August 3 Monday – Tisdale & Davis, “mfg and dealers in tobacco & cigars”, Hannibal, Mo., for 500 “Old Fish” cigars. Sam wrote on this bill: ‘These are first-rate S.L.C.” No paid date [MTP]. Only Sam would enjoy a cigar named “Old Fish.”
August 2 Sunday – Beginning this night or the next, Sam stayed seven nights at the Normandie Hotel, returning home Aug. 10 (see that entry).
E.V. Satterfield wrote from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, agreeing with Sam about the final resting place of Gen. Grant being in NYC. “P.S. Mt Vernon Ills. is away down in Egypt and the writer of this is a printer by trade and a lawyer by profession and practice, and never have been known as a very ‘shining light’ at either” [MTP].
August 1 Saturday – Sam went to New York, probably to see Charles Webster sail for Europe. He went to arrange English and European editions of Grant’s Memoirs, and to feel out foreign investment interest in the Paige typesetter [MTNJ 3: 131n13]. Frederick J. Hall was temporarily head of Webster & Co., while Charles was in England [MTNJ 3: 191].
August – Sam’s history game was patented, but no attempt was made to market it until Feb.
July 31 Friday – J.P. Haynes, “tea and grocery house” Hartford, billed $6.50 for “1 bbl of flour” [MTP].
Annie Moffett Webster wrote: “Your very kind letter enclosing $250.00 received. I thank you and Aunt Livy very much. I am very much pleased that you feel as you do about Charlie; and I hope he will always be as successful as he has been…” [MTP].
Alexander & Green wrote returning a MS. Also, “You will get the burro in due course” [MTP].
July 30 Thursday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Annie Webster, sending her $250 “to spend on trifles” she “would not otherwise feel justified in buying….” Annie and her husband Charles were about to sail for Europe (on Aug. 1). The letter was high praise for Charles and included praise from the late General Grant. [MTP].
The New York Sun ran Sam’s article, “The Future National Capital” [Camfield, bibliog.].
July 28 Tuesday – Fred Grant decided that his father would be placed in a temporary tomb in Riverside Park next to the Hudson River, while the city architect drew plans for the permanent tomb and memorial. Formal plans for the funeral were completed this week [Perry 229].
July 27 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to the editor of the New York Sun, discussing the controversy and objections to Grant being buried in New York City. Sam argued that it was just the place:
July 26 Sunday – Jean Clemens’ fifth birthday.
Sam returned to New York City, from whence he traveled back to Elmira, since he wrote from there on July 27.
From Susy’s unfinished biography of her papa:
It is Jean’s birthday to day. She is 5 yrs. old. Papa is away today and he telegraphed Jean that he wished her 65 happy returns.
July 25 Saturday – From Sam’s notebook:
Home (Hartfd) July 25/85 (Saturday) noon. James W. Paige has just told me that I can dispose of his telegraphing machine & have half of the proceeds for my trouble. Each of us is to give a certain share of said result to Hammersley [MTNJ 3: 170].