July – Sam’s article, “A New Beecher Church,” was printed in the July American Publisher [MTL 4: 440n2]. Sam so inscribed on the flyleaf of Louis Figuier’s Primitive Man, that read: “Saml. L. Clemens, / The Primitive Man” [Gribben 230].
July 2 Sunday – In Elmira, Sam wrote a short note to Orion. Though only about three-quarters done, Sam felt he had enough manuscript to cull from and planned to bring the manuscript to Hartford in “2 to 4 weeks hence” [MTL 4: 427].
July 4 Tuesday – Mollie Clemens wrote from Hartford to Sam, relating how Orion had felt “blue” after receiving a letter from Pamela, though he rallied. “For the first two years or more, I had very little faith in his being able to make the invention work, but my desire has been so great, I have gradually grown into the belief that it will be a success.” She told of their new quarters and obliquely thanked Sam for his money sent enabling them to afford it.
July 7 Friday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to Orion, directing his brother to sources Sam had used for an article, “Brace of Brief Lectures on Science” [MTL 4: 429].
Elisha Bliss wrote to Clemens:
Dear Clemens, /Thanks for your contributions. I have been sick 10 days, flat on my back, most of the time—& feel hard yet.
July 10 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to reply to the July 7 of Elisha Bliss. Sam agreed to allow Orion small weekly draw amounts from Sam’s account, but most of the letter pertained to the upcoming book, not yet titled. Sam suggests “Flush Times,” subtitled, “in the silver mines & other matters – a personal narrative by Mark Twain.” Ultimately, Bliss would name the book Roughing It [MTL 4: 431].
July 11 Tuesday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to Elisha Bliss, notifying of the shipment of “up to Chapter 55” of Roughing It [MTL 5: 690].
July 14 Friday – Sam wrote a short note from Elmira to James Redpath not to schedule him at Jamestown, New York, the scene of a poor lecture on Jan. 21, 1870. “I suppose all lecturers hate that place” [MTL 4: 435].
July 19 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to James Redpath not to schedule him west of Cleveland. “When I think of those awful western roads & hotel[s] I get sick—sick as death.” Sam repeated that he wanted “Nasby prices” [MTL 4: 436].
July 20 Thursday – Sam wrote from Elmira to George L. Fall, (In charge of scheduling for the Boston Lyceum), suggesting that Rondout, New York be charged $150 because it was so out of the way [MTL 4: 437].
July 23 Sunday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Will Bowen in St. Louis about his lecture plans and turning down $150 a night for 30 consecutive nights in Missouri and Kansas because Sam didn’t like “so much railroad travel” [MTL 4: 438].
July 24 Monday – Sam wrote a one-line note to Adolph H. Sutro, asking for his address, the envelope may have been sent to the Sutro Tunnel Co. on Montgomery Street, S.F., with a note asking it to be forwarded [MTL 4: 439]. Sutro was a mutual friend of Sam’s and John Henry Riley’s, and was trying to secure investments for his tunnel. See also source p. 447-8 about Sam’s interest in Sutro.
July 31 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Edward P. Ackerman, editor of the Cherub. Sam responded to Ackerman’s questioning Sam’s article in the July American Publisher about Thomas K. Beecher’s new church [MTL 4: 439].
August – Sam’s articles, “About Barbers,” and “How I Secured a Berth” were printed in the August Galaxy. These were his last contributions to the magazine [Camfield, bibliog.].
August 2 or 3 Thursday – Sam left Elmira for New York and Hartford [MTL 4: 441n1].
August 3 to 5 Saturday – Sam spent two days in New York City and stayed at the St. Nicholas Hotel. He shopped for clothes for his upcoming lectures [MTL 4: 441n1].
August 5 or 6 Sunday – Sam arrived in Hartford bringing his fifth submission section of Roughing It [MTL 4: 441n1].
August 8 Tuesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James Redpath.
August 10 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Livy. She telegraphed, perhaps the day before, having not yet received any of Sam’s letters. Sam answered that he’d written every day but two, one day in New York and one since arriving in Hartford, and one day wrote two letters, one brief. He wrote of clothes he’d purchased that had arrived from New York, progress on Roughing It, and his mother’s trip to Hartford.
August 17 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Horace Greeley, asking him to confirm or deny the famous Hank Monk story about the hair-raising stagecoach ride Monk supposedly gave Greeley.
August 18 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Livy. Sam had not heard from her, and had written thirteen letters (twelve now lost) in eight days. Some were delayed from New York. Sam asked Livy if she wanted to go to England someday with him, where he might gather history, manners and customs of old England for a book [MTL 4: 446]. This idea may have been the seed that led to A Connecticut Yankee.
August 19 Saturday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Adolph H. Sutro.
“Got your letter to-day. When do you sail? Can’t you run up here for one day? I’m awful busy on my new book…Riley is in England—London.”
August 24 Thursday – Sam telegraphed from Hartford to Sutro at the Gilsey House in New York. Sam wanted to know when Sutro would sail and where he was headed.
August 25 Friday – Sam again telegraphed Sutro, having had a response on his dispatch of the day before. “All right will see you in New York before you sail.” Sutro telegraphed an answer—he’d be in New York until Aug. 30 then sail to Liverpool [MTL 4: 449].
August 26 to 28 Monday – Sam went to New York, where he met Livy, Ida Langdon and another Langdon cousin. He probably met with Sutro before he sailed for England, to gather mining information for RI. Sam returned to Hartford by Aug. 29 [MTL 4: 449n1].
August 29 Tuesday – Sam telegraphed from Hartford to Adolph H. Sutro, asking how long the tunnel into the Comstock Lode would be (planned to be 4 miles long). He also asked Sutro to send his London address. Sam wanted the tunnel information for Roughing It [MTL 4: 450]. Note: Since Sam and Sutro were in New York during the same time (Sutro from Aug. 22, Sam Aug.