March 12 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Annie A. Fields, widow of James T. Fields, in Boston who was involved in a “Boston marriage” with Sarah Orne Jewett. Sam had been invited to a dinner with the two ladies, but did not receive the invitation. Charles Dudley Warner, who was their other guest, told Sam, who sent apologies and explanations:

I had made two big railway journeys, & lain awake the entire night between them; & by consequence I was sound asleep the whole time I was in the [Boston] Museum, though letting on to being awake [MTP].

William H. Gillette wrote to Sam offering to arbitrate the complexities surrounding the P&P dramatization, involving Daniel Whitford, Sam’s attorney; Abby Sage Richardson, who had not lived up to her contract yet remained intractable; Daniel Frohman, the impresario and stage manager; and representatives for the child actress, Elsie Leslie. Gillette was responding to Sam’s telegram (not extant) [MTNJ 3: 464n194].

Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam advising him that Edmund C. Stedman had requested a higher royalty (five percent from three) on Library of American Literature for himself and Ellen M. Hutchinson [MTNJ 3: 464n195].

Bissell & Co. wrote to Sam: “We credit your a/c $1,455.24…Chatto & Windus £300.00” [MTP].