February 18 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Robert Bridges, declining an invitation as he was to “go yachting in the southern seas” at month’s end [MTP].

Fatout lists Sam reading unspecified stories at a Boys Club in N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 670], undoubtedly from this entry in Sam’s notebook: “4.30 p.m. At The Boy’s Club. Corey Fund meeting. (Letter from Wm. H. McElroy, 135 W. 95th.) / Must try to get there. / Dinner to Julie Langdon, my niece” [NB 45 TS 4].

Note: William H. McElroy of Albany was a widely known journalist, lecturer, poet and public speaker. He had been editor in chief of the Albany Journal, and later in the editorial corps of the NY Tribune. In 1884 he moved to Rochester where he became editor of the Rochester Post-Express . In 1898 he moved to N.Y.C. and is listed in the Biographical Directory of the State of New York (1900) as residing at 404 East Ave. He also attended the June 17 Lotos Club dinner for Gen. Horace Porter; also gave a speech at the Jan. 27, 1900 Lotos dinner for Andrew Carnegie.