Vol 3 Section 0220

laughter.” He thought it read silly but on the stage was “exceedingly funny.” He intended to send it to

Rogers who could return it if it was not marketable in America. He purposed more works:

At odd intervals I am translating another play; by & by I’ll finish it, & then I’ll translate no more.

I have written 3 mag. articles:

      “About Play-Acting.” (Forum)

      “The Great Republic’s Peanut Stand.”

      “Concerning the Jews.”

I intend No. 1 for the Forum, for it is exceedingly serious.

I think I will send 2 & 3 to Harper & ask him to select one & send the other to you. I should like you to

send it to the “Century.”

…

The Jew article is my gem of the ocean. I have taken a world of pleasure in writing it & doctoring it & polishing it & fussing at it. Neither Jew nor Christian will approve of it, but people who are neither Jews nor Christians will, for they are in a condition to know truth when they see it. I really believe that I am the only man in the world who is equipped to write upon the subject without prejudice. For I am without prejudice. It is my hope that both the Christians and the Jews will be damned; & to that end I am working all my influence. Help me pray. You & Rice.

If I have my leaning it is toward the Jew, not the Christian. There is one thing I’d like to say, but I dasn’t. Christianity has deluged the world with blood & tears—Judaism has caused neither for religion’s sake. I’ve had hard luck with them [MTHHR 353].

Note: “About Play Acting” ran in the Oct. 1898 issue of the Forum. “Peanut Stand” was not sent to Rogers and unpublished. “Concerning the Jews” ran in Harper’s, Sept. 1899. Sam received $500 for it.

July 27 Wednesday

July 28 Thursday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote a short note to Siegmund Schlesinger, advising that a MS “written in an unfamiliar hand” was “at a heavy disadvantage.” Sam recommended his MS be sent to Miss V. Kendler in Vienna to be typed. Sam offered to pay the cost [MTP]. Note: Sam collaborated on two comedy plays with Schlesinger and this was likely one. Neither play was performed and both are lost.

July 29 Friday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow, this year a correspondent for the London Times during the Spanish-American War. On May 23 in Tampa, Florida, Bigelow wrote an article exposing the unpreparedness of American troops for combat which ran in Harper’s Weekly. He was denounced as unpatriotic. An excerpt of Bigelow’s article:

THE CONDITION OF THE ARMY

Who Is Responsible ?

Here we are thirty days after the declaration of war [Apr. 25 ], and not a regiment is yet equipped with uniforms suitable for hot weather. The United States troops sweat night and day in their cowhide boots, thick flannel shirts, and winter trousers. In addition to this they wear a tunic at inspections—a piece of torture. Who is responsible for this? No one knows.

The poor men have to sleep on the ground in the heavy, dirty sand. Their sweaty clothing picks it up, and their food is full of it. Every whiff of hot air blows fine dust about, and every horse, cart, or even passing person adds discomfort to men already miserable. How little it would cost to have the camp sprinkled once or twice a day! Or at least the government might have provided rough boards from which the men could have sawed themselves a few feet of flooring. Who is responsible for this meanness which is seriously affecting the health of our men? In this hot climate we yearn for fresh fruit and vegetables, for anything that will quench thirst and at the same time cool the blood. Meat and all heating things we try to avoid by a wise instinct. The troops, however, are supplied with only that which is most unseasonable—greasy pork, and beans of that brown quality that makes one ready to spend the rest of the day in a watermelon-patch. I found officers with

SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.