March 6 Thursday – The New York Times, p.8 and the Brooklyn Eagle, p.4 ran articles about the trust fund established for the widow and four children of the late Philip H. Welch (1849-1889) American journalist, humorist and author. In the Eagle, at the front of the list of some 600 contributors: William D. Howells and Mark Twain. This bio sketch from Webster & Co.’s Library of American Literature, Vol. 11 p.604:

WELCH, Philip Henry, journalist, b. Angelica, N. Y., 1 Mar., 1849. Followed mercantile pursuits for a number of years. Entered journalism on the Rochester, N. Y., “Post-Express” in 1882. Two years later joined the staff of the N.Y. “Sun.” He gained wide reputation as a writer of jokes. Author of “ The Tailor-Made Girl (1888) and “Said in Fun” (1889). Died, Brooklyn, N. Y., 24 Feb., 1889.

Daniel Whitford wrote to Sam: “I have your letter of the 5th with enclosure and have written to Messrs Koch Sons — wont you be kind enough to have the contracts with Slote & Co. sent to me” [MTP]. Note: Whitford was reviewing all of Sam’s past contracts; the Slote Co. had rights to publish the Scrap Book.