February 5 Thursday – Sam wrote from South Bend, Indiana to Livy:
Livy dear, we are grinding out the days pretty fast, now that we are at last fairly into the last month & unquestionably on the homestretch. Major Pond [James] is with us, now. He wanted to send his brother Edward, but we needed an expert, not a novice.
He also told of the Jan. 31 argument with Cable over traveling on Sunday (see Jan. 31 entry).
Better information settled the fact that he could start Monday morning at 8 & have abundance of time. If he had missed that engagement, I was going to deliver a lecture about him to the Chicago audience….I do not believe that any vileness, any shame, any dishonor is too base for Cable to do, provided by doing it he can save his despicable Sabbath from abrasion [MTP].
Sam and Cable gave a reading in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. [Feb. 6 to Livy, Sam mentioned having a “most delightful time with the Ft Wayne audience last night,” not listed by Railton; Schmidt verified there’s a record in the Ft. Wayne Sentinel for Feb 6].
Alexander & Green wrote about the hundred Sam sent and the action against The Coker Co. [MTP].
Morris W. Fechheimer (1844-1866) wrote from Portland, Ore.
Dear Sir, / My sole apology for obtruding in this manner consists in the fact of my having suggested to Mr. Wood the inquiry which you have kindly taken some pains to answer x As you are doubtless aware the Jews for centuries furnished a field upon which every amateur satirist did “flesh his maiden blade,” and each veteran wield his trenchant sword, even Heine, himself one of “The Lords Body Guard” only quitted it with his last breath, so that no sooner had the thought occurred to me that I had found a distinguished exception, than with it came a curiosity to know the reason for such a marked singularity x At the same time I was surprised that this had not been noticed before, for I have noticed comments at various times upon the fact that Scott in Ivanhoe and Lessing in Nathan the Wise were the first authors in their respective countries, who in modern times had represented a Jew in other than the most contemptible light x Now, to me it seems that what under the circumstances you failed to do, is equally as noteworthy as what they did do x Please accept my thanks for your trouble to satisfy my curiosity and explain what, as it would appear, you had not been requested to do before [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “from a distinguished Jew”) [MTP]. Note: Charles E.S. Wood; see Jan. 22 to Wood.