February 25 Saturday – Two copies of The £1,000,000 Bank-Note and Other New Stories were deposited with the US Copyright Office. In 1897 the content of this book was collected in The American Claimant and Other Stories and Sketches, as part of Harper and Bros. “Uniform Edition” [Hirst, “A Note on the Text” Afterword materials p.18, Oxford ed. 1996].

In Florence, Sam responded to Frederick J. Hall (letter not extant) and added a PS on Feb. 27. Sam had figured out the “puzzle” of the letter of credit. He advised that he’d sent the PW manuscript, and expected “to be along soon.” He tentatively planned to leave Mar. 22, sailing from Genoa on the steamer Kaiser Wilhelm II. The monthly $500 check should be sent just the same, as Livy would need it.

Say nothing to anyone about my coming. I don’t wish to get into the papers. / I wanted to start earlier but can’t manage it [MTLTP 340].

Sam also wrote to Frank Mason U.S. Consul General at Frankfurt, thanking him for his “good letter” (not extant). He was more firm about his steamer berth date than he’d been to Hall, and said he was “starting 3 months earlier than I meant to.”

I shall inquire after that letter I sent to Mr. Cleveland.

Clara’s homesick, & I think she’ll come here before long [MTP].

Note: Sam wrote President Grover Cleveland, Nov. 10, 1892 on Mason’s behalf; see entry.