January 1 Monday – In New York Sam wrote to Henry G. Newton, attorney for Charles R. North:

It would not avail for me to go to New Haven, or to re-open negociations here, because I have no larger powers now that I have been equipped with heretofore. But if you would like to see Mr. Rogers I will make the appointment for you, or you can communicate directly with him.

Sam also conveyed they were doing everything they could to “consummate the scheme,” and that recent telegraphs indicated “the Chicago end of it is fast settling [to] a satisfactory basis.”

Sam then sent his Newton letter with a short note to H.H. Rogers. Sam refers to New Haven attorney Henry G. Newton as “Brer Newton,” a term usually reserved for his billiard buddies, which implies Sam may have known him prior to this instance.

At 6 p.m., Sam sent a second letter to Rogers, which shows Henry G. Newton represented Charles R. North who held 125 royalties, which he took in exchange for his work on the justifier for the typesetter.

Dear Mr. Rogers:

I did want to stand out & say “$50,000 of stock & retain 50 royalties, & that is our last & final offer, Mr. Newton” — but I am so troubled about Susy Clemens & so anxious to send the family some inspiring good news that I am losing my strenuosity & coming to accept the better wisdom of your suggestion that he be allowed his 125 royalties if you see that he can’t be silenced for less. …I do suppose I shall land in heaven just about the time that I have learned how to conduct business on earth [MTHHR 32-3].

Note: It was Rogers’ strategy to get as many royalty holders as possible to exchange these priority-payment securities for stock, so as to increase the value of Sam’s remaining royalties.

Joe Twichell wrote from Hartford to Sam at the Players Club, agreeing to his visit on Jan. 10, “and as many more days as you like before or after, or both; and occupy two rooms, or three, or a whole floor — we are that superabundant in vacant space since our young folks began to leave us.” Joe claimed a gift of “some of the best cigars you ever saw in your life, and you will have a royal smoke anyhow while you are with us.” He added a PS that he was now going to write Livy [MTP].