April 18 Tuesday – At the Hotel Krantz in Vienna, Austria, Sam wrote to Annette Hullah, and enclosed an inscribed photograph by Alfred Ellis: “To Annette Hullah with my kindest regards.” The inscription is on a tiny margin at the bottom of the photo, and does not include his signature.

I know you will forgive me for not signing. I was a peace man, but I have lost interest, since the Finnish episode. I was looking forward to the Abrüstüngs Congress as a kind of holy thing, but it has become a comedy now. This outcome indicates that the human race is still on deck & hasn’t lost its character. It is never serious about anything. I mean, anything that is worth being serious about [MTP]. Note: Annette Hullah was a student of Theodor Leschetizky’s. The photograph was document 31101 in Gallery of History Auction, viewed online Sept. 13, 2009.

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

All right, I am glad you are keeping that capital at work & making it earn its living; there isn’t any other member of this family that is so diligent & so capable. As for myself, I have talent but not efficiency. I wish Rice would re-dramatise “Is He Dead.” It would keep him out of mischief, & shorten his gambling-hours, & postpone the gallows; & I know, quite well, that the play will never play until it is reconstructed. Meanwhile I’ve a notion that Puddnhead will resume dividends one of these days; a letter received yesterday from the Mississippi valley speaks warmly of it & of its big houses.

The landlord of the inn in Princeton offers us very good terms indeed; but naturally we can’t decide anything until we are on the ground & can look around.

….

The enclosed has wandered to me from America. I suppose you knew the Whitfields. It is a pleasant story. I suppose I have met the old captain myself if he is the one who was a teetotaler 3 years & became profane when he got back home & learned he hadn’t been elected to the Society [MTHHR 393-4]. Note: See source notes 1-3 after this letter for backstory.