The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-02-12
ONE oE soIHERNs SELLS.
Inviting an Englishman Into American
Bohemian Life.

In memoir recently published in
London of the late E. A. Sothern, sew
eral instances of the actors fondness
for practical jokes are given. The fol-
lowing, though current some years
ago, is good enough to stand repeti-
ton:
1t was with Miss Nelson's husband,
Mr.. Philip Lee, for victim that he
perpetrated that which was probably
the most extensive (and expensive) of
all his eXtravagantly conceived and
carefully carried out "sells." Unfor
tunately for Mr.. Lee he expressed, on
the occasion of his first visit to New
York, and in Sothern's presence, doubts
as to the existence of that wild and de-
lightful American Bohemian life of
which he had heard. Sothern told him
that his letters of introduction were all
to the wrong people, but that if he
liked he could introduce him to the
right set and Mr.. Lee, having expressed
his gratitude, a supper party was arrang-
ed. Covers were laid for twelve, ,Sothern
presiding and Mr.. Lee, as the guest of
the evening, sitting on his right hand.
Previously, it should be stated, he had
been introduced by his host and Mr..
w. j. Florence (also an inveterate
Joker, and, of course, in the secret to
the other (supposed) notabilities who
gathered around the sumptuously
spread board. For a time all went
well, but while the soup was being
served one well-known man was seen
to take from under his coat battle-aX,
and another celebrity drew from be-
meath his collar dirk knife with a
blade over foot long, which he grave
| ly unclasped and placed beside his
! plate. Then another took a 'FsiX-
| shooter from his pocket, while his
neighbor drew Il scythe and a police
mans staff from under the table,
and laid them in the middle of the
board.
''For heavens sake whispered the
astonished Mr.. Lee. into Sothern's ear,
what does this meanP"
keep quiet" replied Sothern, lit is
lust what | most feared. These gen.
tlemen have been drinking and they
have quarreled about afriend of theirs,
Mr.. Weymyss Jobson, quite an emf
nent scholar and very estimable gen.
tleman, but hope, for our sakes, they
will not attempt to settle their quarrel
here. 1t is dreadful. but l hope, deal
boy, that they will go away quietly
and have no row. 1t is fashion they
have here to settle their disputes at /
table, or wherever they meet. All we
can do now is to await events"
but there will be murder heren' ex
claimed Mr.. Lee. Can we not give
warning to the police?"
Impossible, my dear fellow" sale
Sothern, regretfully. "Were you ever
to be suspected by these men of an.
desire to leave the room you would
be shot like dog, and no satisfaction
would ever be given your relatives IL
a court of Justice. Such is the coun
try"
..It is an Internal country, then,
mutter the guest.
For few moments all went well
, when suddenly a quarrel broke out a
, the end of the table and one of tn
, party, springing to his feet, tiercel
exclaimed:
, "Whoever says that the History o
the French Revolution written by m
friend, David Weymyss Jobson, is nc
as good book in every respect as tha
written by Tom Carlyle on the sam
J subject is liar and Il thief, and
r there is any fool present who desires
take it up am his man."
t All the guests arose suddenly an
every man grasped his weapon; shot
= were fired and the room was filled wit
Y smoke and uproar, several Of tn
guests closed and struggled with eac
, other, and one of the conspirator
thrusting long knife in the amaze
\ victims now trembling hand, said:
$ Defend yourself! This is butcher
sheer butcheryr1
MIR. Sothern sat quietly by and gay
D as his advice:
"Keep cool and don't get shot"
By this time the whole hotel wa
reused, and l fancy that the 'joke
+ went further than Sothern in his vii,
est mood intended. His guests of tt
r evening were troupe of knock-abo'
, negro minstrels who had been instruc
\ ed how to act.