October 8 Tuesday – In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel, Sam was still laid up. Another cancellation had to be made, this time at Horsham for the Oct. 10 performance. On Oct. 11 it was announced that it was rescheduled for Oct. 17 [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 13].
October 7 Monday – In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel, Sam was still abed. A scheduled performance in Geelong’s Exhibition Theatre was postponed tentatively until Oct. 17, due to Sam’s health. This was done by use of handbills and a telegram from Dr. N.T. Fitzgerald printed in the Evening Star. R.S. Smythe had been in Geelong since Oct. 4 making arrangements [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 13].
October 6 Sunday – In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel, Sam wrote to Miss Buckley:
I am so disappointed. I was fully expecting to be there & have my share of the good times, this afternoon, but I am obliged to lose that pleasure. I have spent the last few days in bed trying to check a very persistent carbuncle — with no success…
[Note: Sam hoped to call on Miss Buckley before leaving Melbourne]. [MTP; Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 13 provides the correct date].
October 5 Saturday – In Melbourne Sam evidently dined with the John H. Wagner’s, including daughter Sue McCulloch. Sam commented on the table décor and also noted another £259.9.6 from R.S. Smythe [NB 35 TS 56].
October 4 Friday – The Clemens party was still at the Menzies Hotel in Melbourne. Sam’s carbuncle problem caused the cancellation of a performance planned for Bendigo’s Masonic Hall. Dr. N.T. Fitzgerald froze, lanced, injected opium, and prescribed plasters for Sam’s carbuncle, which Livy dutifully applied for several weeks. Sam stayed out of the public eye and recovered enough to travel by Oct. 11 [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 12; At Home 72].
October 3 Thursday – Near Melbourne, Clara Clemens played two piano solos at a tea given by Mrs. S. McCulloch at Toorak. Livy attended. Sam wrote to H. Walter Barrett of Falk’s Photography, asking him to remove photographs of Livy and Clara from his window [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 12].
October 2 Wednesday – Sam gave a Melbourne performance of “Mark Twain At Home” lecture at the Bijou Theatre on Bourke Street. Sam opened the lecture by praising Australian writer Marcus Clarke. Sam’s notebook: “It was a sweater! And all because of an idiotic advertisement mixing the two lectures.” This was the No. 2 program with some added pieces. Note: Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke (1846-1881), author of For the Term of His Natural Life (1893). Gribben writes:
October 1 Tuesday – On a rainy night Sam gave a Melbourne performance of “Mark Twain At Home” (No.2) lecture at the Bijou Theatre on Bourke St., a repeat of Monday’s event.
Reviews published on Oct. 2: Age; Melbourne Evening News [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 12].
October – Sam’s notebook:
Punch (Melbourne) & Bulletin (Sydney) good papers. Good & bright cartoons in both [Gribben 462; NB 34 TS 14].
D.F. Hannigan wrote “Mark Twain as a Critic” in the Free Review p.39-43, in response to Sam’s “The Literary Offenses of Fenimore Cooper” in the July North American Review. Hannigan conceded that “Mark Twain possesses a gift which Cooper lacked” [Tenney 24].
September 30 Monday – Sam gave a Melbourne performance of “Mark Twain At Home” (No.2) lecture at the Bijou Theatre on Bourke St. Harry Foster sat on stage due to an overflow crowd. Sam included his “Australian Poem.”
Reviews of the lecture published on Oct. 1: Age; Argus; Melbourne Evening News; and Melbourne Herald; On Oct. 5 by Advocate [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 11-12].