October 16 Monday – In New York, Sam wrote on Players Club letterhead to daughter Clara. This is an obvious response to Clara’s letter (not extant), which evidently had sought an answer to why gondolas carried a blade on the bow. Sam searched “two cyclopedias & the Century Dictionary, then examined the Astor Library — but all to no purpose.” Sam supplied an answer from Gilder and Johnson of the Century that the blade was a gauge for clearance, but also had become ornamental. Clara wanted the information to win some candy.

If this won’t win the candy, wait a few days till Charles DeKay returns from Chicago; then I will get the unassailable facts & send them to you.

Meanwhile, I thought I would secure the candy for you, anyway; so I went to Huyler’s, but gave it up. There were fifteen hundred thousand women in there & I could not get near the counter. Besides, I was the only man, & I was afraid of them. However, if you will buy the candy & tell me the sum, I’ll gladly send you the money.

I asked Mr. Hall about the translation of Struwelpeter & he said it is in the hands of one of these publishers of baby-books — just lying there — nothing being done about it. Thanks — now I have an idea — I’ll go to-morrow & see if St. Nicholas don’t want it.

I think Beard’s pictures in “Tom Sawyer Abroad,” in St Nicholas, are mighty good. Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge requires you to let her know, when you come to New York. I said you would.

With my best regards to Miss Willard & love to you & aunt Sue — / Papa.

Sam added a PS that he’d seen a cable in the papers, dated Berlin, that said “the late Gen. Von Versen” was succeeded. “Is it possible he is dead?” Maximillian von Versen died on Oct. 9,. 1893.