May 8 Tuesday – Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote to John B. Stanchfield with a copy to Sam. “Wright called at my office to-day. He said he has been out to the Coast recently. He said also that Butters had now plenty of money; was largely interested in the Realty Bonding & Finance Company, of Oakland; was actively connected with some new traction syndicates building trolleys in Northern California; and that some of his Oakland property has doubled in value recently.” He gave an address for Wright in E. Orange, N.J. [MTP].

Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam that he would put his essay on Howells in the July issue of Harper’s unless he heard from Sam to the contrary. He did not want the Howells article to immediately precede “A Horse’s Tale,” nor to be in the same issue with Howells’ own travel article. He enclosed a check for $712.80 for 2,376 words of the Howells article [MTP].

May 8 ? Tuesday – Gertrude Natkin wrote to Sam that it “seems such a long time since” she’d written, and “what a disappointment to you to be confined to your room” when he might be “contemplating the enjoyment of the green meadows, of driving, riding, and other pleasures.” Gertrude asked for a signed photo of him, and expressed her love again [MTAq 27-