March 6 Wednesday – Sam took a 12:05 p.m. train to Springfield, Mass. and then continued on to Pittsfield, where he got there shortly after 4 p.m. [MTNJ 3: 455]. He wrote in his notebook, probably on the train:

Toward the end of Feb. ’89, I offered Charley Langdon a one-hundredth interest in the U.S. business of the Paige Compositor for $25,000, or a lesser share at the same rate; same offer to Theodore Crane. Mr. Crane declined. Charley declined also, but thought maybe his mother or his wife might conclude to invest. I said I would keep the offer open till March 10th. It is now March 6 [457]. Note: none of those mentioned became investors.

Sam gave a reading or made remarks at the Wednesday Morning Club, Pittsfield, at the invitation of Rose Terry Cooke (see Jan. 26 from Cooke). Like most of the other engagements for this period, it was an event held for charity.

Webster & Co., (Alexander & Green to Webster Mar. 5 enclosed) notified Sam that the “assignment of judgment” against R.T. Root, the Iowa book agent who defaulted on payments for Grant’s Memoirs, would soon be ready to sign [MTNJ 3: 460].

In other legal snags, the New York Times, “City and Suburban News,” p.3 reported on a lawsuit brought against Webster & Co.:

Gen. Adam Badeau is suing Charles L. Webster & Co., the publishers, for damages because they did not publish his book, “Grant in Peace.” His complaint is not explicit enough to suit Alexander & Green, counsel for Webster & Co., and they have made a motion to compel the furnishing of a bill of particulars. Judge Lawrence, in Supreme Court Chambers, yesterday allowed the argument of the motion to be adjourned for one week.

James B. Pond wrote from N.Y. asking if Sam’s ears ever burned — “Nye & Riley are both so enthusiastic over you that they are hard to suppress….I am so tied down with work that I could not get to Boston. I sent 4 tickets to you for to-morrow evening & will be glad to supply you with as many as you like” [MTP].