October 28 Monday
At the home of John H. Wagner in Malvern Sam wrote to J. Henry Harper: The Clemens family are snatching a visit at this palatial home in the suburbs of the city, & greatly enjoying it. The head of it is a Canadian of 40 years residence here, his wife is old Puritan Yankee stock, born & reared in Stonington, Conn. Fine large family of children & grandchildren. This above son (John H. [Wagner],) has written & published some things, & is preparing an illustrated article on Samoa for the Century. He has been in N.Y. several times, at the Players. I offered to give him a line of introduction to you, & he was glad to have it. (MTDBD)
Livy and Clara remained in Melbourne while Sam commuted to Geelong by train for his “Mark Twain At Home” lecture in Exhibition Theatre.
Sam spent the night in Geelong, returning the next day. Livy and Clara were guests of Lt. Gov. Darley’s “large and brilliant assemblage” at a concert in Town Hall, Melbourne.
October 29 Tuesday
Livy and Clara remained in Melbourne. Sam commuted from Geelong to Prahran by train, where he gave his “At Home” lecture in the 1,000 seat Town Hall to a “vast audience,” which “filled the building in every part.” He included his Australian poem (which was received with bursts of laughter) and “Punch Brothers” — a somewhat different program than Oct. 26’s matinee performance.
After the lecture Sam probably returned to the Menzies Hotel in Melbourne [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20]. (MTDBD)
October 30 Wednesday
In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel, the Clemens ladies were busy packing for the voyage to New Zealand. (MTDBD)
October 31 Thursday
In Melbourne, Sam attended the wool-sales for half an hour with John H. Wagner. Sam said, “wool brokers are just like stockbrokers” [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20].
Sam’s notebook recorded the visit:
Oct. 31. Melbourne. Went to the wool exchange with John H. Wagner. Selling the “clip” in lots — at 6 & a farthing. When a man has the clip of 100,000 sheep to sell (6 pounds of wool to the sheep) the difference of a
farthing makes a big difference — 600,000 farthings. Bidders like barking dogs — Babel — racket — gesticulation — nobody calm but the President. Everybody yelps, yaps, barks, at once, & the Prest decides which barked first — no appeal [NB 34 TS 24]. (MTDBD)
When Sam attempted to pay Dr. N.T. Fitzgerald for his services while in Australia, the good doctor refused payment and was “insulted” — Sam wrote, “Why will the physician put upon the patient these humiliations?” [NB 34 TS 24].
The Clemens party boarded the Union Co.’s 2,598-ton ship Mararoa, to sail down the eastern coast of Tasmania to Hobart, then to New Zealand. Journalist Malcom Ross was on board and gave Sam several books on Tasmanian aboriginal history. Other passengers included Irish nationalist Michael Davitt, and Sam’s agent Carlyle G. Smythe [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20] (MTDBD)