March 20 Friday – Annie B. Jennings wrote to Sam inviting him to take part in an Authors’ Readings for the benefit of the YWCA of New York. Also appearing were Hjalmar Boyesen, Robert Underwood Johnson, Frank R. Stockton, Will Carleton, and John Kendrick Bangs [MTNJ 3: 611n133]. Note: the readings took place on Apr. 22.

Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam of “A financial problem” caused by selling LAL on installments — collection problems and receivables now in excess of $30,000. They might have to sink more money in the set or abandon it. Hall argued,

The bulk of sewing-machines, pianos, typewriters, and even furniture, is sold now on the instalment plan, and I need not name to you the fortunes that have been made out of books by selling in this way, such as Appleton’s Cyclopedia, Cyclopedia Britannica, Gebbie & Barry’s Art books. Our book is just as good as any of these and there is no reason why our success should not be just as great — the question merely is of raising the capital to put into it [MTP].