January 6 Saturday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam (this note was then forwarded by Sam on Jan. 18 to Poultney Bigelow:

We beg leave to enclose herewith a copy of a letter which we received from Mr. J. Boyd Douglass, in which he asks permission to use your story “The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg” as “an incentive for the construction of a “comedy drama.” We have advised Mr. Douglass that we have referred his request to you [MTP].