The Buffalo Express: Day By Day

December 1 Thursday – In Buffalo, Sam wrote to Warren Luther Brigham (1846-1880) of the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette. Brigham had written suggesting Sam write a column for the Gazette. Sam declined—“as we steamboatmen used to say, ‘I’ve got my load.’” Still, Sam wrote that the Gazette was “the only Weekly paper I ever wanted to own” [MTL 4: 254-5].

December 10 Friday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Mount Vernon, New York [MTL 3: 415].

December 10 Saturday – Sam arrived in New York City and stayed at the Albemarle Hotel.

December 11 Saturday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Town Hall, West Meriden, Conn. [MTL 3: 415].

“Around the World Letter No. 4” was printed in the Buffalo Express. The article included humorous sketches on the early days in California [McCullough 108].

December 11 Sunday – Sam wrote an obituary for Reuel Colt Gridley to the editor of the New York Tribune. Gridley was a Hannibal schoolmate, and the man who carried the “Sanitary flour sack” in Austin, Nevada. Gridley died on Nov. 24 [MTL 4: 270-1]. His obituary appeared in the Tribune on Dec. 13.

December 12 Monday – Sam hand delivered the Gridley obituary to the New York Tribune, where he probably met Horace Greeley [MTL 4: 270].

December 13 Monday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Union Hall, New Britain, Conn. [MTL 3: 415].

December 13 Tuesday – Sam wrote from New York to Elisha Bliss about Sam’s plans to write a book about the diamond rush in South Africa [MTL 4: 272].

December 14 Tuesday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Warren, Mass. [MTL 3: 415].

December 14 Wednesday – Bliss arrived in New York to discuss the South Africa book. Sam also met with John Henry Riley about this time [MTL 4: 272].

December 15 Wednesday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Armory Hall, Pawtucket, R.I. [MTL 3: 415].

He wrote a short note from Boston to his mother and family about his lecturing, Livy’s trousseau, which Jervis Langdon called her “trowsers,” and his contracting a cold; he was feeling too low to answer Pamela’s letter [MTL 3: 425].

December 15 Thursday – Whitelaw Reid wrote to Sam that he’d “been waiting all week for you to make your appearance, and here it is Thursday night. Please you send me word by the bearer that you will dine with me tomorrow (Friday) evening at half past 6 o’clock at the Union League Club” [MTP].

December 16 Thursday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) at Rumford Institute, Waltham, Mass. [MTL 3: 415]. See Oct. 8.

December 16 Friday – An article attributed to Sam, “War and ‘Wittles’,” was printed in the Buffalo Express [McCullough 268].

December 17 Friday – Sam wrote from Boston to his sister, Pamela Moffett. Sam was “killed up with a cold, & shall not lecture to-night—so there goes a few weeks board.” The canceled lecture was for Abington, Mass. Sam related that Livy’s “heart is thoroughly set upon” Pamela and Annie coming for the wedding.

December 17 Saturday – Sam’s article, “The Facts in the Case of George Fisher, Deceased,” which also appeared in the Jan. 1871 issue of the Galaxy, was printed in the Buffalo Express [McCullough 270]. Sam left this day for Buffalo.

From Buffalo he telegraphed Elisha Bliss to send him a draft for $1,500 payable to Riley. “He starts in ten days” [MTL 4: 272].

December 18 and 19 Sunday – The lecture planned for Lynn, Mass. was also canceled due to Sam’s cold [MTL 3: 485n16]. Sam wrote from Boston to Livy about Joe Goodman coming to Elmira for the wedding and other matters. Sam went with Joseph R. Hawley to a dinner in honor of Francis W.

December – William Dean Howells published a very positive review of IA in the Atlantic Monthly:

“It is no business of ours to fix his rank among the humorists California has given us, but we think he is, in an entirely different way from all the others, quite worthy of the company of the best.”

December – In the Galaxy for this month – MARK TWAIN’S MEMORANDA – Included:

“An Entertaining Article”
“History Repeats Itself”
“Running for Governor”
“The ‘Present’ Nuisance”
“Dogberry in Washington”
“My Watch – An Instructive Little Tale”
“Favors from Correspondents”
Short miscellaneous items – includes items on A Colt, Whitney, Brigham Young, Divorce, Epitaph, the Map, Art [Schmidt].

December 19 Monday – An article attributed to Sam, “Waiting for the Verdict,” was printed in the Buffalo Express [McCullough 276].

Sam wrote from Buffalo to Joseph Twichell.

Tell Harmony (Mrs. T.) that I do hold the baby, & do it pretty handily, too, although with occasional apprehensions that his loose head will fall off. I don’t have to quiet him—he hardly ever utters a cry. He is always thinking about something. He is a patient, good little baby.

December 2 Friday – Sam wrote from Buffalo to Elisha Bliss and offered a compromise royalty on the new book of 8 ½ percent. Bliss drew up a contract based on this letter [MTL 4: 256-7].

December 20 Monday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Canton, Mass. [MTL 3: 415]. 

December 20 Tuesday – In Buffalo, Sam telegraphed, then wrote from Buffalo to Elisha Bliss. The telegraph:

“Contract approved signed and mailed to you. / Sam L. Clemens”

The letter:

“Have just read over, approved & signed that contract, [for the S. African book] & it will go to you tonight.

December 21 Tuesday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Hudson, Mass. [MTL 3: 415].

Sam wrote from Boston to Livy.

December 22 Wednesday – Sam lectured (“Savages”) in Mercantile Library, Portland, Maine [MTL 3: 415].

Letters Sam wrote to Livy on Dec. 21 and 22 (letter numbers 161-2) are lost [MTL 3: 437-8n1].