April 25 Wednesday – In New York on Players Club letterhead, Sam wrote to Livy, still putting a happy face on the business failure:

Well, sweetheart I am more & more grateful that the failure happened, & that it happened just when it did. I can’t think of a date earlier or later that would have been more fortunate. Earlier we couldn’t have had the Grant cheap edition far enough advanced to make a good showing; now the showing is so promising that the creditors hardly refuse to let us resume, I think. It seems much the wisest course to let us resume — but I am indifferent as to which they do. I could not have been indifferent earlier. I am out of the mess, now, & am no longer harassed for money to pour down that hole. Hall is glad we assigned — a heavy responsibility is lifted from his timid soul & incapable shoulders.

Sam also said the newspaper talk lasted only two days; that he was invited to “plenty of dinners & things,” but declined as his stay in N.Y. was to be short and he wanted to use his time in more productive ways. He praised the Rice’s and said he was to dine there and go to the theater the next night. After his signature Sam added that he was glad Livy had met the Rogers’ girls, May and Mrs. Cara Rogers Duff; that he’d received her letter about the Ambassador’s call, as well as daughter Jean’s letter about Maria (not further identified, perhaps a friend or a servant) [MTP].

Sam also wrote to William H. Rideing, editor of Youth’s Companion. He’d finished an article for the magazine but did not have it typewritten, since he was now “out of that business.” Sam noted he had the article insured for $500. When Rideing sent the check Sam wanted it made out to Rogers’ secretary, Miss Katharine I. Harrison. He was to sail May 9 and asked to see proofs, if convenient, before he left [MTP].