May 28 Monday – In London, England Sam wrote to three- year-old Miss Margaret Carnegie (1897-1990), daughter of Andrew Carnegie, in a unique approach to get her father to buy stock in the Plasmon Syndicate of London, of which Sam was a director.

You are so little that you probably can’t remember so large a bulk as I am, but that is no matter, I remember you very well, & this is only a business letter, anyway.

My scheme is this—a kind of conspiracy, you to be head conspirator, partly on account of your inexperience, & partly on account of your influence with your father, which I judge is considerable.

Very well. When your mother is not around, give him five or six fingers of Scotch, & then talk. This will mellow him up & enlarge his views, & before he solidifies again you will have him. That is to say, you will have his cheque for £500, drawn to order of “Plasmon Syndicate, Ltd,” which you will send to me, & you & I will be personally responsible that the money is back in his hands in 6 months, & along with it 500 shares in the Plasmon Company, all paid up.

…

P.S. Don’t let your papa get hold of this—he’ll sell it for ten dollars [MTP]. Note: Margaret Carnegie Miller was the only child to Andrew and his second wife, Louise Whitfield Carnegie (1857-1946).

Sam’s notebook: “Wrote Miss Carnegie. / Lunch—to see Doubleday? James McArthur. Meet them at 21 Bedford st. 1 pm” [NB 43 TS 13].

A contract dated May 28, 1900 between Sam, Paul Kester and his brother Vaughan Kester was drawn for sole rights to dramatize TS if they got it on stage before June 1, 1901. The deadline was not met  [MTHL 2: 762n1]. Note: Norton gives May 29 for the contract signing.