May 26 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to George Iles. “Yesterday I read the last half of your book on flame, electricity & the camera again. And I thank you again. It is an enchanting book, & the style & phrasing are worthy of the great subjects. I am leaving for the West, to return the middle of June; but I am leaving the ancient hymn-books behind, in a safe place” [MTP].
May 25 Sunday – Sam read the last half of George Iles’ 1900 book, Flame, Electricity and the Camera [May 26 to Iles].
Nathaniel Pasternak wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam, that he would “be on hand any time you call me up. The boys were disappointed—badly—on receipt of that previous letter and are now reassured. Membership has now swelled to about fifty—you can guess the reason—and no more are admitted for the present. We hope your trip turns out to be a very successful and agreeable one” [MTP].
May 24 Saturday – Livy’s diary: “Mr & Mrs Frederick Goddard here for luncheon” [MTP: DV161].
Mary A. Geisse wrote from Phila. to Sam, thanking him for “his prompt reply, also for your opinion of my work” (poems) [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “I tried to make this fool understand (without saying the naked brutal words) that she has neither talent nor genius with this damned result.”
May 23 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to James R. Clemens.
Insert: Planters House Hotel, St. Louis
I am thanking the both of you (& Muriel) very much, & am accepting for June 5th, 6 p.m., & next day & maybe day after. With many thanks.
May 22 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Briercliff? / Join Mr. Wright here at 10.14 a.m. / Returning leave Scarboro at 3—something” [NB 45 TS 13]. Note: Howard E. Wright of the Am. Plasmon Co. The entry suggests the two men went to Scarborough, N.Y.on Plasmon Co. business. Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. is nearby.
May 21 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore (only the envelope survives) [MTP].
Sam inscribed a copy of A Double-Barrelled Detective Story with his signature and the date on a blank preliminary leaf [PBA Galleries auction 24 May 2007 Lot 248].
Sam’s notebook entry lists ideas for the “50 years after” tale, never finshed [NB 45 TS 13].
May 20 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mrs William E. Dodge here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam, advising that she had used $5,000 on the Steel investment which Rogers had made “some time since,” to offset $5,000 owed Rogers [MTP].
May 19 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, reacting to the lack of interest in the advertisements for the sale of their Hartford house. Whitmore was surprised there had been no letters from out of town. To Sam, the plan used to seem plausible to hook “some rich Chicagoan” but now that the scheme wasn’t successful he wasn’t surprised.
The thing that does is that there is but one Hartford bid. I had thought of Mrs. George Perkins, & of James Goodwin’s son; as possible bidders.
May 18 Sunday – Livy’s diary: “Annie Trumbull, Miss Dike & John Howells here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
May 17 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, enclosing a letter from Thomas B. Reed to the Rev. M.M.J. Cooper, Rector of St. Christopher’s, Rum Cay, Bahamas. The letter announced a donation of a church organ by Reed.