The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-29
SO THERE'.S JUK ES.

How lie Played rrpnks on tho rubl!c-A
Rich and Kacy Description Of Ills Private
Life Scene in an Olunibns-A Terrific
Fight With Colonel Scllcra.
From III" New York Herald.
Not less famous than as an actor
was Sothcrn as o nrlctical Joker: aud
rloits in this Inc. At one time lie fiHi-
serted Il notice that "Professor Biglie"
would give an exhibition Of his tlving-
machine from 'rrinity Church stccplc
in New York City at II given hour.
by the appointed time thousands Of
people blocked the streets OH all sides,
gain" intcntly at the siccplc. After
AZ hour or two, the sell was discover
ed, and the air was blue with u,ibot-
tied profanity. Not for some time was
Sothern's part in the performance dis
covered.
On another occasion he advertised
that Florence, the actor, desired to
purchase q number Of dogs. and asked
all PEI sons to bring their cNnincs for
inspection between the hours of seven
, and three. Florence tells the story
thus:
"Thc next morning by eight o'clock
the street in from! Of my house was
crowded with men and dogs fighting
thcir way around the front SIoop.
Aroused by the internal noise. GOT
, OUT of my bed, wcut TO the window,
and as drew back the curtain and cX-
, posed my head and shoulders, every
| fellow in that motley crowd held up
his dog and yelled. 'Ucrc he is, Mr..
! Florence; this is the one you want
don't know what else they said, Tor
the howling and barking Of the dogs
and the laughter of the crowd drowned
| all other sounds. was at loss to
account for this strange sight. Mrs.
! Florence came to the window, took in
the scene and with that nice perception
OF things which never deserts the sex
in an emergency. said: why, ] sec
what this is; it cannot be ANYTHING
but one Of Ned SotEcrn's Jokes, mv
dear and with that she exclaimed
Look. look, it's he! There is So,hcrn
himsclfr
81 had rctrcatcd q short distance
from the window, but when Mrs. r.
said that the great Joker was present
IN person went forward, and sure
enough there he was, looking at &
beautiful skye terrier. which he after.
ward purchased. Ilc turned to my
window, and. with that characteristic
way he has Of adjusting his cycgass
he put it. on and looked straight at me
as il he had never seen me, and the,
innoccntly asked II boy, who was hold
ing an ugly cur, 'Who lives in tina
house! What queer person is tha
who is shaking bis is; at us?' 'Whv
Florence, the actor, lives there, and ht
advertised for dogs. and that's what
the matter, answered the urchin.
7 "Going into the dog business, sup
pose? said Sothcrn. 'Hcs,' said iii,
boy, Il reckon he is---hc is always do
ing something for lis fellows Dun
drcary logged along among the crowd
and he said Attcrward IL was one 0
his most successful jokes"
"a JOKE ON ENGLISH"
0n!,onc occasion Sothcrn was cater
tanning at dinner eight or ten gentle
men. In the midst Of the meal Mr.
English, Sothcrn's friend and agent
} was announced. "Now, boys" sai,
: So!hcrn, call Of you get under th
table every mau Of yoU-and dom
stir until | give the word. This is th
best joke on English that YOU eve
saw" Suiting the action to the word
, down went the guests and in came NJ,
English. Sitting by the side Of NJ,
othern he proceeded to discuss. th
busincssethat had brought him to th
house, apparently without taking an
notice Of the vacant chairs or the lite
: on the table. Mr.. Sothcrn on his par
said nothing abom his other guest
until one by one. the gentlemen undc
the table, weariod with their force,
retirement and uncomfortable posi-
II ton, n!M unable TO scc where the jok