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].

September 29 Sunday – The Clemens party rested at the Menzies Hotel in Melbourne.

September 28 Saturday – Sam gave his second Melbourne performance of “Mark Twain At Home” No.1 lecture at the Bijou Theatre on Bourke St. After the lecture Sam attended the Yorick Club supper at Cathedral Hotel with 85 members — from the medical, legal, journalism, academia, military, public service, and dramatic arts professions were there. Sam met Harry Foster, Minister of Mines. Toasts were given by E.G. FitzGibbon, Mr. Deakin, Theodore Fink, Judge Molesworth, Prof.

September 27 Friday – In Melbourne Sam gave his “Mark Twain At Home” No.1 lecture at the Bijou Theatre on Bourke St. Livy and Clara were in the audience. The lecture was attended by Edward FitzGibbon, Hon. James Service, Sir James Patterson (all former premiers); Hon. C.J., Mrs. and Misses Ham; Mr., Mrs., Miss Aitkin. Sam’s program was listed in his NB 35.

September 26 Thursday – At 5 a.m. in Albury, Australia, the Clemens party switched trains to a different track gauge train for the remainder of the trip to Melbourne. On a “bitterly cold night,” Livy had an attack of rheumatism.

September 25 Wednesday – In Sydney, Australia the Clemens family spent the day packing for a trip to Melbourne. Sam was trying to “stave off an attack by a new carbuncle on his calf” [Shillingsburg, “Down Under” 10; At Home 52].

September 24 Tuesday – In Sydney, Australia Sam wrote a paragraph of thanks to journalist and author Louis Becke for his inscribed gift copy of By Reef and Palm. Sam declared that the book “stands the test of a third reading, whereas few are the books that can do that” [MTP]. Shillingsburg writes that the columnist “Asmodeus” from the Truth, claimed to have “strolled around to interview the man” on this day [At Home 37].