December 23 Wednesday – A review of the Detroit lecture by the Detroit Free Press:

Last evening Young Men’s Hall was densely crowded with one of the largest audiences of the season, to listen to Mark Twain in his new role of comic lecturer. Of course all were intensely amused at his droll sayings, but it is perhaps safe to say that his capabilities as a writer are far in advance of his powers as a lecturer. The lecture itself was decidedly good, but its delivery was not what might have been expected, an assumed drawl, though very taking and appropriate at times, spoiling the effect of many of the finest sentences. Some of the more serious passages were of the most brilliant order, but their effect was sadly marred by the failing already alluded to [Schmidt].

Sam went on to Lansing, Michigan and gave his “American Vandals” lecture at Mead’s Hall [MTPO].

Later he wrote from to Livy:

I was not at all satisfied with my performance in Detroit, for notwithstanding I had the largest audience they had seen there for a long time, I was awkward & constrained—ill at ease—& did not satisfy them, I think. But if I had only had your letter in my pocket, then, how different it would have been! . . . Now tonight we had the largest audience that has ever attended any lecture here, but Gough’s, & I honestly believe I pleased every individual in the house. The applause of the serious passages was cordial & unstinted. [MTL 2: 342]. Note: John Bartholomew Gough (1817-1886), temperance lecturer.

Still, the Lansing Republican praised Sam’s descriptions of Venice, the Sphinx, and the Acropolis.