph but Sam forgot and had to be reminded. Jane was the wife of John Bigelow (1817-1911), a prominent journalist, author, and diplomat.
“…business drove the matter clear out of my otherwise empty head, where it was reposing companionless in the midst of a vast & howling solitude” [MTL 6: 574].