March 26 Wednesday – In Boston William Dean Howells wrote to Sam enclosing a Mar. 25 letter from Alfred P. Burbank. Burbank wanted a “consideration” to release the play rights for The American Claimant, considering that Sam’s recommendation of Burbank to play Hank Morgan was not enough to guarantee it. Howells felt inadequate to negotiate terms with Burbank and didn’t want to do all the restructuring of the play for less than half profits.

As I could not contribute to buy back the piece from Burbank, I feel that I oughtn’t to urge you to any step in the matter, which you would regret in case of failure.

I have been hoping you would come up here; but I know what vexations you have had, and how difficult it would be for you to get away [MTHL 2: 632-3].

† On or just after this day Sam responded to Samuel Coit’s Mar. 25 through Franklin G. Whitmore: [MTP].

Henry Clay Lukens (Erratic Enrique) wrote from Jersey City asking Sam to “send me your ounce of approval or pound of reprobation” for the article, “American Literary Comedians” in Harper’s Apr. issue (encl. in Alden Apr. 2) [MTP].