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sovereign they would not work. I took him on, and asked Mr. Munro if he would hold the stakes. He readily agreed, but Thorn did not put his money down, pleading an appointment. I vill come back; and ten I vill tell you someting. I laughed, and said: Yes; and I will tell you something before you come back; and that is you are afraid to put your money down. He bubbled with rage, so I told him where he could go when he left the office, but that was quite immaterial. 27 To our surprise they were soon back, bringing John Nobel with them. The German was having something made by Nobel, and he brought him in to prove that he really did have an appointment. Then he threatened personal violence. He promised to knock my teeth down my throat. You vill vear a silver blate in you mouth for the rest of you life. That was enough. I made immediately for the partition door, and opened it to get at him, but Mr. Munro stopped me. He wanted no trouble in the office. I was quite fit then, and I knew the Continental style of fighting, and what to expect. They might hug, kick, or use their teeth; but I was quite able to rough it. So I had to remain dissatisfied at the counter, and just jeer at him. Goldin wanted to whisper something to me, but he must have thought me soft, if he expected me to deliberately put my head into chancery over a narrow counter. Goldin was told to mind his own business, which he did. I laughed and jeered at Thorn until I thought he would have had a fit. Had he touched me then Munro could not have stopped me; but as he regarded me more as a son at that time, I obeyed his wishes. When Thorn could not speak for rage, he departed. He never turned up again. Returning to Harry Baker. I considered him the most happy man on earth. He had an infectious smile, and could hold an audience that was intent on giving any and every turn the bird. I will relate just one experience with him. It must have been about 9 o clock in the morning when he hurriedly popped in for some odds and ends. He was starting a nice run of bookings, and suggested we should go over the way to celebrate it. We did. The girlie served us, and we stood talking. Then the door opened and a gentleman walked in. Baker turned his head quickly, then nudged me, but never looked again. I was at a loss to understand, but awaited events. The stranger called for a small Bass, and before it was poured out Baker started to fondle his own glass. Then, when the stranger reached for his drink, Harry Baker put his glass to his lips and tattled it between his teeth whilst he drank. The result was instantaneous. When the stranger saw Baker s hand trembling violently, he shuddered, and ejaculate:- My God, and rushed out of the bar. Then Baker explained to me that he could always tell if a man was suffer- ing from alcoholic poisoning, administered the night before; and his nervy condition made the drinking of a livener more pain than pleasure. Consequently when he saw another horrible ex- ample at the same time, it generally proved too much for him. And the prize, laddie, is an un- touched Sparkling Bass ever so much better than our cheap twopenny Bitter. Here s luck. Then the Bass and Bitter joined company. HOWARD THURSTON. When this gentleman came to England he fascinated us with his card work, and I should say more people copied his act than any other conjurer s act. Very few conjurers copied it, for they had acts of their own, but it bought the outsider in. We had a very bad time just then, for all we could sell was packs of cards and fine silk thread, with an occasional tin of wax. When Thurston bought his book out, he called at the Office, and showed Garland and myself the various moves. He was a delightful man to know and we wish he would visit England once again. When the Card Act died, he was preparing a large Illusion Show, and was fixed up at the Old Princes Theatre in Oxford Street. I called on him there to take him a few things we had made for him, and when I was on the stage it recalled the old times when the Theatre was open and popular. The Great Pink Pearl was played there when I was a boy, and it seemed to draw all London. Talking of Theatres, it does not seem so very long ago when I watched Charles Warner in Drink at the 28 Surrey Theatre. Also the popular Mrs. Bennett who was the leading lady in Conquests Stock Co. which played The Dark Secret, and other startling Melodramas. Those were the days when there were no backs to the seats, and the front rows were padded (?) with one layer of leather. The audi- ence brought in gallon stone jars of beer, ate fried fish and chips out of paper, and cracked (and sucked) crabs whilst the performance was in progress. We have indeed improved since then. BIJOU THEATRE. I was a very little boy when I went to this Theatre in Great Dover Street. I was born not far away. It was built mostly of wood, and later when it caught fire it was a terrific sight. Had there been a performance at the time, it would have proved a veritable death trap. I have to thank the Old Vic in the Waterloo Road for many pleasant hours. On Saturday night they ran a Variety show. On Tuesday they had a Penny Science Lecture. That does not sound very star- tling, but it was. Miss Cons who managed all the details used to get the greatest Lecturers to lecture for nothing, and the seat was a penny. I can think of nothing that compared with this wonderful value for so small an outlay. As a student at the college next door, I was allowed to have a seat in the stalls for nothing. What, wonderful lectures I have heard, and world famed men I have listened to in that dowdy old Theatre. At the time I speak of a Mr. Dove conducted the band there, but later he wielded the baton at the Coliseum. Can you imagine going into a poorly lit Theatre, and watch the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |