River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-08
A GREAT JOKER.
Many Amusing Situations Have Been
Concocted i'm Baron Natl
lis Brain.

The prince of practical jokers is
Baron Randolph Natili. He is a con-
noisseur of things artistic, loves joke
almost as well as dinner, has re-
markable powers of mimicry 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
ison, of New Orleans, and other we'll
known wealthy men.
Natili is Frenchman by birth. Be-
fore moving to New York he lived for
it 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 i'll 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,
and, almost at the last minute, Natili
secured 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 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 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
duced to his excellency from China if
he cared to visit behind the scenes, and
so back they all went with 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 a flash Natili saw his op-
portunity. Without a word to anyone
ba y,raccad tho hutton which sapf }ba
curtain up and gave the audience an I'M
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 mys-
terry, but finally, at 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 a Mex
lean gentleman deliver short address
on the growth and prosperity of Mex
leo. 1t 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 it 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
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. 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 Philadelphia
Press.