The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-02
SOUTHERN TALES.
The First of George w. Cables
Popular Readings.
He Narrates the Story of Grande Point in the
Quaint Dialect of the Characters
Therein Depicted.

George w. Cable, the celebrated writer
OF creole stories and other tales of the
Sunny South, told the ''Story of Grande
Point at the First Congregational Church.
he was advertised to give q reading. but
threw the book aside and told the story
from beginning to end, using that inimita-
bic French and negro dialect of which he is
the undisputed master.
1t was the first of series OF three read
ings to be given by Mr.. Cable for the
benefit OF the Chldren's Hospital and the
Training School for Nurses. The audience
was large and listened with marked atten-
ton as the author carried them through the
varying fortunes of the simple school
master, the coy Sidonie and the uncOuth
Claude.
Mr.. Cable needed no introduction. At
least he had none last night. Promptly at
O'Clock a slender. medium sized man with
large, prominent brow and iron-gray
whiskers stepped out upon the platform
and smiled. When the applause had sub
sided Mr.. Cable remarked that he viewed
the arrangements for the reading with
alarm. lie was
NOT GOING TO PREACH.
He said. and would therefore like TO have
the pulpit, which stood in the center OF the
platform. removed. ut is absolutely neces-
sary." he observed with a smile, ito have it
taken away. but if il cannot be done, why
it viii not make any difference.
This little off-hand pleasantly placed the
audience IN good humor for the wait that
followed, and while the ushers were hunt
ing around for Serewdriver Mr.. Cable told
funny story about Talleyrand and La
fayette as quite aprop0s. After many trials
these TWO were once united in political Eel
| lOwship, and TO commemorate the tide of
prosperity which was about to sweep over
| the land they decided to strew a large mar
bic stairway with oil and corn. AS the
great men met in the middle Of the steps
Talleyrand whispered to Lafayette, Don't
| look at me or III. laugh"
That was the way Mr.. Cable said ne felt /;
then he laughed laugh that was con-
| tagious. When the author got we'll into
| the story OF Grande Point it became appar-
ent why he wanted the pulpit removed.
| He needed the room for his gestures, a
| great many of which are necessary TO the
| proper deliDeation of the
CHARACTERS IN THE STORY.
| He showed fis wonderful versatility by
| the ease with which lie handled the various
dialects. and at the same time preserved the
| thread OF the story, which occupied over two
| hours in recital. His voice is soft and clear,
and. though speaking at times with great
| rapidly. his enuncation Is perfect, the low
| est whisper in the more pathetic passages
being distinctly heard. The story of Grande
Point Is conceded by many to be the best OF
Mr.. Cables stories, and it is even more in
teresting to hear him tell it.
| His descriptions of Southern life and the
cooring he gives to scenes along the Mis-
| sissippi are strlkingly vivid. He varied the
! entertainment by singing a couple OF creole
| songs in the West Indian French dialect.
His singing. he said, was merely a technical
term, but he would sing, anyhow. The
songs were rendered in a rich tenor voice,
with the French dialect, the singer
| furnishing translation Of each ditty before
singing it. While singing the second song.
| and before covering more than three bars,
an old gentleman on a front seat dropped
his heavy cane with loud clatter. Mr..
| Cable stopped short, and, after ewing the
| offender solemnly for several seconds, re-
marked, THAT applause was too prema.
tuTe." Another reading will be given to-
morrow evening al the same place.