The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-04-14
Sothern's Franks.

The New York Herald devotes much
space to the resuscitation of Sothern' s
| practical jokes, most of which are
| tolerably well known to all who ever
| took any interest in the comedian, for
he never allowed an opportunity to air
| them pass. There is one, however, told
| by John L. Raymond, not so we'll known
, as the general run. Sothern and Ray
mond were the principals. and it oc-
CURED while the former was playing
Duad''ea1y in Paris. 1t may be con-
sidered funny by many people. Mr.,
Raymond says: ''The celebrated bill
poster of Paris and London, Willing by
name, was in the green-room and made
some remark as coming from Sothern
concerning me, which L purposely con-
strued into a most grievous insult
Dashing impetuously into Sothern' s
dressing-room, which was Just off the
green-room, l demanded in q loud tone
that could be heard by everybody, in
stant satisfaction or his life, whispering
to Ned to keep up the joke. Always as
quick us lightning to take q hint, he
presently emerged, kicking me out of
of his apartment into the centre of the
now thoroughly alarmed people in the
green-rOom. | rushed off to get a knife,
swearing vengeance. Everybody ap-
pcaied to me to be quiet. and try to hold
me back, while contended that nothing
out his Gfe's blood would wipe out the
insult. OF course the play had to con-
tinue, but the actors were almost afraid
to 90 on the stage, looking on me as an
American who, with boWie-knife in
hand, was about To commit Il horrible
murder. Meanwhile Sothern had quiet
~ sent Il note telling me to slip into the
dressing-room again, get some stage
blood there, lock the door, and that Us
soon as he came of we would have u
time L followed the instructions, and
after the act he came down and joined
me. The people in the green-room
We're i'll the alert, and, between Ned and
myself, we gave their listening ears the
benefit of Il full chorus of means, groans,
imprecations, struggles, and other
sounds of distress, among which, every
now and then, my knife could be heard
sticking into some conveniently soft SUBJ
stance that sounded very like n human
body. Willing, whose remarks had
been the cause of all this commotion,
frightened almost to death, rushed after
the gendarmes. When the latter came
they demanded entrance in French. A
low groan was the only response. Be-
lievin9 that one or both of us was near
ly dead, they burst open the door. Will
ling was the first man to rush in, and
was followed by the soldiers and such
of the company rs were not on the stage.
You can imagine their feelings when
they saw Sothern and myself covered
with blood lying on the floor, with the
CORY knife near by, the entire apart
ment in confusion and bearing evidence
of desperate struggle.
Poor fellow said one," has he
got pulse?' He must be dying was
the remark of another. Go for some
stretchers.' what awful fighters these
Americans are!' Don touch the blader
and other similar expressions were also
to be heard.
'.Willing, with a horror stricken face,
stopped over and felt of Sothern. Ned
partially raised his head and feebly
whispered, "A glass of champagne.
quick" The poor bill-poster didn't
stop for glass, but knocked off the
neck of a bottle, and in his haste, to the
great disgust of DuRdi'ea7y, nearly
choked him to death rs he poured it
down. At this instant l lifted my head
in the same way and family called,
Some wine, too Then we both rose
up on our elbows and asked for more
wine, and then to our feet, until finally
with hearty laugh at the success of
our joke, we invited the whole party to
join us in potation."