Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-06-14
A GKEAI JOKER.
Many Amusing Situations Have Been
COncOcted I'm baron Natl
lis Brain.

Inc prince OF practical JOkeTS Is
Baron Randolph Natili. He is u con-
noisseur of things artistic, loves joke
almost as we'll as a dinner has re-
markable powers of mmicry and a
memory for everything he hears that
Is a 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
son, of New Orleans, and other we'll
known wealthy men.
Natili is Frenchman by birth. Be-
fore moving to New York he lived for
number of years in New Orleans, and
It is still told in club circles of the lat
er 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 hooting and
jeering mob at his heels, but without
being molested by 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,
md, almost at the last minute, Natili
secured a box. The papers made much
Of the announcement that he would be
accompanied by diplomatic represent
alive of the Chinese emperor, who was
on his way to Havana to make a study
Of and report upon the condition of Chi
nese merchants and laborers in Cuba
- n,.Ia
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
reception-rooms.
Between the third and fourth acts
there was an unusually long wait, and
the manager of the company told Natili
that the singers would like to be intro
luced to his eNcellency from China if
he cared to visit behind the scenes, and
so back they 'all went with y 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
worFs each would join the circle of
swell young men lounging near.
Quick as a flash Natili saw his Cd.
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
gut of sight behind the scenes.
For two or three years the identity of
the Chinese diplomat remained a mvs-
terry but finally. at a banquet, Natili
confessed that he was only the well-to-
do cousin of the proprietor of num-
Der of washhouses in New Orleans.
A couple of years ago he heard Mex-
can gentleman deliver a short address
on the growth and prosperity of Mex
leo. IL proved to be an eloquent speech
by prominent attorney of the CITY of
Mexico. Natili kept repeating it over
and over until he fully mastered il in
every respect, except to understand the
meaning of the words. He. overcame
that obstacle by the use of lexicon.
Not long afterward he was present at
banquet in Durango with Messrs.
huntington and Hutchison. 1t was a
formal celebration of the completion of
the Mexican international railroad to
that city. Natili asked Huntington to
seethat he was called upon for a speech.
huntington did so. Natili made the
MT OF the evening with his mcmorized
address. He was cheered to the echo
ana was congratulated by the personal
representative whom President Diaz
aad sent to the banquet PHILADELPHIA
Press.