February 8 Monday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

Well, I’ve had my feathers cut. I was feeling too cocky. The minute I concluded to go on & make a 2 volume of this book [FE] I broke down. I haven’t touched a pen since. I am all right again, & shall go to work again to-morrow—but not to make 2 volumes. No, I’ve dropped that idea. I mean to write a third more matter for the one volume than necessary, then weed out & leave one compact & satisfactory volume.

Sam also referred to a letter (not extant) from Mrs. Rogers (Emilie R. Rogers) which included good news about Helen Keller’s progress. Sam joked, “If she doesn’t go into the publishing business she’ll be all right, now.” I am going to write with all my might at this book, & follow it up with others as fast as I can, in the hope that within three years I can clear out the stuff that is in me waiting to be written, & that I shall die in the promptest kind of way & no fooling around. But I want the rest of you to live as long as you would like to, & enjoy it all the same. / With love to you all.

Sam added after his signature, “Curse that Colby, why does he fool along so!” [MTHHR 264-5]. Note: this last refers to attorney Bainbridge Colby’s incomplete handing of Webster & Co.’s creditors. See Feb. 26 to Rogers.

Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, asking who James Robinson Smith was (of 15 Charter Oak Place in Hartford). Evidently Sam had heard from the man and wanted to find out who he was before he wrote—who was Smith’s father? Did Sam know him? Sam also advised Whitmore not to rent the Farmington Ave. house again “for the present,” but to allow John and Ellen O’Neil (their gardener and wife) to “go back into it” [MTP].