The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
SKINNER A MARKED MAN
STORY OF HOW THE ACTOR WAS
ONCE RUN TO EARTH IN GERMANY.
Interesting Account of How and When
Magician kelIar Took His Ma
sonic Degrees.

Don't ever think that you can get away
from people who know you," said Otis
Skinner when it came his turn to say
something at a social gathering recently.
I have tried ii several times and failed
signally Some years ago when 1 was play
ing in London with Mr.. Days company
determined to take vacation. / wanted to
get away from everybody and enjoy life
for time in my own way without meet
ing any one who knew me. / had been
playing continuously for nearly two years.
/ obtained vacation of two weeks and de-
cided TO take a brief trip up the Rhine and
then on to the Black Forest, the famous
Black Forest which Anthony Hope has re-
Gently repopularized. ! hurriedly departed
from England and arrived at Cologne.
1.-The steamer on. which 1 was booked
was a small affair and there were not many
passengers on board. When we were clear
of the dock and the boat had her nose
pointed up stream, 1 began TO look about
for comfortable seat. In the very bow
was small table, from which the view
was unobstructed,'s occupied by a young
German and a lady / took ITO be his wife.
They were slipping Rhine wine and they
had the place'I wanted. 1t was not long.
however, before they got up and went be-
low, and / quickly secured the coveted ia
BILE, with most obsequious waiter ready
to take my order. Here 1 sat, watching the
swiftly moving panorama of the river
banks as we moved along. and thinking
how glorious it was TO be all by myself
far from any one who knew me. AS the
story books say, fell intAs a reverie. On
the hilltops / tried to imagine L could see
the Valkyries riding and L could almost
fancy Seigfried. :, Prince of the lower
Rhine, Staying the sons of Nibeung and
their body guard Of twelve giants. thereby
possessing himself of untold wealth, the
great sword of Bofumeny and the invisible
cloak OF Tankappe by the use of which he
won for Gunther his bride, vBrunhilde. and
by so doing his own fair bride. Kriemhild.
1 thought of all the old Rhfenish legends 1
had ever heard or read about, and was
good and far away from everything ter
restrial when suddenly 1 felt hand on my
shoulder and locking upgn saw a young
man with a typical American face, whom,
to the best of mynknowledge, l had never
seen before in my life. His voice was very
high and there was an unmistakable twang
in it, while his clothes wete-well they al
most spoke for themselves.
"Ain't your name Skinner? said he.
I've been trying TO make you hear me
for half an hour
II replied that Skinner was my name.
Thought so.' replied the unknown. Got
on the boat at the last stop with some
friends pointings.to some very choice
specimens of the ussvAmerican-away
from home-who were at nearby table.
and recognized yontat once. They didn't
believe l knew YOU so I-just bet FLYER l
was right Knew perfectly we'll had seen
you at Days in New York and around the
corner of Thirty-first. street and Broad
way Well. I've won. Have another beer
pointing to my empty glass. No; well, so
long. Be good. Glad to see somebody 1
know in this internal country
He went back to his friends. l looked
about me, down at my guide book but ro-
nance had gone and my imagination no
longer responded. The rest of the trip up
the beautiful river was completely spoiled"