January 7 Monday – Sam’s notebook lists readings Sam gave for the H.H. Rogers family: “Watermelon / Dead Man (window-sash) / Mexican Plug / Old Ram / Intermish of 10 or 12 m. Ornithorhyncus & poem / Xning Story German Lesson / Began 8:45; ended 10.10 / 1 hr 25 m / Pieces not used: Interviewer / Duel / Golden Arm / Whistling” [NB 44 TS 2]. Note: no doubt certain guests were also there.
January 5 Saturday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz. “Yes, I can testify for Kipling after Jan. 18. I leave on the 14th for Boston to visit Thos Bailey Aldrich…& return Jan. 17” [MTP]. Note: at this point Sam’s trip to Washington D.C. on Jan. 19 had not been foreseen.
January 4 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz: “You must do all things according to your judgment, & not ask for mine” [MTP: Sotheby’s, New York catalogs, 11 Dec. 1990, Item 382]. Note: Sam wrote three postcards on three consecutive days to Gurlitz.
Sam also wrote to Charles Major in Shelbyville, Ind.
January 3 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Rogers dinner P O R T R A I T” [NB 44 TS 2].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz, with afterthoughts about the possible copyright and trademark suit against Butler Brothers of Chicago [MTP].
January 2 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Rose’s address: 45 W 46th” [NB 44 TS 2].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz: “Please send me the name & address of the man whose letter (from Florida) I sent you yesterday” [MTP]. Note: the man was Justus S. North, of Welaka, Fla.
January 1 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Cable address of Leigh Hunt: Pukchin Chemulpo Corea / Joe Jefferson Dundreary’s dogs” [NB 44 TS 2]. Note: Leigh S.J. Hunt (1854-1933), educator and publisher, by this time had become a multi-millionaire through tax-free gold mining concessions in Korea.
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
56 Consolidated Gas of NY 12.81
January – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Ira L. Smith in Hopkinsville, Ky. stating that the Library of Literature was wrong and Review of Reviews was right: “I was born in the village of Florida, Mo.” [MTP].
Lecky writes that Sam’s short essay, “History 1,000 Years from Now” (the title is Paine’s), “may well have been the germ of ‘Eddypus,’” and that it was written this month [Fables of Man 386-7].
December 31 Monday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Abner Cheney Goodell in Salem, Mass., who had written praise of his N.Y. Herald “salutation” of Dec. 30.
December 30 Sunday – The New York Herald ran a facsimile of Twain’s handwritten salutation from Mark Twain that had been sent originally to the Red Cross Society, and returned at Sam’s request. The facsimile published was dated Dec. 31, 1900; the copy to the Red Cross Society was originally dated Nov. 29, 1900, for use in a series of watch-meetings on New Year’s Eve, organized by the group’s manager, Frank D. Higbie, nephew of Calvin H. Higbie, Sam’s old mining partner.
December 29 Saturday – At the “Country Club” (Quarry Farm) in Elmira., Sam wrote to James B. Pond. “We are on the way to New York. Any morning that you would like to talk, I am on deck at home at 10.30, but writing wastes time, for manifestly it accomplishes nothing. / Yours…” [MTP].
Irving S. Underhill wrote from Buffalo, N.Y. to Sam.