The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-07-07
A GREAT Joker.
Many Amusing sItuafIO1H Have Been
COncOcted in Baron Natl
Ii's Brain.

The prince Of practical jolzers is
Baron Randolph Natii. He is a con-
nOisseur Of things artistic, loves q joke
almost as well as a dinner, has re-
markable powers OF mimicry and q
memory for everything be hears that
is q delight and an astonishment to
all who know him. He has on a num-
Der Of occasions been the travelling com
paniOn Of c. P. Huntington, A. C. Hutch
ison, Of New Orleans, and other we'll
known wealthy men.
Natili is a Frenchman by birth. Be
fore moving to New York he lived for
a number Of years in New Orleans, and
IL is still told In club circles Of the lat
ter city how he wagered that he would
walk along Canal street in broad day
light attired simply in his pajamas-
And one afternoon he won his bet by
walking half a mile through the crowd
IN his unconventional costume and
reaching his club with hOoting and
jeering mob at his heels, but without
being molested by a policeman.
But another of his practical jokes
in that city is still more famous. A
great operate performance was to be
given, at one Of the principal theaters,
and, almost at the last minute, Natin
secured a box. The papers made much
of the announcement that he would be
accompanied by a diplomatic represent
ative Of the Chinese emperor, who was
on his way to Havana to make study
Of and report upon the condition Of Chi
nese merchants and labOrers in Cuba.
All Of New Orleans upper tendon
was at the opera that night. Natili and
the Chinese dignitary, the latter at
tired in the most gorgeous robes Of
state, were given a small ovation be-
tween the acts in the foyer and in the
ceptiOn-roOms.
Between the third and fourth acts
there was an unusually long wait, and
the manager Of the company told NatiH
that the singers would like to be intro
duced to his excellency from China If
/ he cared to visit behind the scenes, and
20 back they all went with a process
sion Of gilded youths trailing behind
them.
Quite a reception was held on the
stage while the curtain was down. One
by one the singers were led to the chair
! occupied by the distinguished celestial
and were presented with fitting cere-
mOny, and after a few unintelligible
words each would Join the circle Of
swell young men lOunging near.
Quick as n flash Natili saw his Op-
Portunity. Without word to anyone
| he pressed the button which sent the
curtain up and gave the audience an IN
expected tableau. Grouped about the
/ stage were chorus girls and society
pets, the celestial was CALAMITY kiss
ing the sopranos hand and Natili-was
out Of sight behind the scenes.
For two or three years the identity Of
the Chinese diplomat remained a mys-
terry, but finally, at a banquet, NatiH
confessed that he was only the well-tO-
| do cousin Of the proprietor of a num-
/ Der Of washhOuses in New Orleans.
A couple Of years ago he heard a Mex
lean gentleman deliver a short address
on the growth and prosperity Of Mex
/ leo. It proved to be an eloquent speech
| by a prominent attorney Of the City Of
Mexico. Natili kept repeating it over
and over until he fully mastered 1t in
! every respect, except to understand the
meaning of the words. He Overcame
/ ludI ODStdGlG W tue use u 81 AG-NiSOus
Not long afterward he was present at
a banquet in Durango with Messrs.
huntington and HutchisOn. 1t was a
| formal celebration Of the completion Of
] the Mexican international railroad to
/ that city. Natii asked Huntington to
| see that he was called upon for a speech.
/ Huntington did so. Natili made the
hit Of the evening with his memOrized
! address. He was cheered to the echo
and was congratulated by the personal
| representative whom President Diaz
had sent to the Philadelphia
| Press.