Submitted by scott on

November 21 Friday – Sam and Cable gave a reading in Association Hall in Philadelphia. Included: “King Sollermun,” “Tragic Tale of the Fishwife,” “A Trying Situation,” and “A Ghost Story” [MTPO].

Sam wrote from Philadelphia to Livy:

“Livy darling, a most noble big audience, & a most prodigious good time.

We are to be here again Wednesday afternoon & evening, 26th —the day before thanksgiving.

I must straight to bed, for we rise at 6 in the morning, & talk twice in Brooklyn tomorrow” [MTP].

An article on page 4 of the Brooklyn Eagle, “Authors as Elocutionists,” raved about the “Twins of Genius” technique of “combining literature with the Lyceum.” The article said the “form of entertainment that Mr. Clemens and Mr. Cable are engaged in…” was original and effective, and that “The public is greatly the gainer by this novelty.”

George Cable wrote on the back of his Philadelphia program to his wife, Lucy:

“Mark is on the platform, there goes a roar of applause! We have a superb audience—both in numbers & quality—& we are beating ourselves. Mark says as he passes me on the retiring room steps ‘Old boy, you’re doing nobly’ ” [Turner, MT & GWC 60].

Day By Day Acknowledgment

Mark Twain Day By Day was originally a print reference, meticulously created by David Fears, who has generously made this work available, via the Center for Mark Twain Studies, as a digital edition.   

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