June 26 Monday – In Munich, Germany Sam wrote to Frederick J. Hall.

We have reached here at last, after a much-broken journey — this was rendered necessary by the state of Mrs. Clemens’s health. We came here to consult a specialist. We expect him to call to-day. He will probably send us out of Munich to some mountain town.

Yours of the 2d & 9th have arrived, bringing promising news as to the sale of royalties, which was very pleasant, & less cheery news as to the distressing time you are having financially. We were very very sorry you were in so much trouble, but your cablegram was later than your letters, & we gathered from it that the pressure was about to slack up. We were minded to cable you to send us no more money for a month or two, & we wanted to do that, but our expenses are so heavy that I didn’t quite dare. The $200-check enclosed in your letter came mighty handy.

Sam then discussed debts and sales of royalties and selling out terms. He gave Hall three single words to cable him, indicating developments on the Paige typesetter being finished (FINISHED), the Traction deal consummated (TRACTION), or someone talking of buying him out (CUSTOMER). As for the typesetter, he asked Hall to “drop in on Frink every day & tell me what he says in the way of machine news.”

Your news that Webster [Mfg. Co., Chicago] is likely to run ahead of time on the machines is very acceptable indeed. You know they were expecting to finish 10 by the end of the year & turn out the rest of the first 50 at the rate of 5 or 6 per month after that.

Also, the Conn. Co. were expecting to begin to build their big factory in July. That will not happen in these hard times I suppose — still, I should like to know the prospect [MTLTP 346-7].

Note: George A. Frink was a member of The Connecticut Co., brokers with a New York office.