September 2 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall, his man at Webster & Co. He was concerned about deadlines given for the Beecher biography and wanted them telegraphed that they must have the manuscript by Sept. 20.

I was going to telegraph this to you but don’t like that vehicle. If those people cannot be frightened into completing the Beecher book in three weeks, I think the book will not only fail but will so clog our hands as to heavily damage one or two other books [MTLTP 227].

Note: Sam likely wanted to strike the market with the Beecher book while news of his passing was still in the public eye. Some have criticized Sam’s business acumen, but his timing and expertise as a promoter as well as his understanding of the power of the media were excellent.

Charles H. Taylor (1846-1921) for Boston Daily Globe wrote asking Sam for “a passage of prose” [MTP]. Note: Taylor is credited for turning the Globe around in 1873, raising the circulation from 8,000 to 30,000 in three weeks by adding stock quotations, women’s items, and sports articles to the existing mix of political, national and foreign news.

Charles R. Brown for N.Y. Syndicate Bureau wrote to Sam, having received his Aug. 6 letter that his “lack of inclination spoils literary work.” Brown was anxious to have Sam submit [MTP].

Arthur Dudley Vinton wrote to Sam with a letter of introduction from James Redpath. Vinton had collected “a number of ‘funny’ articles” and asked permission to use the name, “Mark Twain’s Cyclopedia” in his work to burlesque encyclopedias [MTP].

Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam that his letter with enclosures received (date not given). “The billiard tables have been exchanged & I think you will not regret the expense. I played on your table at my house with Will last eve, & it makes about the same noise, not quite so much.” Paige was well again; Van was away for a week “fixing up the estate” of a dead relative; Charles E. Davis was away [MTP].

Webster & Co., wrote enclosing “copy of memoranda drawn up at Elmira a few days since.” Issues covered were: the omission of many illustrations in the Cox book; the number of pages in the Library of Humor book; Mr. Webster’s improved condition, and a report on 2,521 books sold during Aug. [MTP].

September 2 Friday ca. – On or after this date, In Elmira, Sam answered an invitation from Charles R. Brown. He was “obliged by the press of work to decline” [MTP].

St. Paul Roller Mill Co. sent Sam a pinted audit dated Sept. 12 [MTP]. The faint postmark: Sept. 2.