January 17-21 Thursday – Sam’s notebook:

Where the English beat us, is in fun in the Church (“elections” of Bishops & clerical rows in the graveyard) cant; charity in work & cash; unconscious arrogance; (my neighbor) adultery in high places; incompetent cooks.

If we count all the personages & persons in the piece, including the salaried utterers of the Official Prayer of Invitation to the Polls—there are not fewer than 20,000 people employed in producing this colossal Comedy. But I must not talk like this, or some will charge me with blasphemy. Blasphemy is restricted to the clergy.

I am not more reverent than others; yet it makes me shudder to even set down the simple cold facts of this strange performance [NB 41 TS 4-5]. Note: Sam would attempt collaboration with Siegmund Schlesinger during the 1898-99 period; this play is not specified..