In his notebook, Sam concluded that the “Immaculate  Conception has ceased to be a wearying & worrisome question.” What the  Ecumenical Council should “decide once & forever” was, “who was it that  struck Billy Patterson?” (From Wm. Porter’s collection, The Big Bear  of Arkansas and Other Sketches) [MTNJ 2:  235]. More from Sam’s notebook:

It is the more ridiculous spectacle to see a Virgin or a  copper Aristotle stuck on top of every stately monument of the grand old  “pagan” days of Rome.

Bought about a peck of wonderfully big &  luscious grapes for 2.50 f. (50 cents)

Visited the Church of St. Peter’s & the Pantheon. Bay  & the mottled cat & little gray [Clara played with a cat] [236].