The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-08
BARON NATiLI A GREAT JOKER.
Many Amusing Situations Have Been
Concocted in His Brain.

,t. tc & ~ +.
Many Amusing situations Have Been
Concocted in His Brain.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The prince of practical jokers Is
Baron Randolph Natiii He Is con-
noisseur of things artistic, loves a joke
almost as we'll as a dinner, has remark
able powers of mimicry and a memory
for everything he hears that Is a de-
light and an establishment to all who
know him. He has on a number Of
occasions been the travelling companion
of c. P. Huntington, A. c. Hutchinson
of New Orleans and other well-known
wealthy men.
Natili is a Frenchmarf by birth. Be
fore moving to New York he lived for
a number of years in New Orleans. and
1t 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 mile through the crowd
in his unconventional costume and
reaching his club with g 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 principle theaters and,
cured box. The papers made much
of the announcement that he would be
accompanied by a diplomatic represent
tative of the Chinese emperor, who was
on his way to Havana to make a study
of and report upon the condition of
Chinese merchants and laborers in
Cuba
All of New Orleans upper tendon
was at the opera that night. Natili
and the Chinese dignitary, the latter
attired in the most gorgeous robes of
state, were given a small ovation be-
tween the acts in the foyer and in the
reception rooms.
Between the third and fourth acts
there was an unusually long wait, and
the manager of the company told Ma
till that the singers would like to be
introduced to his excellency from China
if he cared to visit behind the scenes,
and so back they all went with a pro-
cession of gilded youths trailing be-
hind 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 few unintelligible
words each would join the circle Of
swell young men leunging near.
Quick as a flash Natili saw his OPP
portunity. Without a word to anyone
he pressed the button which sent the
curtain up and gave the audience an
unexpected 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
mystery, but finally al a banquet Ma
to do cousin of the proprietor of num-
Der of wash houses in New Orleans.
A couple of years ago he heard a
Mexican gentleman deliver a short ad-
dress on the growth and prosperity of
Mexico. 1t 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 master
ed it in every respect. except to under
stand the meaning of the words. lie
overcame that obstacle by the use of
a lexicon.
Not long afterward he was present
at a banquet in Durango with Messrs.
Huntington and Hutchinson. TWAS a
formal celebration of the completion of
the Mexican International railroad to
that city Natili asked Huntington to
see that he was called upon for
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 banquet.