December 28 Thursday – In New York Sam wrote daughter Jean.

Dear Blatherskite: I am glad you are having good times at your school, but I kind of wish they had none but French girls in it.

I have sent you 6 Paragon writing-pads. Also a little box containing a curious seed — or part of a nut. Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge had it & said I wanted it for you — & took it. It comes from Mexico. Its peculiarity is, that if you put it in strong sunshine or under a lamp that throws a great deal of heat…it will begin to walk when it feels the heat.

Sam related a story that “uncle” Laurence Hutton told at dinner (Dec. 27) about the wisdom of street-car horses in New York (Jean had great affinity with horses.).

Good-night, dear old Jean, I love you. Take good care of your mother, who is the dearest person in this world; & by & by you will find out that she has certain qualities of the head & heart that make her the superior of any other woman of these days [MTP].

Sam’s notebook:

Dec. 28 11 a m — [George] Frink brought the great news — Paige is ready to sign! He wants $2,000 down, from Conn. Co., $5,000 down from Webster Mf. Co., $600 a month till a certain dividend is reached, & the new Co. must assume the P. & W. [Pratt & Whitney] $8,000 & the Newton Case $70,000 [NB 33 TS 45].

At 3.30 p.m. Sam began a letter to Livy which he finished in the wee hours Dec. 29: He enclosed a typewritten letter, Dec. 28, from H.H. Rogers: dispatches from Towner K. Webster’s attorney, Mr. George N. Stone had been received and Rogers wanted to “consult with the Connecticut people,” so asked Sam to arrange an appointment with the Knevals brothers (of the Conn. Co.) at 23rd St. at 4 p.m. and “be present yourself at that time.” Rogers wrote his, “present judgment is to refuse a proposition and wait a little” [MTHHR 29].

I hain’t got no time to write you to-day, dear old Sweetheart. Busy trying to get our ship into port [MTP].

Sam went to the 4 p.m. meeting with Rogers and the Knevals brothers. At 6 p.m. Sam added to his letter to Livy:

We held the talk & then telegraphed that Paige must come to our terms — we would yield nothing [MTP].

In the evening Sam dined at the home of Dr. Clarence Rice. [Dec. 27 to Susy]. Sam wrote of the gathering to Livy in the wee hours of Dec. 29:

Dinner party at Dr. Rice’s; Mr. & Mrs. Rogers & ten other nice people, including me. At 10 p.m. sixty people came, & were seated in camp chairs in the library, & I stood by the fire-place & read The Californian’s Tale & then talked an hour, & had a roaring good time. …(see Dec. 29 for end.) Note: This reading is not in Fatout’s MT Speaking.