December 15 Wednesday – At the request of the King of Belgium, Henry M. Stanley sailed from New York to return to the Congo [Brooklyn Eagle, Dec. 15, 1886 p.6 “Stanley’s Farewell”].
In Hartford Sam wrote to William Smith, the English author (see Dec. 14 entry) enclosing the apologetic letter and challenge from publisher E.L. Osgood. If he did not receive the book afterward, Sam asked Smith to let him know,
December 15 Thursday – Webster & Co. Wrote to Sam that his telegram was received asking for a certain kind of paper, which the mills were urged to rush. The prospectus of the Library of Humor was ready, save the bios and the preface; other details discussed about the book [MTP].
George Walton Green wrote from N.Y. to Sam thanking him for taking part in the Nov. 28 Authors’ Readings in Chickering Hall [MTP].
December 15 Saturday – Abby S. Richardson wrote to Sam: “I regret to seem to be pestering you with letters, but I beg to know two things: 1st Do I understand that in case I make a success of the dramatization of The Prince and Pauper you will “charge me half the resulting…or in other words, share the receipts? 2nd Does this contract prevent any toher person from attempting the dramatization of the book while I am doing the work [?]” [MTP].
December 15 Sunday – In Boston, William Dean Howells wrote to Sam mentioning Baxter’s notice in the Boston Herald and graciously declining Sam’s invitation of Dec. 13 due to Elinor’s health.
December 15 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Andrew Chatto, his English publisher, asking him to “tackle with attention” Fred Hall’s idea. Sam wished him a Merry Christmas [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Hall, encouraging him to “go for the good Chatto with” his “scheme, which is a wise one.” He explained the IA book was for a nursemaid of Jean’s who was now with the Rev. R. Heber Newton family, so to check the directory and send the book there [MTP].
December 16 Tuesday – Joseph N. Verey wrote from London to Sam, answering his of Nov. 5, which he’d rec’d at Florence. Verey was grateful for Sam’s recommendations, as it had made a great difference in being able to support his invalid mother by hiring as a guide [MTP]. Note: Sam’s Nov. 5 to Very not extant.
December 16 Thursday – Sam had received Howells’ letter of Dec. 13 praising “The Two Ps.” [P&P]. Howells liked it “immensely. It begins well, and it ends well” [MTHL 2: 338]. Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood.
December 16 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, who had been ill and unable to attend the Montreal dinner honoring Sam as planned.
MY DEAR HOWELLS,—It was a sharp disappointment—your inability to connect, on the Canadian raid. What a gaudy good time we should have had!
Disappointed, again, when I got back to Boston; for I was promising myself half an hour’s look at you, in Belmont; but your note to Osgood showed that that could not be allowed yet.
December 16 Saturday – Sam typed a short note from Hartford to John Brown Jr. thanking him for the picture sent “of a room whose aspect was so familiar to us and with which we have so many loving associations.” Sam sent another picture of little Jean, saying “two pictures of Jean Clemens” were much better “than none at all” [MTP].
December 16 Tuesday – Sam and Cable gave a reading in Whitney’s Grand Opera House, Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Post featured the Toledo visit, observing that Sam’s gait:
…resembled the motion of a tall boy on short stilts, [with] one of the oddest looking faces ever worn by man…his neck swan-like and white, but much thicker than a swan’s [Cardwell 29].
December 16 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, again about the “Library of Humor” book.
No, don’t keep the check—collect the check & keep the money…you & I will probably be bald & toothless before the Library is published; for if I get the two books I am expecting to get, they will come in ahead & shove the Library along a couple of years; & by that time other books will intervene again & keep shoving it along.
December 16 Thursday – In Hartford Sam answered Calvin H. Higbie’s Dec. 4 plea for financial help. Sam had dedicated Roughing It to Higbie, his old mining partner and held a soft spot for the trusting, giant of a man. Higbie was in Greenville, Calif. Still, he had to turn him down for a $20,000 loan:
December 16 Friday – Richard W. Gilder for Century Magazine wrote to Sam arguing against proposed legislation (the Pearsall Smith matter) he felt would be strongly opposed and unconstitutional [MTP].
