June 26 Sunday – Sam wrote from Branford to Karl and Hattie Gerhardt. Things were going well for the two families. Sam referred to another protégé he’d helped launch career efforts.

Your letter was full of interest, & gave us great pleasure. We want to hear all about the progress of both of you—the one toward success in the competitions mentioned, & the other toward the use of colors. We’ll hope for good luck for you, since this seems to be a favorable year for young aspirants,—Mr. Gillette, for instance. You remember I confided to you a state secret (about our helping him to get his play started on the western boards, which resulted in his presently becoming manager of the Madison Square Theatre.) Well, his play was put on the stage at the Madison Square the first of this month, & achieved a handsome success. The papers say it will have a long & popular run. A play which he previously wrote with Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett is now loudly called for by several New York managers. So we consider that Gillette’s pecuniary future is safe [MTP]. Note: Burnett (1849-1924). William Gillette’s successful play referred to was The Professor, which enjoyed a long run. Sam first saw the play on June 15, 1880 (see entry). The financial help was in the form of a $3,000 loan made in 1874-5; Sam’s patronage may well have included additional help since.