Chapter 16 of Following the Equator finds Mark Twain and family in
Melbourne, Australia.  He is writing about the Melbourne Cup and the
weeks long preparation for Melbourne's Supreme Holiday.  He mentions
that America has such a day of consuming excitement but that it occurs
only every four years.  I'm assuming he means the Presidential election
but please correct me if this is incorrect.

His discussion of the Melbourne Cup must be from conversation he had as
he was actually in New Zealand on November 5 so could not have witnessed
it first hand.
-- 
 There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of
                          in your philosophy.
                        http://bscottholmes.com