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Hall built in Sydney by protestant orders to match the recently built Catholic Guild Hall around the corner. Built in 1878 for the NSW Protestant Hall Company Ltd. Converted to garage 1924. In 1938 it became home to the Australian Workers Union, whose name still appears on the front of the building.
The Twainian Vol 37 No 5 (1978)
It is of interest of course as an old announcement bringing back memories, but it is exceedingly interesting because Mark has used the margins for a letter to his wife. Bear in mind their deep grief under such trying days from the loss of Susy and Mark expecting the immediate return to England of Olivia and Clara. The announcement reads:
“Protestant Hall, Mark Twain, Three Nights of Wit and Wisdom.” “Thursday - Saturday - Monday, September 19, 21, 23. The plans of seats for Course Tickets (15 s.) will be opened at Paling’s To-morrow (Saturday), and for single nights on Monday.
R. S. SMYTHE.” “THE COMING MAN”.
“What a blest relief Mark Twain will be! And what a royal reception he will meet everywhere! There is probably no other man living, except perhaps Mr. Gladstone, so universally known, or whom so many persons in every civilised country have to thank for having brought new interests into their lives, and given them something to think and talk about. There are some who think Mark Twain has rendered better service to the world than any imaginative writer of our period, not only by making it smile at clean inimitable humour, but in prompting deep and serious thought on many important questions of our time. Mr. Clemens is no feather-headed jester, or mere writer of funny things intended to amuse. In his later books, such as A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur and Pudd’nhead Wilson, there are abundant proofs that the writer has a better grasp of some of the great problems of the world than many of the specialists who have dealt with them. On every ground Mark Twain deserves to be honoured among us, and he will have a rememberable reception here.
“Daily Telegraph.”
On the margins we find Mark's handwriting in small letters, black ink, the following: “Mr. Smythe asks me to send this to you. It reads as if it had been meant for that Biography which can now never be finished. Please find it & bring it with you. And the book of the children’s sayings, too. Guildford, Surray, Aug. 28/96.”