December 19 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Debating Club, 8.15. Pipes & tobacco” [NB 44 TS 19]. Fatout lists this appearance and talk by Sam at a Debating Club, N.Y.C. but offers no particulars [MT Speaking 669].

Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Sam:

I have seen little Miss Deronda Mayo about the “Pudd’n head Wilson” matter. She says that she and her sister-in-law are very poor, and that the royalties from this are about all they have to live on. They do not seem to understand why we should ask any more than twenty per cent of the royalties, when the old arrangement was twenty per cent of her father’s profits. Now, I know how kindly disposed, and how generous you are, therefore perhaps you would be satisfied with twenty-five per cent of whatever we are able to get…leaving the other three quarters to the Mayos? [MTP]. Note: see Dec. 20 for Sam’s reply.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. wrote to Sam, the letter serving “as a memorandum” of Sam’s engagement with his Bible Class on Jan. 28. “…your train is the 7.27 train from Riverdale, arriving at Grand Central Station at 7.55 where I will take the pleasure of meeting you. / The story you suggest [not specified] to read will be highly acceptable to the audience….” [MTP].