May 21 Monday – A tribute to the impresario Lester Wallack had been in the planning for some time (See New York Times Apr. 29, p.2 “The Wallack Benefit”), and Sam would have been well aware of it. He probably left Hartford in the morning.
Later in the day, at the Murray Hill Hotel in New York, Sam telegraphed Thomas A. Edison.
Can you appoint an hour for tomorrow when I may run over & see the phonograph answer paid [MTP]. Note: Sam’s May 25 to Edison explains Sam’s telegram. No letters from Sam are extant after May 7 to this date. Sam probably went to New York on this day.
In the evening Sam almost certainly went to the Metropolitan Opera House for the festivities. Here is part of the report form the New York Times of May 22, p.1, though only the actors (Booth, Jefferson, Florence, Gilbert, Modjesksa) and Wallack were mentioned by name.
THE WALLACK TESTIMONIAL
A MEMORABLE THEATRICAL
PERFORMANCE
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE COMPLETELY JAMMED BY A BRILLIANT AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE — A SPLENDID PERFORMANCE OF “HAMLET” — MR. WALLACK’S SPEECH.
The tribute to Lester Wallack has been paid. The distinguished actor and manager knows now, if he never knew before, that the people of New York hold him high in their esteem. They told him so last night in unmistakable terms when the great performance of “Hamlet,” for which preparations have been making for many months, was given in the big Metropolitan Opera House. The vast auditorium was jammed; crowds of persons craned their necks and peeped over the shoulders of others at all the openings in the fort like wall that shuts in the parquette. High up, over the boxes, in the dress circle and balcony hundreds of people were standing behind thousands who had been lucky enough to secure seats. In this great multitude and in every part of the theatre were people that every one knows. The boxes were filled with familiar faces. In the orchestra stalls, turn which way you would, your eyes would rest upon the features of some person distinguished in art or literature or commerce or one of the learned professions. In the dress circle and balcony, and even up in the gallery of the gods, the crowd was composed of well-dressed folks, and included many prominent persons.
Society of Cumberland Army, Chicago sent Sam an invitation to their meeting Sept. 19 and 20 next and “suggest to us the topic upon which you will speak” [MTP].
Middleton & Brother, Watches, Diamonds, Jewelry, N.Y. billed & receipted $12.50 for “1 Silver Lepine” [MTP].