December 14 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner, Hutchinson” [NB 44 TS 19].
In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Harper’s Dec. 14 by writing on it:
“Dec. 14. In talk with the Major, he thought that only the Detective Story should be in the book—thought it could be filled out to $1.50 bulk with marginal drawings” [MTP].
December 13 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Go Princeton. See Hutton. Returned in evening” [NB 44 TS 19].
In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added a note to his second Dec. 12 to Rogers: “Sent no proxy. SLC. Riverdale, Dec. 13/01” [MTHHR 477n1].
December 12 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to H.H. Rogers. The first concerned Rockefeller’s Dec. 10 invitation to read or speak on Dec. 27:
I found a note from Mr. Rockefeller when I got back home yesterday, and I answered accepting his invitation and saying I would read or talk, whichever he might prefer—I named “Two Little Tales” as the reading.
December 11 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two sentences to Daniel Carter Beard:
“Good—send Mr. Crosby along. I’ll see him any morning between 10.30 & 12, with pleasure” [MTP].
December 10 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Harper & Brothers. The note is not extant but is referred to in Harper’s Dec. 12 response:
December 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to Theodore Weld Stanton’s Nov. 11 and Nov. 17 letters: “Many thanks for your two letters. / Good, we’ll wait till May, & then—well, I hope with all my heart we’ll find him!” [MTP]. Note: Stanton was in France looking for Sam’s “Lost Napoleon” mountain.
Joe Twichell wrote a letter of thanks to Livy for the “altogether delightful time” for their weekend visit.
December 8 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Winter at the Staten Island Academey, N.Y., for the Arthur Winter Memorial Library. Sam declined to give a reading there, explaining it was his new rule to never do so outside the City, and only to do so in private homes, with no advertising, and for a good cause. If Winter wanted to transfer the reading to a home in N.Y.C., he would reconsider [MTP].
December 7 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Col. Harvey. Metropolitan Club. 1.30 / Has Tarkington a wife?” [NB 44 TS 19]. Note: Booth Tarkington (1869-1946; born Newton Booth Tarkington in Indianapolis), would marry Laurel Fletcher in 1902. He was likely now so engaged (they divorced in 1911 and he remarried).
December 6 Friday – Clara M. Harriott (Clara Morris) wrote from “The Pines” in Riverdale to Sam, mortified and disappointed that her door bell had not worked properly when he called. “I must either earn enough to buy a new one or I must hire a man to stand by and give instructions to those friends who are good enough to find me out” [MTP]. Note: the day Sam called is not given.
December 5 Thursday – Charles E. Flandrau of the defunct St. Paul Roller Mill Co. sent a form letter to Sam asking for a proxy for a Jan. 4, 1902 meeting about the final disposition of two pieces of real property which had not yet sold [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote a note on the letter on Dec. 12 and sent it to H.H. Rogers.
Joseph Issacs wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam that he’d rec’d Sam’s check this day and would ship “segars and 2 pipes you ordered next week” [MTP].