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.

Sam agreed not to “remove the seal of secrecy from” JA, since Harper’s judgment was to wait. He added a PS at 8 p.m., from Geelong, further asking Harper to introduce Wagner to Laurence Hutton [MTP].

Sam also wrote to a Mr. Richardson, thanking him for “the honor which you lately intended me,” but which he was not able to accept [MTP: Geelong News of the Week, Nov. 2, 1895].

Livy and Clara remained in Melbourne while Sam commuted to Geelong by train for his “Mark Twain At Home” lecture in Exhibition Theatre. Reviews published Oct. 29: Geelong Times; Geelong Evening Star; Oct. 30: Evening News [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 20]. 

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.