October 28 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to William E. Strong (1808-1895), who invited him to speak at the Army Reunion in Chicago. The invite was sent to Elmira, and so was received late. Sam declined the invitation, at least initially.
“I wanted to see the General [Grant] again, anyway, and renew the acquaintance. He would remember me, because I was the person who did not ask him for an office” [MTLE 4: 121].
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 28 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Webster. Of course he hadn’t thought Webster was out to “bleed him” and likened his motivation to Livy’s. He simply didn’t want Hamersley’s business added to his. Hamersley, the Hartford City Attorney, was instrumental in bringing the Paige typesetter investment to Sam, and wanted him to take some New York expert to see the machine, but Sam wasn’t going to get embroiled. Yet.
October 28 Sunday – Sam wrote Orion, letter not extant but referred to in Orion’s Nov. 1 reply.
October 28 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Neil Burgess (1846-1910), a popular comedy actor who specialized in playing roles of elderly women. His greatest success was Widow Bedott in 1879. Burgess had evidently invited Sam to a performance or a social engagement, but Sam had to decline [MTP].
Sam also wrote to James B. Pond, suggesting a meeting; all that could be done by correspondence had been done.
October 28 Wednesday – Samuel G. Dunham remitted the proceeds from Clemens’ $100,000 notes to Charles Webster, for the working capital to publish Grant’s Memoirs [MTNJ 3: 204n69].
Sam wrote from Hartford to his niece, Annie Webster, apologizing for not being able to stop for a visit with Livy the day before [MTP].
October 28 Thursday – Sam was in New York, attending to business.
Frederic G. Kitton (1856-1904) wrote from London in preparation of a book on impressions of Charles Dickens. “I have no record that you ever knew Charles Dickens, or had even met him, but on the mere possibility of your having done so during the great Novelist’s stay in America, I venture to ask if you will kindly contribute a few lines to my forthcoming book….” Sam wrote on the envelope, “Can’t” then “Did”.
October 28 Friday – Sam voted yes on the proposition to publish a volume of Nathaniel J. Burton’s sermons at half-profits; Webster voted no on Oct. 30 [MTBus 387]. It’s not clear if Sam went to N.Y. for this vote, but check #3880 (below) to the Glenham Hotel on Monday, Oct 31 suggests he did. If so, he may have spent the weekend in the City, since no Hartford letters from Sam appear from Oct.
October 28 Sunday – Orion Clemens wrote thanks for his monthly $155 check [MTP].
October 28 Monday – In Hartford Sam responded to Howells’ letter of the day before:
Don’t be afraid. As I have given my word to the canvassers that my book will be out & in their hands Dec. 10, nothing can stop it from coming out on that date. It is true I have a passion for lying to rich people, but I do not lie to men who get their bread by thankless hard work [MTHL 2: 617].
October 28 Tuesday – Sam endured the grueling 24-hour turned into 48-hour train trip to Hannibal, Mo., for his mother’s funeral.
From his notebook:
Oct. 28. Left at 8.03 a.m. Left Springfield at 10.32 a.m. Should have reached Chicago at 10.10 next a.m. Really got there 6.45 p.m. Took C.B. & Q at 10.30 p.m. Due at Quincy without change at 8.30 next morning. Hannibal at 9.55 [3: 592].
October 29 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to L.T. Adams, enclosing the draft of a letter he’d written to George Baker, regarding the music-box shipment from Geneva, Switzerland [MTLE 4: 122].
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 29 Saturday – In Washington, Kate D. Barstow wrote Sam thanks for sending money:
Dear Sam / Letter and check rec’d. Thanks!
If I did not acknowledge receipt of the check for $25 before – permit me to do so now—and pardon the mission. / Shall confine myself strictly to business henceforth.
Yours Gratefully, K.D. Barstow / 622 B St. S.E. [MTP].
October 29 Sunday – Sam wrote to Robert D. Brain, letter not extant but referred to in Brain’s Oct. 30.
October 29 Monday – Bissell & Co. per George H. Burt wrote they’d received Sam’s acceptances made by Osgood & Co. for $20,000, and had credited his account for that amount [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “$20,000 acceptances”
Charles Webster wrote to Clemens: Proof sheets on English History sent; negotiations for 10,000 LM with Watson Gill [MTP].
October 29 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Thomas Bailey Aldrich, whose invitation arrived this day for Sam to stay with him when he read in Boston. Howells had asked first, but Sam hoped to see them both. Politics and a candidate of independent status for president was good for a comment; Sam thanked him for “Mr. Pierce’s speech” [MTP].
Louis M. Passmore wrote from NYC, a second request for autograph [MTP]. Note: unused SASE in file
October 29 Thursday – Charles Webster notified Sam that the proceeds of the notes had been received all right from Dunham. “I have offered Col Grant ½ profits on his book up to 50,000 and if it sold more than 50,000 to give him 60% of the profits. We can afford this and no more” [MTNJ 3: 204n69; MTP].
October 29 Friday – Sam returned to Hartford in the afternoon [Oct. 26 to Livy].
October 29 Saturday – Richard W. Gilder for Century Magazine wrote to Sam about the “Meisterschaft experiment,” that he was “convinced it wouldn’t do to go before our two million readers with the German ungroomed” [MTP].
October 29 Monday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam asking for a meeting with Sam and the Webster & Co. attorney, Daniel Whitford to discuss business matters including the status of Charles Webster, scheduled to return to work on Apr. 1, 1889 [MTNJ 3: 430]. Webster’s interest would be purchased for $12,000 (see Dec. 31, 1888).
October 29 Tuesday – Frederick J. Hall wrote, “The Yankee is all in type.” Complete sheets were printed by Nov. 15; Last week’s report enclosed (not extant); “As you will seeby these reports, we have been taking in considerable money, and of course, our expenses now are heavy, as we are manufacturing both the Conkling book and your book [CY], putting most of our energies on your book. As yet the money returns from these works are not very heavy” [MTLTP 258n2; MTP].
October 29 Wednesday – Sam arrived in Chicago at 6:45 p.m. and left at 10:30 p.m. He would arrive at Hannibal the next morning, Oct. 30, the day of the funeral.
October 3 or 4 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster, sending new ideas to add to the history game and instructions for a new board—two boards with felt in between [MTBus 222].
October 3 Friday – Orion Clemens wrote to Sam, “The Fierce Yazoos” doggerel that he’d sent to several newspapers enclosed. He was again in financial straits and turned around about how to proceed [MTP].