The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-08-17
A COMEDIANS STORY.


AL LQe Oh OdiuCo A1oSCA ioos O'OAAAAS
there was a large group of guests dis
cussing foreign news, and the CONVEX
sation turned to the latest exploits OF
Henry M. Stanley.
Ibid you ever hear how l found
Stanley7" asked William j. Florence,
the great comedian. Every one an
swered in the negative, and asked for
q recital Of the story. Just after
Stanley had crossed the Dark Cont
nent," said Florence, Il was passing
my vacation in Europe. While in
Paris. 1 received a cablegram one day
from the New York Herald, which read
about as follows:
STANLEY has arrived at Marseilles.
where We have cabled him. Give him
q magnificent dinner in Paris the day
after tomorrow. Spare no expense.
You may draw against US for any
amount. Please favor u.s."
Il went ahead and worked liked .
beaver. Engaged the Hotel Chatham.
one of the best in Europe for big recep-
tions. and ordered q dinner for 25O
guests. / skirmished around, and.
thanks to the intense popularity which
the great African explorer had won, l
and no trouble in getting together one
Of the most brilliant and distinguished
crowds that Paris could produce. I
was very nervous, of course, about the
matter. and spent the whole day pre-
ceding the night Of the reception in
supervising the floral and other decora-
lions and arranging the distribution
of the guests. In the afternoon, while
hard at work Illuminating in the choicest
Americanese against an imbecile florist,
I heard some one sing out: Hello.
Bill, what are you up TOP
/, Tho voice had half-familiar ring.
II turned and saw gray-mustached
individual with rather shabby clothes
and the unmistakable expression Of .
New York newspaper man.
".Hard at work getting up a dinner.
"What is it all about-some politi-
cal affairp'
20. no; it's complimentary ban
quet to Stanley
".Well. fancy he'll be delighted.
He ought to be, anyway.
'.All the time was puzzling myself
AZ to whom my visitor was. l could
not place him in my memory. and
therefore resorted to the old expedient
Of asking questions.
".What are you doing hereP' / be-
gan.
:. Staying here a day or two and
then going back to the States via Lon
don.'
".Auy thing important or newsyr
Absolutely nothing. just going
back to rest q little. You know, Bill.
. fellow can't work forever without
some relaxation
II was as far of as ever. and so tried
D new tack.
".It's long time, old boy, since we
met
eyes. quite number of years.
"sWhat was the last placer l quer.
led. growing desperate.
az don't remember. Bill, the exact
place or time. 1t may have been New
York. Chicago, Boston or Cincinnati.
I've seen you 90 often that can't tell.
81 paused. not knowing what to say
next
"He promptly took up the converse
ton by remarking:
"Say, Bill. think I'd like to take in
this dinner. Could you accommodate an
old friendp"
This was coming it strong. He
looked all right, and I was certain ]
knew of him under pleasant auspices,
but he might be some black sheep that
had strayed from the fold. So ans
wered:
'Tll try to arrange it, although al
the invitations are out and every seat
filed. Let me have your card and I'll
see II l can't get a plate somewhere
around the board"
He smiled as he answered.: Bin,
haven't got card to my name. Blu
never mind that, I'll come anyhow!
This was too much for even me.
looked at him alphabetically and said
My dear boy, i must make a comics
sion. have fearful bad memory TO
names and addresses, and, although
we're old friends, l can not recall Wit
you are to save my soul from perdition
Now, who are you, anyhow
"He grinned all over, leaned for
ward. catching hold of my shoulders
and said: Bill, knew you didn'
know me all the time. I'm Stanle,
himself
1T took q minute to recover from
the surprise and subsequent laughte
and then we made bee line for tn