February 5 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote per Isabel Lyon to Howard E. Wright, enclosing the following cablegram: “Plasmon Co. London / Am greatly alarmed by letters charging criminal concealments upon the directors. What is the explanation[?]” Sam had heard nothing from Samuel Bergheim, the London director, and suggested leaking the cable to the press. He thanked Wright for obtaining Hillier’s name and address [MTP]. Note: Sam had begun to smell a rat in the Plasmon Co. goings on; his large investment was at risk. See Feb. 6 to Bergheim. On Mar. 2 he wrote to Fairchild saying he’d forgotten “Dr. [Alfred] Hillier’s number in Wimpole street, but the London Directory will know.”
Fatout lists a speech by Mark Twain at a dinner for Colonel George B. Harvey, N.Y.C. no particulars are given and none were found [MT Speaking 672]. Fatout likely used the next NB entry, though no speech is mentioned:
Sam’s notebook: “R. dines here 7.30. Postpone & go to Sherry’s dinner to Col. Harvey” [NB 46 TS 10].
Theodore Weld Stanton wrote to Sam.
I have some progress to report in the matter of the Rhone voyage. I am now in communication with the mayor of the village of Chanaz, where your sailor came from. But he says the sailor was named Joseph Hasson & not Pougier. It appears that not for many years has anybody gone by boat from there. Bourget to Arles, & that this sailor was the last to make the journey. The mayor says he is your man. I am now writing him & will try to get him to describe first Verey, & we will then be able to see if he is really the man … The mayor says he is in the best of health & a good reliable fellow [MTP].
J.C. Woodbury wrote from NYC to Sam about Christian Science books: “It wont cost much more to send the bunch, than just those you selected, and you might miss something wanted later on, so unless I hear to the contrary will forward the box by ex- Saturday A.M.” [MTP].