February 4 Friday – At the Hotel Metropole in Vienna, Austria, Sam replied to Frank Marshall White (whose letter is not extant).

“It wouldn’t do to print the Comedy, because it would destroy the stage-right in England & could damage it in America.

“That would be rather sorrowful, after all the work I have put on it.”

Sam added he was still shortening one end of the play and adding to the other, but having trouble with the technique [MTP]. Note: the unspecified play likely was one of the two comedies he was collaborating with Siegmund Schlesinger on, likely Der Gegenkandidat, oder die Frauen Politiker (Woman in Politics). See also Jan. 20, and Feb. 5. .

Sam’s notebook entry for Feb. 4 includes a notation of his and Livy’s “betrothal day,” and a short account of meeting royalty at the Feb. 1 charity lecture, and the Feb. 3 “rattling good comedy situation” of calling at the Archducal palace [NB 40 TS 8-11].