August 12 Monday – The Clemens party moved from Olympia to nearby Tacoma, Wash., and took rooms at the Tacoma Hotel. J.B. Pond’s diary for this date:

I had trouble in settling at the Opera House; the manager is a scamp. I expected trouble, and I had it.

The Tacoma Press Club gave “Mark” a reception in their rooms after the lecture, which proved to be a very bright affair. “Mark” is finding out that he has found his friends by the loss of his fortune. People are constantly meeting him on the street, at halls, and in hotels, and telling him of the happiness he has brought them — old and young alike. He seems as fresh to the rising generation as he is dear to older friends. Here we met Lieutenant-Commander Wadhams, who is executive officer of the Mohican, now in Seattle harbor. He has invited us all on board the man-of-war to dine to-morrow, and we have all accepted [Eccentricities of Genius 219-20].

The Tacoma Daily News of Aug. 13 reported on this night’s lecture:

MARK TWAIN AT THE TACOMA THEATRE.

Mark had a crowded house last night [Aug. 12]. Tacoma’s very best people were out in force to listen to him, and they were ready to laugh upon the slightest provocation. That is, the most of them were. There were some very intelligent people in the audience who were unable to swing into line with Mark’s peculiar kind of humor and they looked tired, too tired even to smile. But he tickled the risibilities of all the rest, and they enjoyed themselves thoroughly and paid no attention to the folks who were too opaque to appreciate the fun. His evening in Tacoma was a big success.

A reception was given by Mrs. George Turner. An article titled “Mark Twain’s Story” by Bernice E. Newell was published in the Los Angeles Times, October 1895 which reported:

Mark Twain visited Tacoma recently, taking in the “City of Destiny” on his way to Australia. While here he and Mrs. Clemens and their daughter Claire [sic] were entertained by their old-time friends Mrs. Judge Turner and Mrs. Frank Allyn, the wife and daughter of the late George Turner, Chief Justice of Nevada during the great mining days, who made his first overland trip in a stage coach with Mr. Clemens, then a young man of 26. Before a small company, invited in informally to meet them, Mr. Clemens consented to tell a story…

Bernice Newell’s article reprints Twain’s story about the unrecognized acquaintance whom Twain mistook for a lightning rod salesman when he visited his home in Hartford. Twain gave similar versions of the story in a speech known as “Morals and Memory.”

Sam gave a press club supper speech in Tacoma. The Tacoma Morning Union Aug. 13, 1895, quoted a fragment of Mark Twain’s speech:

As a rule a chairman at a banquet is an ass, but your chairman is not an ass. His plan is the best I have ever encountered. It gives the irresponsibles an opportunity to be heard before the guest of the evening is called upon. As a rule the man who is the guest of honor is introduced as the first speaker, and the more he is lauded, the more difficult it is for him to speak. Every compliment ties his tongue.

Note: See MTJ (Fall, 1992) p.24 “Mark Twain Speaking: Three New Documents” by Tanner & Scharnhorst relating Sam’s private story told in Tacoma, which was published in the Nov. 10, 1895 San Francisco Examiner.