December 26 Thursday – On Boxing Day in Melbourne, the Clemenses enjoyed Johnny cakes and buckwheat cakes at the John Wagner’s. Sam played billiards “a good part of the day” [NB 36 TS 13] with young Jack Wagner (John H. Jr.) and Mrs. Sue McCulloch, his sister. Livy and Clara enjoyed tea with Mrs. Sue McCulloch, perhaps as guests elsewhere. In the evening Sam gave his “At Home” (No. 2) in the Athenaeum Hall in Melbourne. He included an expanded version of his Australian poem.

Sam was interviewed about his views on the “anglo-American situation” in Guiana. Shillingsburg writes and quotes local newspapers:

He claimed to know little on the subject of politics but he did foreshadow remarks he would make publicly a few days later in Adelaide: “He declares unmistakable that the United States people are anxious to avoid war with any nation but particularly with England; and at the same time he declines to believe that the action of the President was in any way an election move”….Still, he thought President Cleveland “probably takes a strained view of the Monroe doctrine” [At Home 191].

Reviews published Dec. 27: Evening News; Dec. 28: Age [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 33].

The Clemenses likely stayed overnight at the John Wagner’s again.