August 28 Thursday – In Washington, D.C. Sam wrote a short note to Livy, now back in Tannersville, N.Y. Sam complained of “a dreary long separation” and wrote of his plans for the day, which included a quick trip to Philadelphia:

Livy darling, I am up at 6.30 to catch the earliest train for Philadelphia, to assist Mr. Hall in a matter of business, but I shall be back here about nightfall & continue to talk with Jones [MTP].

Note: Sam later wrote Hall that he’d failed with the “monumental humbug of the century,” and referred to a backup book deal, so that securing a book was likely the purpose of this day-trip.

Frederick J. Hall wrote two letters to Sam. The first enclosed “notes to take up our first notes discounted, they become due Sept. 15th. Please endorse.” The second, typed and longer letter expressed the presumption that Sam would stop on his way back to sign renewals of notes. A man had been there about the embezzler Scott, but to get Scott discharged from prison early (to save his citizenship) it would be necessary for Sam to withdraw a letter he’d sent to the Governor about Scott, whose sentence expired next June [MTP].