October 17 Thursday – The Clemens party arrived in Horsham, Australia at 2:30 a.m. They were met by Herbert Cooke, secretary of Mechanics’ Institute, and a companion, possibly Mr. Eddie, president of that organization. The Clemenses took rooms at Lucas’ White Hart Hotel.
October 16 Wednesday – In Adelaide Sam wrote to James Sadler (1860-1935), thanking him for the book, Lyrics and Rhymes: Some Annals of Adelaide, etc. (1890) and the “most pleasant hour that we spent together.” Sam was glad to have the book, and wrote that Livy “has completed the volume by pasting the poem ‘To Mark Twain’ in it” [MTP].
October 15 Tuesday – In Adelaide Sam lunched with the Ministry, perhaps the guest of acting-governor Samuel J. Way, the civic authorities, and the Adelaide Club, or, entertained by “Government House, the Municipality, Press and Parliament, Bench and Bar,” as reported by Geelong Advertiser, Oct. 24 [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 15].
October 14 Monday – In the afternoon in Adelaide, Sam was welcomed by about 20 city officials at the Mayor’s Parlor: Premier C.C. Kingston, R.S. Smythe, American Consul C.A. Murphy, Chief Secretary J.H. Gordon, Mr. Handyside, Alderman Tomkinson, Mayor C. Tucker, Councilor Johnson, and others. Sam responded to a toast by Mayor Tucker, complimenting Adelaide, its beautiful buildings and excellent drainage — reported by the S.
October 13 Sunday – In Adelaide at the S. Australian Club Hotel, Sam wrote to Edward Planta Nesbit, Adelaide writer, thanking him for the book received, probably the night before.
I am grateful for the book & also for the pleasant words which you have written on the fly-leaf.
Sam added he knew Livy would take the book first to read but added a PS that since he had to go to bed for hours he was “allowed to have the book, & am reading it with keen enjoyment” [MTP].
October 12 Saturday – The Clemens party was expected in Adelaide, Australia, but left the train at Aldgate, some 20 miles southeast of the city at 10:30 a.m. local time. They traveled twelve miles through the hilly countryside to Adelaide in an open carriage with C.A. Murphy, the American consul. In Adelaide, the Clemens party was welcomed by local gentlemen at the South Australian Club Hotel, and took rooms there.
October 11 Friday – Sam was finally well enough to travel, this time a seventeen-hour train ride to Adelaide. Before he left Melbourne at 4:30 p.m. he was given a farewell luncheon at the Government House, hosted by Lt. Gov. Samuel J. Way with Rev. W.H. Fitchett, Justice William Windeyer, Rev. John Watsford, parliamentarians. Jokes and cartoons appeared on this event in the Adelaide Advertiser for Oct. 12.
October 10 Thursday – In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel Sam was visited by Justice William Windeyer (of Sydney), who explained the Dean poisoning case (see At Home p.77-8). Other visitors included: Edmund Barton who later gave Sam a file about the case (see notebook entry below); John H. Wagner Jr., R.S. Smythe and son Carlyle G. Smythe; Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Sue McCulloch, and other ladies [NB 35]. Sam caught up with his journal writing and reading.
October 9 Wednesday – In Melbourne at the Menzies Hotel, Sam’s recorded comments on Sunday laws, horse racing, Australian settlement, the Melbourne Cup Race, and his confinement due to his carbuncle [NB 35]. FE would contain entries about Australian horse-racing and Sabbath-keeping. Dr. N.T. Fitzgerald’s telegram on Sam’s health was published in Adelaide [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 13].
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].