December 16 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to George Dolby in London informing him that he’d written Henry M. Stanley in Zanzibar. Sam had read a newspaper report that Stanley might not remain in that country until spring, as previously reported. Sam asked Dolby to keep a copy of his letter and get it to Stanley should he reach London and fail to receive the original [MTP]. Note: Dolby had arranged Sam’s lecture schedule in London in Oct. 1873 (see Oct. 7, 1873 entry).
December 16 Tuesday ca., before – In Hartford Sam wrote to Richard Watson Gilder:
December 17 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Orion, sending $25 for Christmas gifts for him and Mollie. Livy wouldn’t know what to select, he said, and “this seems the best & simplest way.” He wrote:
“The pig matter is of no consequence—only, I perceive that when one deceives people as often as I have done, there comes a time when he is not believed when he does tell the truth” [MTLE 5: 229].
December 17 Saturday – Livy wrote to Franklin Whitmore saying her “visit with him the other day was too short” and hoped he would come again “soon, very soon.” It’s uncertain the specific day Whitmore visited, but it may have been while Sam was away. Signed, “Always your loving friend” [MTP].
Francis Kenney wrote to Sam, enclosed in Kenney Aug. 1, 1882 [MTP].
December 17 Monday – Sam took a train for Boston, where he spent a day or two with Howells [MTHL 1: 454n2]. In his Dec. 19 letter to Webster,
“I went to Boston, but I had no ‘business’ to talk, & didn’t talk any” [MTBus 229]
December 17 Wednesday – Sam and Cable gave a reading in Case Hall, Cleveland, Ohio [MTPO]. Clemens included: readings from HF, “A Ghost Story,” “Personal Anecdote” [MTPO].
A review of Sam and Cable’s readings ran in the Detroit Post and included the following “interview”:
A “POST” REPORTER DISTURBS TWAIN AND INTERVIEWS CABLE.
December 17 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Charles Webster about the death mask mess, which Sam feared was an impending scandal that would damage book sales “a hundred thousand dollars’ worth.” Gerhardt was “obdurate” about demanding $17,000 for the mask. Sam thought a quick lawsuit would settle things [MTP].
December 17 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Edward H. House, who was still ailing, along with his adopted daughter, Koto House. Sam suggested that House think about writing an adaptation for P&P for the stage, something he was reminded House had spoken of once.
December 17 Saturday – From Sam’s notebook: “Dec. 17 — 14,000” [MTNJ 3: 359].
Webster & Co. Wrote to Sam: “Your telegram telling us to go ahead with the book, and also the telegram about the paper, is received.” The paper was rushed to Hartford and should be there now [MTP].
December 17 Monday – Sam wrote to Augustin Daly, letter not extant but referred to in Daly’s Dec. 18 to Sam [MTP].
Frederick J. Hall for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam, sending “form of contract which has been prepared as near as could be in the language of Mrs. Webster’s propositions. Will you please look it over and return it to me?” [MTP].
December 17 Tuesday – The N.Y. Times, p.2 “Authors’ Readings” included the entire text of Sam’s letter sent to the readings at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, explaining his reasons for not coming. Ex-Mayor Low read Sam’s letter, which complained that of “about twelve Authors’ readings,” not “a single one of them…was rationally conducted.” He decried the running over of allotted time by most readers.
Henry Whitney Cleveland wrote a follow up postcard to Sam:
December 17 Wednesday – William J. Bok for Bok Syndicate Press wrote asking if Sam received his “letter of explanation” and was “much troubled” since he hadn’t heard back. He would be in Hartford in Feb. and would consider it an “honor to call.” He advised that Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher was “about to publish a series of most interesting articles for my brother Edward’s ‘Ladies’ Home Journal” [MTP].
Oscar Fischer wrote to Sam seeking to translate CY into Danish. Sam had Whitmore refer him to Chatto, as he did with all requests for translating his works [MTP].