April 20 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Garrick Theatre—Zaza. / Wrote Mr. Rogers we sail June 16. / ‘Lost Child’! Heard it only in Hannibal. Was it never in England or elsewhere?” [NB 43 TS 8].

Note: Mrs. Leslie Carter (Mrs. William Louis Payne; born Caroline Louise Dudley), sometimes called the American Bernhardt, played Zaza, the title character in David Belasco’s 1899 production, in April 1900 at the Garrick. William Winter called her one of those “obtruding harlots on the stage”; the NY Times later offered, “nothing quite so glaringly vicious as the symbols of vice in Zaza had ever been put before decent American eyes” [Theatre Journal, 54.2 (May 2002) p. 223-43]. Belasco followed Zaza with Madame Du Barry. “Lost Child” (song) see Gribben 424.

At 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to Mr. Whitney, sorry that “the mortgage upon my possible work is indefinite in term,” and so felt “it would not be wise to make any promises yet” [MTP]. Note: likely Caspar Whitney, editor of The Outing Magazine; See Mar. 9.

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers

“By a letter received yesterday from Mr. [Paul] Kester I am aware that he has been to see you, with good results. Whether he makes a good play or not, I like his enthusiasm. Doubtful people are handicapped to start with.”

Sam had also received “a couple of belated letters” from Samuel S. McClure, who had put off the start of his planned new magazine, for which he wanted Sam to be editor-in-chief. Sam was relieved as this would give him time to write some things for the first year’s issue without being crowded.

You will perceive that he has mapped out an excursion for me. It won’t take place. It is to circusy for my tastes; & too much work. I don’t like work. …

He is due here soon, & if he doesn’t take a course of Kellgren he is booked for the cemetery; & I shall consider it bad politics to have commercial relations with a man whose business-office is so soon to be transferred to a better world.

Sam noted his recent visit with the Stanleys (in Surrey) and then explained they were stuck in England until they could determine a “reasonably competent” osteopath in American to transfer Jean to Katharine I. Harrison had suffered from tonsillitis; Sam noted that “Kellgren would have had her back at her desk in twelve hours. No—he wouldn’t have allowed her to leave her desk at all for a disorder so swiftly & easily removable as tonsillitis.” After his signature Sam added a P.S.

Mrs. Clemens has just come in, & says she has about made up her mind (the Fates not intervening) that we shall sail in the American liner leaving on the 16th June. I’m glad.

I suppose we shall stay in a hotel—possibly the San Remo—till we can hunt up a flat for the winter (to be furnished from the Hartford house); Then go out of town for the rest of the summer [MTHHR 442-4]. Note: Paul Kester was arranging to dramatize TS. See Apr. 11.

Basil Wilberforce wrote to Sam about his acceptance to give the Joan of Arc talk on May 30.

Your kind letter [of Apr. 17] has given Mrs. Wilberforce and myself the greatest pleasure—nothing could be better than that you should read the paper you have written for Mr. Murray’s book and intersperse it with remarks in your won inimitable manner. I have read everything that has been written about Joan of Arc and nothing can approach your book upon her for power vividness and appreciation of her character [MTP].