Vol 3 Section 0391

1900                                                                            341

Sam also wrote to Caspar Whitney (1864-1929), American author, editor, explorer and war correspondent, who at this time was editor-in-chief of the monthly The Outing Magazine, which covered outdoor and sporting subjects as well as adventure fiction. Sam declined to submit a piece of writing as everything he might “write for a year or two is already engaged & the price arranged…Two months ago I was free, but now I am become a chattel” [MTP]. Note: Whitney first came up with the idea of an “All-American” team in college football when working for Harper’s in 1889.

March 10 SaturdayAt 30 Wellington Court in London, England Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister.

I will ask you to send Mr. Heinberg to Lord George Hamilton’s nearest friend with this proposition:

That we deliver in Calcutta or Bombay, carriage free, 2,500,000 pounds of Plasmon per month to end of

the famine for £50,000.

The which will furnish to each individual, big & little, of the famine stricken, the equivalent of ½ pound of best beefsteak per day at cost of one shilling per month of 31 days [MTP].

Note: Sam wrote on the left margin of the first page: “I think of calling to-morrow afternoon.” Lord George Hamilton (1845-1927), British Conservative Party politician at this time member of Parliament for Ealing. Heinberg has not been further identified.

March 11 SundayIn London, England Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers:

Dear Mr. Rogers:

In bank here- – – – –

$5,000

Due from Harper, May 1 – –

3,000

“ Edinburg, April 1 – –

3,000

“ Chatto (de luxe ed.) –

10,000

(but not all payable till Sept.)

Prospectively due from Bliss,

Harper, Chatto  (old books) &

Edinburg by next October, say–

12,000

$33,000

And Charley Langdon has recently blown life into some coal-stock of my wife’s which has lain dead for 13 years, & it is now worth—$100,000. In addition, old 5 per cent stocks in Langdon’s hands—75,000.

In view of these facts it has seemed to me that it was about time for me to look around & buy something. So I looked around & bought. Therefore please send me $12,500, so that it will reach me by mid-April. Pretty soon I will tell you what it is I have bought; then you will see that I am thoughtful & wise.

Mind—don’t you sacrifice nay good securities. No, keep them as security & lend me the money if you can’t get it without making sacrifices. This conduct will please God, & He will not allow the interest to default, nor the principal. (No, it will be better for you to take care of those details yourself; it is not well to trust too much to strangers whom you have had no dealings with.)

I’ve accepted the Lotos complimentary dinner, & shall hope to get home in time—before the dinner season is over. I don’t know, though—I suppose it is doubtful. I was not able to say to Mr. Lord when we were coming, but I said you would know, some weeks beforehand & would telephone him. / Ys Ever [MTHHR 436-7]. Note: Sam’s investment was in Plasmon; he would become a director on Apr. 19. The Lotos Club dinner in Mark Twain’s honor would be held in N.Y. on Nov. 10, 1900; Chester Sanders Lord, managing editor of the N.Y. Sun, was secretary of the Lotos Club. See Mar. 14 NB entry, when this letter was mailed.

March 12 MondayIn London, England Sam wrote to Pamela A. Moffett [MTP].

March 13 TuesdayIn London, England Sam replied to the Mar. 2 of Rev. F.W. Mortimer:

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