May 13 Wednesday – In Durban, Natal Sam gave his “At Home” No. 2 (morality) lecture at the Theatre Royal. Extra seats were brought in to accommodate an overflow crowd. Reviews published: May 15: Transvaal Advertiser; May 16: Natal Witness; Pretoria Press.
Sam gave an impromptu speech for the Durban Savage Club, Dr. Samuel George Campbell, chairman [Philippon 15]. Parsons writes,
Among clubmen he was at home, striking no bargains. Besides, as guests, he and Carlyle Smythe had the privilege of the club’s billiard table and much more chance of playing without a wait than in a hotel [“Clubman in S.A.” 238].
Wednesday, May 13, 1896—Durban
Performance: “At Home” (2, 2), Theatre Royal; “extra rows had to be provided,” Natal Witness; record broken, Pretoria Press, May 16; “an equally big audience,” Transvaal Advertiser, May 15; includes moral regeneration, stolen watermelon, Nevada silver mining, Mrs. McWilliams and the lightning, MT’s Australian poem, the golden arm, Natal Mercury, May 14; 83 minutes
Supper: Durban Savage Club, Dr. Samuel George Campbell, chairman; impromptu speech
Newspapers: The Critic, pp. 1-2; Natal Advertiser; Natal Mercury (weekly edition), p. 41, p. 50
Accommodations: Royal Hotel
Livy & Clara: Remain in Durban; reunite with MT in Port Elizabeth on June 17
[see Philippon, 2002]