Vol 3 Section 0498
December 18 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner at Mr. Mott’s 8 pm 17 E 47th / HOWELLS Lunch at 1 Century Club 7 W. 43d” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Jordan Lawrence Mott, Jr.; Sam gives the same address for Mott as he did in his Dec. 9 entry, connecting Mott to Winston Churchill’s visit.
Sam lunched with William Dean Howells at the Century Club [MTHL 2: 725: NB 43 TS 31].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Elizabeth Evans.
It is a dainty thing, the little sample of Filipino workmanship, which arrived to-day, & I thank you for it. Mr. Bass has not called yet, & I have not seen Mr. Patterson lately. He gave me his address on a card, but
unfortunately I lost it, to my great regret [MTP].
Note: Although these folks are not further identified, the lady is possibly Elizabeth Edson Evans (Mrs.
Edward Payson Evans; 1832-1911), author, feminist.
Sam also wrote a short note to Richard Watson Gilder, Century editor, asking him to “excuse brevity,” as he was “hurried more than usual”; “$1500 is all right” [MTP].
December 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Opera with Col Harvey / Owen Wister coming, 10.30.” [Note: source gives Livy as writer of the opera engagement. Also:] “dinner with Harvey. See Monday. His carriage will arrive for me at 6.30” [NB 43 TS 31-32].
December 20 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Clarence F. Forrest, thanking “the Committee” for the invitation but declining [MTP]. Note: Forrest is not further identified.
Sam also wrote to Mr. Griswold.
“I shall be very glad indeed to have the Dresden edition of my old friend’s books in my library in this house. I knew him twenty years, and was fond of him, and held him in as high honor as I have held any man living or dead” [MTP].
Note: Sam often made similar remarks about Robert G. Ingersoll, who died on Nov. 12, 1899. See Nov. 14, 1879 entry, which fits with the 20 years reference. Also, Gribben identifies the man referred to in this specific letter as Ingersoll [344]. This may be Almon W. Griswold, Jr. son of Almon W. Griswold (1822-1890), who, with Ingersoll had appealed a lawsuit in the circuit court, northern district of N.Y. in 1878 to recover illegally exacted custom duties [98 U.S. 225; Andrae v. Redfield] (Griswold Sr. was a Harvard educated lawyer). Almon W. Griswold, Jr. is identified as the son of Almon W. Griswold, book collector in the NY Times, Sept. 20, 1902, p. BR4 article, “American Libraries: Collections Not Known to the Public, etc.”
Samuel M. Bergheim wrote to Sam.
Dr. Cook sent me a copy of your letter to me with reference to the dissolving of Plasmon.
I have changed all this after our conversation on the subject when you were in London, and I now enclose the wrapper that goes round the packet, with which I think you will be pleased.
I am glad to hear that the American Plasmon Syndicate are doing well and that their business is increasing.
The business here is making strides every day….I have no doubt our friend, Mac Alister, keeps you well
posted on what is going on here [MTP].
Frank E. Burrough, attorney in Cape Girardeau, Mo. wrote to Sam.
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.