November 20 Friday – Sam wrote from Cleveland to his mother and family:

I played against the eastern favorite, Fanny Kemble, in Pittsburgh, last night. She had 200 in her house, & I had upwards of 1,500. All the seats were sold (in a driving rain storm, 3 days ago,) as reserved seats at 25 cents extra, even those in the second & third tiers—& when the last seat was gone the box office had not been open more than 2 hours. When I reached the theatre they were turning people away & the house was crammed. 150 or 200 stood up, all the evening. I go to Elmira tonight. I am simply lecturing for societies, at $100 a pop [MTL 2: 282].

 The Pittsburgh Gazette reported:

“There is no extravagance about Mark Twain’s style, and yet he is entitled above all living men to the name of American humorist.”

Only the Pittsburgh Dispatch gave him a negative review [MTL 2: 283].

Sam left for Elmira.