Day By Day Dates

January 3 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Augustin Daly:

Schon gut! I’ll be there [MTP].

From Sam’s notebook: Bal., Jan 3/88 — 13,293.28 [MTNJ 3: 362].

Stocks and./or bonds were returned to Charles J. Langdon for the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. [Apr. 3, 1891 to Kelly]. See also July 11, 1889.

January 4 Wednesday – L.W. Gage wrote a jumbled postcard to Sam asking for his “best book in publication for good sound reading” [MTP].

Webster & Co. Per Arthur H. Wright enclosed three letters to and from Chatto & Windus regarding the forthcoming Library of Humor [MTP].

January 5 Thursday – Charles J. Langdon wrote a note that the Cone Bonds had been received and a check was enclosed, no amount given [MTP].

January 6 Friday – The Players Club was founded at 1.P.M. in the Red Room at Delmonico’s, New York City. Fatout writes that Sam gave a speech, but this was more of adding comments to the others, all speaking informally from their chairs after the lunch.

January 7 Saturday – Sam was still in New York part of the day. He went to the Webster office and found “only Hall there” [Jan. 8 to Chatto]. He directed Hall to send casts of the illustrations for Library of Humor to Chatto & Windus, and to send “advance sheets” when they were available. He then returned to Hartford.

From Sam’s notebook: 12860.48 Jan 7 [MTNJ 3: 362].

January 8 Sunday – Back in Hartford Sam wrote to Andrew Chatto, and informed him of the progress of Library of Humor, after discovering that Chatto had answered him about interest in the book. Chatto had sent a reply to Webster & Co. Sam declined to take up some offer from a “Mr.

January 9 Monday – The Players Club sent Sam a formal notification of his election to the club (he was a charter member and present at the Jan. 6 first meeting). A bill was enclosed for a $100 initiation fee and semiannual dues payable on or before Nov. 1, 1888. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Won’t pay it,” and evidently got the fees reduced, as he was receipted for half the amounts asked on Nov. 13 [MTNJ 3: 429n73].

January 10 Tuesday – A bill to Young’s Hotel in Boston for room #30-1 for $16.40 for one day shows Sam made a short trip to the city. The room was $10; Restaurant 0.65; Fires 0.75 and cash $5 [MTP]. The purpose of the trip was not determined.

January 11 Wednesday – Sam returned to Hartford.

Frederick J. Collier wrote from Hudson, N.Y. to Sam. Collier had become owner of a huge (5’x4’) painting of Samson and Delilah originally purchased by Dr. Edward Andrews on the Quaker City excursion. Did Sam recollect the painting or the purchase — where the doctor bought it? [MTP]. See Jan. 16 for Sam’s humorous reply.

January 12 Thursday –

Sam paid $6 to The Century Club, Louise R. Matson, Treasurer.

A receipt: Mrs Clemens to Eugene Meyer 102. E 54th St, N.Y. “Piano lessons to Miss Susi and Cara from beg 87 the 15th until Jan 88 –12” [MTP]. Note: these lessons cost $30 per month.

 –

Sam paid $6 to The Century Club, Louise R. Matson, Treasurer.

January 13 Friday – Charles J. Langdon wrote to Sam (enclosed in S.R. Peale Jan 31) about the Clearfield Bonds. Langdon wrote on Peale’s letter that he did not need to answer it; he would sell [MTP].

January 15 Sunday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Robert M. Howland, his old mining buddy from Nevada days. Sam’s last mention of Howland was to Calvin Higbie on Dec. 16, 1886. He’d run into Howland in New York, and Sam felt him prosperous enough to recommend that Higbie seek financial help from him. Howland may still have been in the east, and interested in speculation.

My Dear Robert —

January 16 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Andrew Chatto again, on the status of the Library of Humor. The illustrations were being made for Chatto & Windus and would be forwarded soon.

January 17 Tuesday – Richard R. Bowker for Publishers’ Weekly wrote asking Sam for an after dinner address on the tariff, Jan. 29 at the Reform Club at Delmonico’s. “Declined,” Sam noted [MTP].

William Dean Howells wrote to Sam or Charles H. Clark (not in MTHL) “I have made a brief note for the Library of Humor.” This scrap of blue paper in Howells’ hand with a brief bio is in the file [MTP].

January 19 Thursday – Orion Clemens began a nine-page letter to Sam he finished Jan. 20. Ma had suffered a stroke but was better. He was to have dinner today with Whitford and Hall at the Keokuk House, successor to the Patterson House; other family goings on and his work on history research [MTP]. Note: Whitford and Hall were in Keokuk relative to the R.T. Root lawsuit. See entries on R.T. Root.

January 20 Friday – Charles Webster wrote to Sam (Webster & Co. To Grant Jan.19 enclosed).

Dear Uncle Sam: / I got provoked and sent the enclosed letter to Fred Grant. It is a pretty hard letter but it is all true and states our case exactly. I hope this will bring him to his senses; if it does not he may go right along & sue[.] We are ready.

January 21 Saturday – Sam’s notebook on Webster & Co. Bank balance: Jan 21 — 9,798. Sam also wrote:

Mr. Crane bought four drawing room for 11 a.m. They sold him 4 for 9 a.m. Mr. Halstead redeemed ($1 apiece) C’s 2, but Clara already had hers. She took the 11 am & found her tickets no good. These tickets were sold for a train which was already gone [MTNJ 3: 368].

January 22 Sunday – Sam responded to Orion Clemens’ letter of Jan. 19-20:

It is an infinite pity that poor old Ma must drag her tired life out in so much needless suffering. Give her our love.

Sam also advised his brother not to write for newspapers, as it was “mere bother” and “does not pay.” He saw a false light ahead for the Paige typesetter, which he thought would,

January 23 Monday – Wales R. McCormick wrote from Quincy, Ill. to Sam, thanking him for the $100 sent. “Your kind and welcome letter was rec’d in due time and I must say when I opened it and read the contents I had to give down and cry like a child.” He asked for a photo [MTP]. Note: Wales was a fellow apprentice for Joseph P. Ament’s Missouri Courier in Hannibal during the 1840s. See Vol. I, June.

January 24 Tuesday – Lilly G. Warner wrote to Sam resigning her position as secretary of the Browning class [MTP].

January 25 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook on Webster & Co. Bank balance: Jan 25 — 10,352. Sam also wrote two paragraphs on the N.Y. Tribune’s printing and use of typesetters. [MTNJ 3: 368].

January 27 Friday – Andrew Chatto wrote Sam a reminder of “the steps necessary to be taken to secure copyright in Great Britain, Canada, & the US” for Library of Humor. Other contract matters were discussed [MTNJ 3: 372, 375n242].

January 28 Saturday – From Sam’s notebook, another Webster & Co. Bank balance: Jan. 28 — 9,538.76 [MTNJ 3: 372].

Charles J. Langdon wrote to Sam (Galsway to Langdon Jan. 25 enclosed) asking him to “execute enclosed satisfaction of Mtg. Before notary public” [MTP].

January 29 Sunday – Edward Mott wrote on N.Y. Sun stationery about a possible book of his sketches from his columns in the Sun titled, “Old Settler.” Mott asked to discuss it with Sam [MTP].

January 30 Monday – Sam’s notebook carried a half-page of calculations of N.Y. Tribune output and production using the Mergenthaler Linotype machines [MTNJ 3: 371].