January 28 Thursday – H.A. Lorberg wrote from Portsmouth, Ohio to Sam, sending a photo for Mark Twain’s autograph [MTP].
Hélène Elisabeth Picard wrote to Sam, assuring him that he never owed her a letter; that if she wanted to read him she could always get the Harper’s from her friends in NY; that she was horrified by the fire tragedy in Chicago. She also asked how to get an American book to translate into French [MTP]. Note: see Jan. 1 entry on Iroquois Theater fire, Chicago.
January 28 ca. – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam replied to Edward Rimbault Dibdin (b. 1853), of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (curator from May 1, 1904 to 1918, replacing Charles Dyall).
Dibdin wrote on Jan. 24; see entry.
I remember that there was a photographer on board the ship, but his show has passed out of my recollection. If my book says he used “photographic” slides, I back it as being true; but if it does not make that specification the slides could have been the old-fashioned painted glass things. I do not know what my book says, but if you will look up the passage the above will tell you all I could tell you if the passage were under my eye now. Please remember me cordially to Mr. Archer.…” [MTP: David Schulson Autographs, No. 54, Item 34]. Note: William Archer (1856–1924), English author, critic and translator of Ibsen. Thanks to Charlotte Keenan, Asst. Curator, National Museums, Liverpool.