May 12 Wednesday – In New York at the offices of Webster & Co. A meeting was held reaching an agreement with Alfred P. Burbank. In attendance was a representative from Alexander & Green, attorneys; and Charles Webster, Frederick J. Hall (now a member of the firm), and Frank M. Scott (bookkeeper later convicted of embezzlement). Burbank secured Daniel Frohman’s Lyceum Theatre for two weeks beginning May 24. Meanwhile Howells telegrammed Burbank at the Lotos Club to cancel the play. Powers explains Sam was “Embarrassed at finding himself undercut by his partner in such an open way” [MT, A Life 508]. Sam finally discovered Howells’ intent and compromised a solution that involved canceling the agreement with Burbank, in exchange for payment of one week’s theater rent, or $1,000. He then telegrammed Howells, the “dispatch” referred to in Howells’ next letter:

…your blessed dispatch has come, and I must write to you. I don’t know how I’ve kept alive since you left; and I wouldn’t voluntarily undergo the anguish of the last week for any consideration…Now I want to know the damage, so that I may send you my share, for the folly was mine as much as yours, and I must pay for it too, in money as well as misery [MTHL 2: 558-9].

William Graham wrote from Boston to Sam. Graham spoke of being in Cairo, Egypt (some three and four years before) and seeing “Far Away Moses” who had a copy of IA “which he showed with pride as containing his likeness” [MTP]. Note: “Far Away Moses” was the celebrated Turkish guide described in IA Ch. XXXV and pictured on p.382 [Oxford facsimile ed.]. Sam wrote that they called all the guides “Ferguson.” See also MTNJ 1: 447n133 for a shop named after the guide.