His humorous, sarcastic, but ever entertaining talks, rather than lectures, were received with more favor [than those of Emerson], but with perhaps even less comprehension. It was under the roof of old city hall, and to an audience of less than 100 persons, that his famous lecture on "Beans" was delivered. This was afterwards incorporated in his famous work "Walden." ...
       Thoreau’s few visits to Worcester were made generally at the invitation of his friends, the Browns, Chamberlains, Blakes, John Wyman and Augustus Tucker, who formed the nucleus of what might have been called the literary salon of the infant city of Worcester. His lectures were delivered principally in city hall, Brinley hall (where the new State Mutual building now stands), and in the drawing room of his friend Harrison Gray Otis Blake. These were never well attended. If at the earnest solicitations of his friends an audience of 100 people could be gotten together to hear him, it was considered a compliment to him, and he was well satisfied. For these lectures he asked nothing, only stipulating that his expenses should be paid. He, like Alcott, cared nothing for money, and it was one of his proudest boasts that he had once lived a year on an actual cash expenditure of $65.99. People could not understand him, and in his secret consciousness he was inclined to be proud of the fact.
       He made no effort whatever to pay regard to the conventionalities. On his visits to Worcester he never troubled to bring a trunk or even a traveling bag. His hostess would often be mortified, after his arrival, to find his personal belongings reposing on the table in the hall tied up in a red bandanna, or in a greasy sheet of brown paper.
       — Anonymous, "Early Worcester Literary Days," Worcester Telegram, October 26, 1896.