DBD: World Tour

July 14 Tuesday – In the afternoon in Cape Town, probably escaping the trunk packing by the ladies, Sam visited the House of Assembly and viewed debates there, as reported by the Cape Times on July 15. The Owl reported on July 18 that Sam was bored in the Assembly’s distinguished visitors’ gallery [Philippon 24].

July 15, 1895 to July 15, 1896 – World Speaking Tour – Sam’s tour consisted of the northern United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Ceylon, Mauritius, and South Africa: about 140 engagements [Fatout, MT Speaking 662]. See Railton’s website at the University of Virginia for more details on the North American portion of the tour including map, letters, and reviews, many of which are quoted here. The North America portion of the world tour was under the management of James B. Pond, who, along with his wife, Martha G.

July 15 Wednesday – At 4 p.m. in Cape Town, the Clemens party, with Robert S. Smythe, sailed for England on the Norman, captained by E.T. Jones. Rodney writes that Carlyle Smythe returned to Australia at this time [195]. In FE Sam wrote,

July 16 Tuesday – In the late morning (“Forenoon”) in Cleveland, Ohio, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, describing the first Cleveland talk the night before (July 15).

July 16 Thursday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England. On board Sam wrote in his notebook that he’d learned in Cape Town of Frank Mayo’s death near Denver, Colo. On June 7. “Heart disease” [NB 38 TS 75].

July 17 Wednesday – A travel day on the World Tour. The Clemens party took the luxurious Great Lakes steamer, North Land (sometimes seen as Northland) through the Upper Michigan peninsula to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Sam called it “an ideal summer trip” [NB 35 TS 11].

J.B. Pond’s diary:

Wednesday, July 17th, S.S. Northland.

July 17 Friday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 18 Thursday – The Clemens party arrived in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and checked into the Hotel Iroquois. Sam gave his talk at the Soo Opera House. J.B. Pond did not make a diary entry on this stop, nor did Sam mention it in any letters extant. Gaw writes,

July 18 Saturday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, Sam forwarded John Horne’s June 29 letter and asked Whitmore to write Horne after July 14th and tell him that Sam had left for Australia. Sam also asked Whitmore to call on John Day if the rent wasn’t paid on the Farmington Ave. house by the 13th. [MTP].

July 19 Friday – The Clemens party traveled by steamer the short distance to Mackinaw (Mackinac), Michigan, where he gave a lecture to 400 in the Casino Room of the Grand Hotel. J.B. Pond’s diary describes:

Friday, July 19th, Grand Hotel, Mackinac.

July 19 Sunday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 2 Tuesday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote on a series of three stones, a “Contract” with Julia J. Beecher (Mrs. Thomas K. Beecher). Stones 1-3:

If you prove right and I prove wrong 
A million years from now, 
In language plain and frank and strong 
My error I’ll avow 
To your dear mocking face.

 If I prove right, by God his grace, 
Full sorry I shall be, 
For in that solitude no trace 
There’ll be of you and me 
Nor of our vanished race.

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 20 Saturday – Sam and J.B. Pond left the ladies at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac and traveled on to Petoskey, Michigan, where Sam gave a lecture in the Grand Opera House. From Pond’s diary:

Saturday, July 20th, Mackinac to Petoskey.

July 20 Monday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 21 Sunday – Sam’s notebook:

July 21 ’95. (Sunday.) The “Islander.” This is merely a ferry-boat — 7 ½ mile course, to Mackinac Island. Yet it is neat, nice, comfortable, convenient — neither of those words can be applied to any channel boat, those damned offal-scows [NB 35 TS 13].

From J.B. Pond’s diary:

July 21 Tuesday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 22 Monday – In Duluth, Minn. Sam finished his July 20 to H.H. Rogers by adding a PS:

Had a satisfactory time at Petoskey. Crammed the house and turned away a crowd. We had $548 in the house, which was $300 more than it had ever had in it before. I believe I don’t care to have a talk go better than that one did.

Shall get to Duluth just in time to go on the platform. I shall dress before leaving the boat, then go straight to the train after the lecture [MTHHR 173].

July 22 Wednesday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, reflecting on his lecturing, the voyage, and the days ahead.

I think we have been out about a week from Cape Town — speed, an average of 410 miles a day. Very fine ship.

July 23 Tuesday – The Clemens party arrived in Minneapolis, Minn. (about 160 miles from Duluth) and checked into the Hotel West.

In the evening Sam gave his lecture at the Metropolitan Opera House. In his letter to Rogers the next day (July 24) Sam thought this night went well, well enough to suit him. Fatout lists a reception and supper speech [MT Speaking 662].

J.B. Pond’s diary recorded:

July 23 Thursday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 24 Wednesday – In Minneapolis, Minn., before going to the other Twin City, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, rather upset at the attorneys working his case.

July 24 Friday – The Clemenses were on the SS Norman, en route to Southampton, England.

July 25 Thursday – The Clemens spent the day in St. Paul, Minn.