May 28 Saturday – In Hartford Sam responded to a request from Sylvester Baxter of the Boston Herald and chipped in $50 to a fund to help Walt Whitman build a summer cottage. Sam gave to a similar collection taken in Aug. 1885 to buy Whitman a horse and buggy (see Aug. 6, 1885 entry) [MTNJ 3: 269n140].
You did not mention any particular sum; so I enclose $50, with the request that if you should have to issue another call before you accomplish your object, you be not diffident about extending it to me.
Sam didn’t want sums mentioned about, because “these things get into print.”
I went over to Warner’s; his desire is as strong as anybody’s, but the calls upon his purse are very numerous, — & so also, as I personally know, are his pecuniary responses — & he prefers to wait & hope that the required amount will be made up without him: if not, he will come in. I confess to you that I advised him to wait for a less loved object; I said there couldn’t & wouldn’t be any lack of people ready & willing to build a cottage for Walt Whitman [MTP].
Note: on the back of the envelope several names and amounts were written, including $15 from Howells, $25 from O’Reilly and $300 from Francis Tiffany. Sylvester Baxter interviewed Sam in 1880.
Sam also responded to William L. Alden (1837-1908), U.S. Consul General in Rome, who wrote May 12. President Cleveland had appointed Alden in 1885; prior to that he was on the editorial staff of the New York Times for eleven years. He was an author and a humorist. Alden had inquired about Webster & Co. Publishing his autobiography. Sam wrote his thanks for “giving us a first chance” and referred the matter to Webster [MTP]. Note: Webster answered on June 1.
Sam also wrote to Orion Clemens, with an enclosure about “the system,” probably Loisette’s memory system for a Mrs. Howell.
…the system is a fascinating & profitable recreation for a persistent student, but not worth meddling with by an indolent & unpersistent person [MTP] Note: was Sam expressing a conviction about Mrs. Howell or about Orion, or was he simply conveying what was required?
Sam also inscribed a copy of P&P for Margaret (Daisy) Warner: To / Margaret Warner / With the love of her friend / The Author. / Hartford, May 28, 1887. [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Charles Webster about possible books to go after for publication: William L. Alden’s book would not sell more than 30,000, he felt, so that one-third of the profits was a fair offer; Garibaldi was “stale enough already,” so instead of contracting for his book in 1892 when it would be even more stale, try for next year. Joe Jefferson’s MS was “delightful reading”:
I think forty per cent of the profits is a fair offer to make him — the book to contain about 175,000 words, estimating 5 letters to a word. I shall bring his MS to New York presently, or if he needs it I will bring it down on any day required [MTLTP 217].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
3698 Karl Gerhardt 40.00 Sculptor
3699 John O’Neil 60.00 Gardener
3700 Patrick McAleer 50.00 Coachman
3701 Mr. John B Garvie 45.71 Plumber
3702 Sylvester Baxter 50.00 Reporter