January 4 Monday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London Sam cabled to H.H. Rogers: “CONTRACTS SIGNED.” Not extant but quoted in his letter this day to Rogers.

Sam then wrote to H.H. Rogers, having rec’d his of Dec. 24, 1896 and Frank Bliss’ Dec. 15 enclosed, this latter to become an addenda of the Dec. 31 contracts. Rogers had exerted his best efforts to bring about the agreement. The contracts may be found in MTHHR p. 678 & 682: Appendix B & C. Of necessity there were two contracts, the first begin between Samuel and Olivia Clemens, Charles Dudley Warner (for his interest in GA) and American Publishing Co .; and the second between Harper & Brothers, the American Publishing Co. and Olivia Clemens. Sam was relieved the agreement had finally come:

We have signed the contracts, I using visible American ink and Mrs. Clemens using partly visible English ink. In one case her result was so doubtful that I thought it best to witness her signature, just to show that there was a signature….

I have started the package of contracts to you, not by mail, but by an Express-Co. Their New York office is close to you—J.W. Hampton & Co 41 Broadway. If they do not arrive promptly, please ask Miss Harrison to step over there with her tomahawk.

Well, I am mighty glad that that business is finished up at last, and so tight and shipshape. Accept my deep gratitude. But for you I never should have arrived anywhere in it.

Sam also agreed that a coincidence involving the support of Helen Keller was another example of “mental telegraphy” (see MTHHR. 257). He confessed that Christmas “was a desolate time…the day came and went without mention. No presents were exchanged, and we studiously pretended to be unaware of the day.”

Sam’s literary juices were flowing—he was working seven days a week and even planned on getting 31 days into February on FE. He had three or four new books in his head—“I shall write All of them—a whole dam library” [MTHHR 258-60]. Note: Harper & Brothers did not sign their contract until Feb. 26; Bliss until Mar. 4 [262n1].