The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-28
THE CRAMPS" JOKE.
How Walter Jones succeeded I'm En-
PERTAINING an English Actor.
Boston Herald

Mr.. John Hare has not figured out
joke or a serious matter. u happened at
the Lambs Gu in New York a few nights
ago when the Lambs gave Mr.. Hare a din
ner at the clubhouse. Everybody was
there. including a lot OF laymen who have
only recently become members. Clay Nj.
Greene, the shepherd, presided. After the
more substantial part of the repast had
been disposed of, Mr.. Greene announced
that Mr.. Hare would make a few remarks.
Mr.. Hare delivered a gracefur address. after
which another guest spoke, and then Mr..
Greene said he thought ole OF the active
heard from, and he would ask Mr.. Walter
Jones TO say a few words. The lay MEM
bers began to nudge one another and look
Mr.. Hares speech and the other gentle
mans had been interesting, but there was
nothing very humorous about either, and
now they thought they were in FOR a real
treat. Walter Jones they knew best as the
tramp. and they imagined that what he
Mr.. Jones arose in his place and the lay
members sat up and got ready TO laugh,
but as soon as De Wolf Hopper n Frank
face they knew something was up. Jones
looked a great deal more like a divinity
student than a comedian. His face was
naIe-with chalk and grease paint-and
his hair was brushed smoothly back, giving
him q very intellectual appearance.
mir. Shepherd and gentlemen. said he,
81 have thought ii best 10 address you
this evening on the condition of our
nrnfoCGiQn-fO present 10 you IL Few
thoughts on the correlative distribution or
forces in the theatrical world
That was rather "a sober beginning for a
humorous speech. and the laymen began
IN glance at each other IN surprise. Was
mis- really Walter Jones, the tramp
Hopper. Carlyle and the others began to
smile. .
might have been penned by William Nj.
Evarts. and he delivered II with all the
grace and dignity of a Choate. The lay
mon were wonder-Stricken, and the fellows
down at the foot of the table simply
roared with laHghtenr. ,bev shouted
shepherd Greene never cracked a smile,
,nd Mir Hare leaned over to him with a
nained expression on his face;
..What do they mean said he. Ire
Young man has evideltly prepared his
Sneech very carefully. Why do they inter-
riInt him that way? 1t ism [ kind. Who is
Zone of our foremost comedians whis-
pered Greene. IL.
and then ne leaned forw Ird TO listen TO Mr..
tones The shouts for the author and the
is,phter continued at the other end of the
table. but MIR. Jones never looked that way.
Straioht on he went. Each sentence was
aarefnIIv rounded, every gesture was grace
f,,l and appropriate. Art. science and lit
eTst,lre he discussed i'm the choicest Ian
sellaee. and even the disappointed laymen
81 70 admit that IL was a fine speech.
Tones was quite a different sort OF fellow
from what they had expected 10 fnd him:
Mr.. Hare was delighted win nm, n
NJ efyort. and cast reproachfuI slances at
me fellows who persisted In their demands
for The T To re The Mr. MTot Jones nes hhs sd mana sasd
80 ieep the secret 10 himself.
III 1less IL was Gus Thomas who fixed
up the joke, said said a on lamp r yej1eroa Mr.. Hare u
20, onto II before the evening was over, but
sooose new fellows still don't know what to
make Of 1t"