January 9 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Richard Malcolm Johnston and marked the note “private.” He advised of changed plans, to “sneak down to Baltimore on Wednesday, 16th…& go into hiding from all save you.” Sam felt the trip would wear him out and that he’d need a “whole day’s rest.” He wanted to be incommunicado there before Thursday. He ended with,

Let Capt. H.P. Goddard tell you what he wrote to me & what I have answered [MTP].

Note: Henry P. Goddard was active in the Baltimore Insurance Underwriters Association as well as the Baltimore Shakespeare Club. No such letter from Sam or incoming from Goddard is extant.

Frederick J. Hall for Webster & Co. wrote to Sam enclosing a financial statement (bank balances totaled $17,496.80) and noting that W.E. Dibble had been replaced by Horace Granfield at a lower salary. Dibble would be demoted to canvasser. He had managed the New York General Agency of the Company [MTLTP 252n1; MTP]. (See Feb. 25, Dec. 27, 28, 29 1887, May 19, 1888 for more on Dibble and the controversy between Charles Webster and Fred Hall.)

Orion Clemens wrote to Sam of “news” just received — the “machine seems supernatural. I am amazed. My religion is upset. I had thought only God could construct a thinking machine.” “An old English nurse” had commenced watching Ma [MTP].

Civil Service Reform Assoc. of Maryland sent Sam a printed invitation to a conference Feb. 23. Sam wrote on the envelope, “To be answered” [MTP].

Richard Malcolm Johnston wrote to Sam that he found he could give him five more minutes to speak. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Splendid!” [MTP].