extravagantly received and applauded, but in that case the position of public entertainer had been thrust upon him.  To come forward now, offering himself in the same capacity, was a different matter.  He believed he could entertain, but he lacked the courage to declare himself; besides, it meant a risk of his slender capital.  He confided his situation to Col.  John McComb, of the Alta California, and was startled by McComb’s vigorous endorsement.

“Do it, by all means!” urged McComb.  “It will be a grand success—­I know it!  Take the largest house in town, and charge a dollar a ticket.”

Frightened but resolute, he went to the leading theater manager the same Tom Maguire of his verses—­and was offered the new opera-house at half rates.  The next day this advertisement appeared: 

Maguire’sacademy of music
pine street, near Montgomery

The Sandwich islands

Mark twain

(Honolulu correspondent of the Sacramento union)
will deliver A
lecture on the Sandwich islands

At the academy of music
on Tuesday evening, Oct. 2d
(1866)

In which passing mention will be made of Harris, Bishop Staley, the American missionaries, etc., and the absurd customs and characteristics
of the natives duly discussed and described.  The great volcano of
Kilauea will also receive proper attention.

A splendid orchestra
is in town, but has not been engaged
also
A den of ferocious wild beasts
will be on exhibition in the next block
magnificent fireworks
were in contemplation for this occasion, but the idea has been abandoned
A grand Torchlight procession
may be expected; in fact, the public are privileged to expect whatever
they please.

Dress Circle, $1.00 Family Circle, 50c
Doors open at 7 o’clock The Trouble to begin at 8 o’clock

The story of that first lecture, as told in Roughing It, is a faithful one, and need only be summarized here.

Expecting to find the house empty, he found it packed from the footlights to the walls.  Sidling out from the wings—­wobbly-kneed and dry of tongue—­he was greeted by a murmur, a roar, a very crash of applause that frightened away his remaining vestiges of courage.  Then, came reaction —­these were his friends, and he began to talk to them.  Fear melted away, and as tide after tide of applause rose and billowed and came breaking at his feet, he knew something of the exaltation of Monte Cristo when he declared “The world is mine!”

It was a vast satisfaction to have succeeded.  It was particularly gratifying at this time, for he dreaded going back into newspaper harness.  Also; it softened later the disappointment resulting from another venture; for when the December Harper appeared, with his article, the printer and proof-reader had somehow converted Mark Twain into “Mark Swain,” and his literary dream perished.