The poem Sully reads is an excerpt from Section 22 of Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself."
Mark Twain's immensely popular short story of the Celebrated Jumping Frog was first published in the New York Saturday Press in November, 1865. The story was his first great success and brought him national attention. In 1867, the story, along with 27 other stories that had been previously published in magazines and newspapers, was included in Twain's first book, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County".
"The Vampyre", by Dr. John William Polidori, the traveling doctor of Lord Byron, was first published in the April 1, 1819 edition of The New Monthly Magazine. It was first published in book form in 1819. The story was initially misattributed as a work of Lord Byron's. Both Polodori and his friend Lord Byron protested this mistake.
Walt Whitman wrote poetry with sensual innuendo. Walt Whitman came to Colorado Springs, Colorado a few years later.
The white crocheted shawl Dr Mike is wearing at the Library opening ceremony is called a Pineapple pattern. Pineapple is an old fashioned symbol of southern hospitality.