The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-11

platform. Rev. Thomas Dixon. the sensa-
tional New York divine. receives 1925 for
every night he lectures. DR.. Lyman Alb
Dott makes about as much. Rev. JOse ph
Cook receives from 500 to S125. Dr.
Willis of OHIO gets SO for IA lecture. DR..
Parkhurst, il is said, Will be in the lecture
heli this winter, ana if the LsxOw COM
mttee continues IN session he ought to
ind occurring profitable.
Well-knowD authors who read from
their own works have been favorite plat
form attractions of recent years and some
OF them have made great deal of money.
James Nhitcomb Riley, who Is cut of the
field this winter because OF ill-health is
the most popular reader in the country
to-day. lie books under a peculiar ar
rangement by which the rent of the
house comes out of the first receipts and
then the next $500 or 5000 goes to Riley,
the remainder of the receipts, if any, going
to the local manager. Under this arrange
ment Mr.. Riley sometimes makes less than
500 IN night, but very seldom. HOpkin-
son Smith. The author of Colonel Carter"
gets $50 night for reading extracts from
some of his quaint character sketches. He
can make more mOnev reading these things
than he can writing them. Unfortunate "
though reading is not a steady occupation.
Thomas Nelson Page was Hop. Smith s
companion in a reading tour year or
two ago, and good story is told of their
experience In little Massachusetts town
where their manager had arranged a
reading to occur at q private house
Private readings and recitals are not un-
common. Even the Boston Symphony
Orchestra has been known to give a re-
cical at private house. But ii is not
always agreeable for man of refined
tastes 10 go about as a Snowman, and Mr..
Page objected strenuousy 10 the arrange
nent. When he arrived at their Massa-
chusetts destination there was no one to
greet them at the steamb boat landing and
his heart failed him. IL say" lie said to
his companion, ''let us drop this arrange
ment and go over to Charles Dudly
Warmers. He lives not far from here.
We can he there in an hour. Come along.
l don't like this affair"
But Mr.. Smith treasured him. "Oh.
this is all right" he said cheerfulIy.
These people did not know just when 20
expect us. I'll telephone them when I've
get TO the hotel. L have no doubt you will
like them when you know them" So Mr..
Page was led TO the hotel prote sting. Mr..
Smith went to the telephone and called up
the house of their nose. Il wish you
would tell Mr.. -" he said, that Mr..
Page and Mr.. Smith are at the hotel"
.'Wno?" said an answering voice.
"Mr. Thomas Nelson Page and Mr..
Hopklnson Smith"
"Oh, yes" said the voice. You're the
men who are going to read Tonight. All
right. Be up on time" Ting-a-ling.
The telephone rang off.
Mr. Page protested still more strongly
when he learned the result of the CONVEX
sation. Il don't like It." he said. ''Let's
go over and spend the evening with War
ner." But Mr.. Smith would not hear of
it, You will find these people all right"
he said soothngly. They mean well
enough. You are stranger ia this sec
ton and you don't understand the people.
I'm going around to the livery stable now
TO order the finest carriage in town. Wen
60 there in style and make an impression"
Al O'Clock the two authors entered the
house. "Oh. you're the readers" said the
servant when they announced their names.
"Well, you're to 60 to the room in the
third story back" There they went and
found themselves quite alone for q time.
Then cub of a boy entered and held out
roll of bills to Mr.. Page. MA told ME
highly offended. Take that away," he
said. 81 don't wantyour money. Send it
TO my manager" Bnt MIR. Smith put the
bills in his pocket. They were a bird in
the hand to him. a little later the authors
went downstairs. Their hostess did not
greet them. But their host approached
and said that they could ''just speak any
where they wanted" ana he added ::
Don't go away when you get through
We're going 10 have something 10 eat
afterward."
Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page got through
that experience alive, but he has drawn
the line since at recitals In private houses.
An author who is also a lecturer, who
has made great deal OF money for nIm-
self and his manager, is George KEENAN,,
the famous Siberian traveller. Dir. Ken
| nan Is TO be heard in Washington this
| winter for the first time since he return ed
from his famous trip to Siberia for the