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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Sat, 3 Jun 2023 08:40:11 -0700
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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]>
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On 6/3/23 06:45, John R. Pascal wrote:
> Hi Scott,
> I teach a year-long high school course on Mark Twain and would share this PDF with my students.
> Please send it to me with my grateful thanks,
> John Pascal
> Seton Hall Preparatory School.
>
>> On Jun 2, 2023, at 2:36 PM, DM Sataari<[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>>
>> Yes, I absolutely need this! Please send me the PDF, and thank you!  😍
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 2:33 PM Scott Holmes<[log in to unmask]>  wrote:
>>
>>> Recently I have been researching the railroads and venues involved with
>>> Mark Twain's American Vandals Abroad tour.  The lists of his lectures
>>> mention the stop in Lansing, Michigan's Mead's Hall but there is nothing
>>> on where this venue was located nor anything about it.  So, I inquired
>>> of the Capital District Libraries about its location and one Heidi
>>> Butler replied with a wealth of information on locations and name
>>> changes but their library did not contain anything about the lecture
>>> itself.  Of her own volition she asked the Library of Michigan about
>>> it.  They had an archive of /The State Republican, /a weekly paper that
>>> published a review of Twain's lecture.  Following is my attempt to
>>> transcribe the review.  If anyone wants a copy of the pdf Heidi sent me,
>>> let me know and I will forward a copy.
>>>
>>>
>>> *The Lectures of Mark Twain*
>>>
>>> Last Wednesday evening Mead’s Hall was well filled to hear Mark Twain
>>> discourse on the American Vandal abroad. He is a young man, little over
>>> thirty years of age, and looks as though he had never been a drawing
>>> room pet, but had been used to the rough and tumble, the ups and downs
>>> of life. His wit was eminently dry, and the force of his manner, which
>>> is natural, and not affected, made it still more striking. He talked
>>> easily, walking up and down the stage at a pace that slowly marked the
>>> time of his words. His delightful description of Venice by moonlight,
>>> the Sphinx, the Acropolis at Athens, were as fine specimens of word
>>> painting as can be drawn by any other lecturer. Each of these telling
>>> passages would be followed by some humorous comment that would convulse
>>> the house with laughter. The lecture was intended to amuse, as well as
>>> to instruct, and the object was fully attained. A lecturer tells his own
>>> jokes best, and we will not repeat them. Those who heard appreciated the
>>> fun, and those who failed to hear, had no business to be somewhere else.
>>> The Vandal, who yet disgraces the national name in the classic cities of
>>> the old world, was drawn to the life.
>>>
>>> The real name of Mark Twain is S. L. Clemens, and he was for several
>>> years city editor of a paper in Virginia City, Nevada, and first
>>> attracted attention of the reading public by contributions to California
>>> papers. He was a special correspondent of the New York /Tribune, /and
>>> everything he writes adds to his reputation as an American humorist. His
>>> manner is judged by many to be affected on the stage, which is untrue,
>>> his manner being the same in personal conversation, and an infirmity
>>> which, as he says, was honestly inherited.
>>>
>>> As a humorist lecturer we have no hesitation in giving Mark Twain a
>>> decided preference over the renowned Artemus Ward. If Nasby, by the will
>>> of Lowell, becomes his successor as a humorist, we think Twain is
>>> destined to more than make good the place formerly filled by Ward. He is
>>> sure to provoke the hearty laugh that shakes the cobwebs from the ribs.
>>> And as laughter is no sin, if it takes the proper time to come in, we
>>> hope Twain will make his calling and election sure, and continue to
>>> amuse as well as instruct, the grave, austere, American nation.
>>>
>>> --
>>> /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
>>>
-- 
/Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/

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