July 10 Friday – In Cape Town, Sam gave his “At Home” (No. 2) lecture to the 1,200-seat Opera House [Philippon 23]. C.J. Littlewort, secretary of the Owl Club in Claremont, invited Sam to join them on Monday night, July 13 before he would sail. Parsons quotes Sam’s reply:
I also regret that my time is so full that I am obliged to limit to so short a space the time that I may spend with you [“Clubman in S.A.” 253].
July 9 Thursday – In Cape Town, Sam gave his “At Home” (No. 1) lecture to the 1,200 seat Opera House. Tickets ranged from 5 shillings to 1 & 6 pence. The Cape Argus ran a review of the talk on July 14 [Philippon 23].
H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam, notifying him that Frank Bliss was in New York and had brought him a list of points made by Harper & Brothers in the Uniform Edition matter. Rogers understood it this way:
July 8 Wednesday – The Clemenses were in Cape Town, S. Africa, probably sightseeing. Sam received a postcard from Poultney Bigelow who was at Delagoa Bay. In the evening Sam dined at the Castle of Good Hope with General W.H. Goodenough, and probably Mrs. Anna Goodenough, whom he gave an inscribed photograph of himself to during the voyage on the Norman (see on or after July 15) [July 9 to Bigelow]. Note: Lt.
July 7 Tuesday – The Cape Times ran an interview, “Mark Twain on Tour: Arrival in Cape Town, Observations and Comparisons” p.7 [Philippon 23; Scharnhorst 313].
July 6 Monday – The Clemenses were staying at the Grand Hotel in Cape Town S. Africa. The Cape Times ran an article about Sam’s plans for writing and lecturing in England.
The famous humorist is in excellent health, indeed better health than he has had since he started on his talking tour round the world…. He asks for a rest before visitors and interviewers begin [Parsons, “Traveler in S.A.” 37].
July 5 Sunday – At 7 a.m. Sam, Livy, Clara and Carlyle G. Smythe arrived at Cape Town, S. Africa and took rooms at the Grand Hotel. They’d missed the Fourth of July banquet there [Philippon 23]. Parsons notes, “Twain found that the Adderley Street Railway Station was directly opposite his last Grand Hotel” [“Traveler in S.A.” 35]. Parsons continues, describing the hotel:
July 4 Saturday – This was a travel day. At 8 a.m. the Clemens party arrived at Victoria West Road (now Hutchinson), some 419 miles northeast of Cape Town [Philippon 23]. Sam sent a postcard of July 4th “salutations” to Hartford lawyer and friend, Henry C. Robinson [MTP].
July 3 Friday – In Kimberley Sam went on drives with A.M. Robeson to the Bulfontein and new Wesselton mines. At 8:30 p.m. the Clemens party left Kimberley on a first-class rail car, bound for Cape Town some 647 miles southwest [Philippon 23]. Parsons writes of this leg of the journey:
July 2 Thursday – In Kimberley the Clemenses “went over the Kimberley mines” with Mr. and Mrs. Robeson, viewing the No. 2 washout, the concentrators, and the pulsator, a diamond-separating machine. Sam also visited the Kimberley Club [Philippon 23; Parsons, “Traveler in S.A.” 34].
July 1 Wednesday – In Kimberley, Sam accompanied A.M. Robeson, assistant engineer to the general manager of DeBeers, Gardner Williams, and viewed the diamond mines and the “Big Hole.” A day’s yield was on display — Sam’s notebook lists it as worth $50,000. In FE, ch. 69 he gives it as $70,000.