November 14 Thursday – In Christchurch’s Theatre Royal, Sam gave his No. 2 program of “At Home,” which contained his “Morals Sermon” with the watermelon story, the Jumping Frog, the Nevada duel, and Huck, Tom and Jim discussing the Crusades. His second talk was well received. After the intermission he told the Mrs. McWilliams lightning story “with a good deal of graphic force” [Shillingsburg, At Home 148]. Reviews published Nov. 15: Lyttelton Times; The Press; Star [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 24].

Sam responded to an Oct. 30 letter from Frederick W. Haddon, editor of the Melbourne Argus, and explained that R.S. Smythe had misunderstood him — he did not think he could write any magazine articles about his trip, but if he changed his mind he felt he owned it first to the Century people, since they’d done him “a great favor by releasing” him from his “contract to write 12 articles.”