September 14 Thursday – Sam wrote from Elmira to answer the Sept. 11 request from David L. Grasmere, asking for a note from Sam. Grasmere would also write Thomas Nast on July 11, 1883 for a similar contribution, so may have been gathering items for a book or may have simply been an autograph seeker, though Sam replied, “I am hardly well enough to write even a brief note explaining my situation & conveying my regrets,” which implies Grasmere’s request was for more than a simple autograph [MTP].

Charles Webster wrote, reporting on his investigation of the Howard Bros. books (Independent Watch Co.), after hearing the stock was only worth 25%. He cited instances and sales of watches, which he declared were not even as good as the Kaolatype business (which did only hundreds per month) [MTP].