August 29 Monday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam finished his Aug. 28 to H.H. Rogers.
P.S. Next Day. / Yours of the 19th has arrived [not extant], enclosing letter of Mr. Harper and opinion of Mr. Rives.
Good, I am glad a settlement is close at hand, though I wish Rives wouldn’t always keep on interfering with people’s arrangements.
I believe Bliss would gladly name a date, this time, for the Uniform edition, as a condition upon which the Harpers yield to his desires about new plates: a condition giving him still another year yet,—or more.
Evidently “a reasonable time” (with him) is too indefinite.
I reckon you are off for California now. Good times to you! / SLC [MTHHR 358]. Note: Rogers had interests in the Union Pacific Railroad, which was likely the basis for the trip to California.
Sam also wrote to J. Henry Harper. Only a draft with the heading survives, but he wrote a full letter the next day [MTP].
Sam’s notebook:
Aug. 29. ’98. Siveking’s [sic Sieveking’s] adventure has gone about Europe by telegraph—people call him a “made man.” No—this is merely notoriety; it won’t last; it is but a temporary advertisement. From what I can learn—partly from the papers but mainly from talk—he was kept in a cell 48 hours & then heavily fined [NB 40 TS 32]. Note: Martinus Sieveking; see Aug. 22 entry for this “adventure.”