December 2 Friday – Sam and James R. Osgood began a three-day excursion a little over a hundred miles to Quebec, arriving at night and staying at the old Russell Hotel (see insert; closed in 1925) [MTNJ 2: 413n181].

Sam wrote from Quebec to Livy at midnight:

“Thus far, I don’t like Quebec. The hotel is infernal. You couldn’t endure these beds. Everything in the hotel is of the date of Champlain, or even of Cartier, & thoroughly worn out. I don’t think any town has much interest to me unless the hotels are good” [413n181].

Sam wrote in his notebook that it was election day in the Dominion [MTNJ 2: 412]. Sam’s original plan was to return to Montreal on Saturday, Dec. 3, but he decided to stay a few days longer when the banquet for him at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal was scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8 [MTNJ 2: 414n182].