December 22 Friday – Sam had a list of errands to attend to during the day, probably meeting with Webster among other things [Dec. 14 to Woodford, MTP]. In the evening Sam delivered a fifteen-minute speech for the 75th annual dinner of the New England Society of New York at Delmonico’s Restaurant. The subject was “Woman – God Bless Her!” In his notebook earlier he had originally chosen “Arctic searches for Arctic explorers” but felt the topic was too solemn. Fatout describes:

“…the dining room was decorated with American flags and the shields of the thirteen original states. A string band made soft music for 250 gentlemen, among whom were General Grant, General Horace Porter, J. Pierpont Morgan, Noah Brooks, Elihu Root, Joseph H. Choate, Chauncey M. Depew, Benjamin Stillman, Stewart L. Woodford, three governors, and Mark Twain” [173-5]. (Editorial emphasis)