December 3 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to W.H. Powell, editor of the Hannibal Courier-Post.

Dear Sir: / Next spring it will be 59 years since I became an apprentice in the Courier office under Joseph P. Ament, along with William T. League, Wales M Cormick & a Palmyra lad named Dick Rutter. Two of the group still survive: viz, the Courier & the undersigned. Surreptitiously & uninvited, I helped to edit the paper when no one was watching; therefore I was journalist; I have never been wholly disconnected from journalism since; therefore, by my guess, I am dean of the trade in America.

I hope the Courier will long survive me, & remain always prosperous [MTP]. Note: Sam crossed out a paragraph cautioning Powell to keep the missive private, as he was under a possible $500 fine for infringing the Harper agreement if he published anything elsewhere without their permission.

Howells & Stokes wrote to Sam enclosing Harry Lounsbury’s bill for $123.70 for work and materials [MTP].

Woodbury G. Langdon wrote from NYC having read in the Sunday Herald that Sam wanted to live to be 100. He was glad and then asked Sam to answer his letter of Apr. 16, 1906! [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “No Ans”

Sybil Kane Walker (Mrs. Alexander Steward Walker) wrote to Sam that she’d left “so hastily the other afternoon that I did not get a chance to thank you properly for a perfectly delightful afternoon.” She enjoyed every minute as well as the play (likely the 19th). She asked for his photo [MTP].