April 27 Tuesday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to “Friar” Arthur Spurgeon (1861-1938), declining an invitation to the Whitefriars Club, after changing his mind to make only “several engagements.” He would keep only those and not add any.

I am to dine with Mr. Moberly Bell May 4th, but even if I were free I should avoid adding a public engagement.

You will have a good time. Max O’Rell made a delightful speech that other time, & he will do it again [MTP].

Notes: Charles Frederick Moberly Bell (1847-1911) editor of the London Times from 1890 until his death. His greatest accomplishment was his agreement with American Horace Everett Hooper (1859-1922) to reprint and sell a revised version of the out-of-date 9th ed. of the Encyclopedia Britannica under the sponsorship of the Times, which led to a profit of over £600,000. As a result the Times was profitable at long last and survived. “Friar” Max O’Rell was the pseudonym for Leon Paul Blouët (1848-1903), French humorist and newspaperman in England, who lectured in the U.S. in 1887 and 1890. Sam saw O’Rell as “an unoriginal humorist who palmed off as his own the good things of others” [Fatout, MT Speaking 260]. Arthur Spurgeon is mentioned in several sources as a member of the White Friar’s Club, including another occasion where Max O’Rell spoke on May 11, 1900 when Spurgeon was in charge of the gathering [Literary World, Vol. 61 p. 436]. Thanks to JoDee Benussi for deciphering Spurgeon’s name, catalogued as “Frian Spurgeon” for “Friar Spurgeon” and for providing the previous citation.

Sam also inscribed a photograph to Stephen (not further identified): “Dear Stephen: It was pleasant to know that you are still about. Remain so—& live long & prosper: Truly Yours, Mark” [MTP].

Note: the short signature, the reference to Stephen “still about” implies a long knowledge of the man. There are two possibilities the editors turned up: Stephen M. Griswold (1835-1916), a passenger on the Quaker City, and Stephen C. Massett (1820-1898) aka “Jeems Pipes,” whose letters to Sam until 1884 are catalogued by the MTP. He died on Aug. 19, 1898. Of course, other Stephen’s are possible.

Sam wrote 7,000 words on the S. African addition in the two days (Apr. 27 and 28) since he began the Apr. 26 to Rogers [Apr. 28 to Rogers].