Verification
Newspaper report
Dubuque Herald, March 2, 1882, 1
In contrast to the successes and larger audiences in the major cities, this lecture was attended by fewer than 200 inattentive people.
It was the first of eleven consecutive days lecturing in eleven different cities, often to smaller houses, the effect of which demoralized Wilde for a time.
He recovered his bonhomie in time to tell the press that he flattered himself on his appearance at the Opera House, because, he says:
“Any man can make a speech…before 1,000 people, but it requires nerve to deliver a lecture to empty benches”.
