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/ >