December 1 Tuesday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam asking where they should send the vouchers due him and Livy [MTHHR 548n3]. At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam cabled to Harper & Brothers: “Make all payments to Rogers / Clemens” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to John Y. MacAlister in London.
Only 2 days before your letter came (& while you were writing it, I guess) I cabled Mr. Rogers & asked him to put my surplus into stocks—for stocks seemed to have reached bottom at last. It is a thundering pity. I’d rather have it in Lysoform—if the Bergheims are going to manage it. Are they? Management is everything. But mismanagement is the other thing—as I know by American Plasmon (& other ventures of mine of an earlier time.)
Tell me about the management. And also, how long you can hold the ground floor door open for me. Will you?
I’ve had a pleasant chat with Biaggi—a most engaging personality [MTP]. Note: Guido Biagi, see Nov. 17. Lysoform was an antiseptic soap; see Hill p.75.
Edward B. Caulfield of the Italian Gazette wrote from Settignano, Italy to Sam:
I am new to my business, but I should never dream of making use of the toads that fell from a man’s mouth, only the pearls; and then I was so interested in the conversation that I clean forgot that I was there with a purpose. One of the things that I had really meant to ask you was your opinion of the International Copyright question—Have you got an opinion, or rather are you willing to make it public? And now I am gathering courage, like Abraham I would ask you another one—do you mind being photographed in your Tuscan surroundings some day when the sun shines, or can you give me one or two snapshots of yourself here? [MTP].
Paola de Plaisant, attorney, wrote to Sam, again about the flap over use of the stables at Villa Quarto. Paolo had visited Smith the day before to hear his interpretation of the lease on the matter. He repeated his understanding born by his previous letter; the stables could be in the basement of the Villa, but that would be unhealthy for Livy; another large stables nearby were suggested. He asked if Sam could write the Countess about the matter [MTP].