Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-14
AN INTERVIEW WITH WILDER.
THE HUMoRisT's CAREER-How
MAKING FUN PAYS HIM.

THE HUMoRisT's CAREER-HOW
MAKING FUN PAYS HIM.
Ina recent tax with Marshall
l.. Wilder he said
"Ihe first fee hat ! ever ZEE eivrd
aa an entertain, WAS fifty crnts.
renemb.r that we'll. Whr" ! Was
about IS years old | went into
Bradstrert'S Commercial Agency
at 9l2 a month. studied short
hand and became a Sicnugiapher,
aud after while got $20 month
had "A good many friends ana
used To be invited out To parties
and receptions until 1t got to be
the case nearly every mght. By
and by they began to pay me
something in return for making
them laugh. Then commenced
TO have a price-eveTybOdy has
you knOw-snd | was getting 80 a
night and engaged every night
Then came the question, should !
be stenographer or "A hnmoIist.-
| chose the latter.
81 prospered from that time
Then | went to England. | reached
London with Si5 in my pocket and
a return ticket, and took lodgings
down by the Seven Dials. | had
reduced my capital TO about SIG
when / secured an appearance at
the Savage Club and commenced
TO make friends. Before | left the
club received an offer of SO tor
my appearance at the house OF II
prominent nObleman, bnt de.
cllned. for my price was $50, and
| wasn't cutting rates even If |
had only $40.
"a short time after that Peruglni,
of McCaul's Company, introduced
me into the Lyric Club, and after
making a couple Of dozen appear
ances returned to America
When went to London the second
time didn't take apartments In
the Seven DIals quarter. | always
stop now at the Victoria Hotel
When the steamer touches at
Queenstown | mail my cards, and
by the time | reach London | find
letters awaiting me. For Instance,
Baron ROthchild sends me an invi-
tatlan to dinner. | try to enter
tain his guests and TO make them
laugh. The next morning receive
a check from hiS secretary.
sin England, the entertainer is
whiting as a guest, only the hour
tor him to arrive is mentioned aud
he frequently goes to two or three
assemblies the same night.
81 have found that whenever |
have entertained people at a place
where the Prince of Wales was
present, my invitations increase
In this way, one night with Wales
materialized $500 for mt. Now,
that would indicate that the Prince
Ia rather a good +, How, wouldn't it !
"Iu Washington | fonnd people
too busy to listen to anything in
my line.
"lf | should attempt to describe
Washington society in a semi
humorous way should say 1t WAS
something like this: 'llOw do you
do? What, going | have enjoyed
this five minutes OF yOur company
very much. Good bye" | was
charmed with Mrs. Cleveland and
was Invited several times to Mrs.
Whitney's, but on the whole ! don't
think care to find myself IN the
maddenlng whirl of Washington
society.
GLOW do get my ideas so as to
avoid repeating the same thing too
oiteu1 get them from every
body and every idea | get | work
out in my own way. meet people
who suggests ideas to me every
WHEREIN the horse cars, on the
street. in a railroad trip, or aboard
a steamer. Then | take up some
popular subject OF the day for in
stance, lis Marriage Failure p
81 never touch upon politics or
religion. try to be funny without
being vulgar or sarcastic; | never
tread on any ones toes, which !
suppose Is the reason ! have so
many friends everywhere. Just to
give you an Idea of the variety OF
my engagements, to day | have a
Sunday school to entertain, to-
morrow a church, where ! must
keep under bounds, although /
never cay any thing that can offend.
Whenever give n church enter
tainmpnt the minister is always
sure to come to me and say Now,
Mr.. Wilder, know you viii he
very careful etc. THIS always
pu,s a wet blanket on me. They
ought TO give ne credit for common
sense.
"Then lady gives a patty for
some little children and am in
vited to entertain them, or twenty
or thirty young ladies assemble at
a friends house and | am expected
to make them laugh. Often they
have no chaperOne, and this seems
rather queer to me. Again, | am
asked to be funny for the news.
boy, or to entertain the idiots on
Wards Island, or the sick in the
L....,t.l. h,k Of all au1Iauaaa