February 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote per Isabel Lyon to William Dean Howells. “I don’t hear anything from anybody about the “Tom Sawyer” play. In the meantime has Paul Kester ever looked at the “American Claimant” as the basis for a play? [MTP; Not in MTHL].
Sam’s notebook:
Re-expressed Mrs. Woodbury’s box of Xn Science books & her fragment (marked vii) of type-written MS back to her. We did not break the seal of the box—(the express’s leaden seal.[)] That woman intruded her offers upon me, & now she wanted to sell me that stuff. What did she think it worth? She sent me a list of books, & I have that [NB 46 TS 10]. Note: see Feb. 3 and 6 entries from J.C. Woodbury.
William Dean Howells answered Sam’s inquiry about the proposed play, Tom Sawyer. He would send Sam’s note to Kester (Howells’ cousin), who was not in town, and whom Howells had not seen for some time. Howells had another matter on his mind—two atrocities committed in the Philippines by U.S. officers. He enclosed a note from Matthew K. Sniffen of the Philadelphia weekly City and State asking for Howells’ help in exposing the deeds. Clearly, Howells understood the power of Sam’s pen:
Enclosed is a note from a man who wants you to take up the atrocity defended in the U.S. Senate, which was committed by a U.S. officer. I wish to heaven you would. You can get the whole story in the Congressional Record. You could do humanity such service as no one else could, and yourself honor [MTHL 2: 761-2]. Note: see source note 2. Howells would mail documents concerning the case on Feb. 10.