The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-07
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

An amusing incident that occurred t.
Arthur Sidman, who, with his wife, con
stitutes the chief feature of the Fulgori
Star Vaudeville Company. which is billet
for Chases New Grand this week, is re
lated by George Z. Sellinger, the advance
press agent for the organization.
1t seems says he. that the manage
ment of a summer resort at which tn
sidmans were playing a couple of year:
ago. had engaged a high diver for tbs
edtication of his Fourth of July crowd
/ should explain that the diver was what
is generally called 'hick.' or tough. Or
The day in question the manager came
to Mr.. Sidman and said:
Say, Sidman. l want you to do me a
favor; this high diver insists upon an
announcement being made from the d r
rick we have erected for his jump. Now
] am a bit dizzy-headed. and l want you
make that announcement
Well said Sidman. I am net ex-
actly a balloon ascensionist myself but
guess I can stick long enough to maka
a short speech
THE diver proceeded to instruct Mr.
Sidman as to the speech, adding, in his
own vocabulary:
Now, Sid, old boy. make it peach:
don't be afraid to tell it to EN- right:
they hain't no guy in this leaping bust
ness that's in it with me when il comes
TO climbing. and you can't make it too
strong. You climb up the derrick about
halfway. and make your bluff strong
that you are leery of going any higher
I'll give you the merry .ha-ha' for being
scairt, but that's between us, see? Hang
n no la for la
yer SPELL
1.-The time arrived and the 'hiek.' in
glaring red tights and an abundance of
nerve. climbed up to the top, followed by
the shaking Sidman. The grounds were
literally packed with people awaiting the
one big event of the day
After silencing the crowd with proud
wave of the hand. and hanging on for dea.
life, with the other, the comedian shout
ed:
4" Ladies and gentlemen: / take great
pleasure in calling your attention to the
monster feat about to be performed by
Toronto Red" the most perilous high
diver ever known to the amusement
world, He risks life and limb to enter
tain youi He will leap from this pedes-
tai, 100 feet high, into that shallow tank
of water below. only thirty inches deep!
Ponder on this, the most daring feat ever
attempted by human being! Are you
ready? this to Toronto Red who
stood like a statue in his blood-red
tights"
Yes came the reply with a very cir
cusy how.
"a prearranged signal from Mr. Sidman.
and the band stationed near struck up an
awe-inspiring air; the crowd was Lushed,
as they waited in breathless suspense.
Coz shouted the comedian.
mo reply.
Cor again cried the actor at the top
of his lungs.
"A pause. and Tornado Red looked
down at Sidman, and in voice trembling
with fear, said:
Say. Sid I've lost my nerve; I've got
to come down. and before the comedian
could realize what had happened, the Draw
est diver in the weird had started to de-
scend. A howl went up from the disap-
pointed crowd. and cries of Throw them
in the laken Drown emf rose on the
air. That word them came like a thun-
derbolt TO the astonished Sidman. who at
once realized that he was considered a par
ty TO the -huke. The crowd surged around
the foot of the derrick, but luckily for
Sidman, in their haste to get hold Of To-
ronto Red they lost sight of the come
dian, who jostled his way through the
crowd into the stage door of the theatre
adjacent, unframed, but a trifie worried
THE crowd threw the diver into the
lake. and. as fast as he could crawl out, re-
peated the operation. till finally the police
managed to land him in the lookup and
out Of the clutches of the crowd until
morning, when he quietly took a train and
faded from view.
When Sidman stepped on to the stage
that night he was greeted by storm of
ieers. cat-calls. and admonitons, until the
manager was forced to appear before the
audience and explain matters Mr.. Sid
man, be II said, has not played that resort
since, nor has he any aspirations to bs-
come 'spieler for high diver who for
gets to dive
Sam Meyers, who is connected with
THE Rose of Persia" in a business ca
paeity, tells several stories in which John
lie Hay prominently figures. Mr. lie Hay
was in this country several seasons ago
with the musical play. His Exeelleney,"
and was naturally great deal surprised
with much that he saw in America.
Says Mr.. Meyers:
"On his return TO London. Mr. lie Hay
was asked BY an Irishman who did chores
about his house what was the most Won
derful thing that he saw during his trip
to the United States. Mr.. LIE Hay replied
that on his way to Chicago, while sitting
in the buffet car. when II pulled into
Pittsburg, a. gentleman who had picked
up an acquaintance with him saw a
friend who was en- the train for New York
locking out of the car window, whereupon
he beckoned for him to come over TO the
train on which were the English comedian
and his chance acquaintance.
The friends and Mr.. LIE Hay adjourned
to the smoker where they enjoyed their
perfectoes until finally without any warn
ing the train for Chicago ruled out with
the man whose destination was New York.
on board After half hours ride, the
man with New York for his destination
asked the man who was bound for Chicago
where he was going, and on his reply
Chicago Mr.. lie Hay said: Ny. but this
is wonderful country; here you are both
on the same train, with one going TO Chi
cago and the other to New York"
Mr.. lie Hay himself is the authority for