November 4 Tuesday – Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote from Ponkapog to Sam.

I am a broken down old man, who from week to week puts off doing the thing that lies nearest his heart. In this imbecile fashion I have neglected to tell you how glad I am to have you on this side of the water—when I am not on the other. I always like to have you within interruption distance. I never enjoyed anything more in my life than I did the way I broke in on your working mood at Paris in that jolly street of the ladder [here Sam writes “(rue de l’Echelle. /SLC)”] When you get deep in another book, let me know… [Aldrich then invited Sam to visit; MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Preserve”