The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-15
THE WEEKLY aRIsT.
Funny Stories Told by Players and
Managers.


Funny Stories Told by Players and
Managers.
Miss Fife Shannon. who is appearing
this season with Herbert Kelley IN
Sherlock Holmes" tells good story
at the expense of some English actors
who were brought over to support Miss
Nethersole in Carmen" Miss Shannon
was also in that company and the only
American in the cast. The atmosphere
of London was so religiouSly kept that
when she would write her friends she
would invariably start her letters, In
London, en- tour with Miss Nethersole.
By the time Washington was reached
Miss Shannon began to think that it
was time for her as an American to
have her inning. Just as the train was
pulling into the capital city four of the
young English actors approached her
and exclaimed, in chorus:
Il say. Miss Shannon. you being an
American, ought to know all the ropes.
Can't you recommend US to a hrst-class
cheap hotel?'
Miss Shannon furrowed her brows for
moment and then remarked:
We'll, on the while. l should recon-
mend you to go to the White House. 1t
is run on the American plan, you know,
but still it's thoroughly first-class insti-
tuition in every way. The rooms, I am
told, are large and airy and the view is
simply splendid
The actors told Miss Shannon she was
jolly good sort and ten minutes after
she had the satisfaction of seeing the
four Britons bundle themselves into a
cab and tell the driver to take them to
the White House. Miss Shannon says
it was weeks before they would speak
to her again.
The wit of George Bernard Shaw, the
brilliant and eccentric dramatist and
critic, would have routed the London
Doors on one occasion il the Doors had
been intelligent enough to understand
it,
1t happened at the first London per-
Torrance of Mr.. Sa1aw's comedy, Arms
and the Man." which Mr.. Mansfield pre-
sented in this country. At the fall of
the curtain there were clamorous calls
for the author, to which Mr.. Shaw was
at length induced to respond.
The audience was still cheering, but
there was one dissentient in the gallery,
who was "booing" with the full power
of a pair of very strong lungs. Mr..
Shaw looked up at the disturber, and
said very seriously:
Yes, sir; 1 quite agree with you: but
what can we two do against a whole
house full?"
1t is rather ungallant to make Grace.
George tell a story that smacks so
much of invention, but the press agent
has no conscience. Miss George, he
AYERS. who has just returned from
England. tells of a great blow to- her
patriotic pride. She was invited to a
dinner by Lady at a magnificent
mansion in Kensington. and was treat
ed after dinner to some rare singing by
a celebrated vocalist. On the veranda
afterward the hostess brought two
young debutantes up to our well-known
actress and introduced them.
Pm sure you will like each other.
for they are Americans. too. Miss
George said the titled lady, as if that
settled the question of the mutual es-
TEEN of the actress and the debutantes.
Miss George, wishing to be cordial,
greeted them pleasantly, and remarked,
with the intention that the hostess, as
well as the girls, should hear her:
did you not enjoy the beautiful sing
ing in the dining hall? And the acous-
tics were perfect, were they not?'
Yes" said one of her fellow Ameri
cans with enthusiasm, those acoustics
were the best I ever ate.'
Awful.
1t is said that Paderewsh, the great
pianist, takes an especial delight in
! telling the following story against him
self
Curiously enough his first introduce
ton to London society conceded with
the sudden popularity of a certain song,
which, just for the moment.we will keep
dark.
The great man heard this tune ev-
erywhere. The organs played it in the
streets. so did the bands, German as
we'll as English, and everybody whis-
tied it who could master that accom-
plishment
1t seemed to Paderewski that people
took a furtive delight in whistling it at
his approach, and to connect 1t in some
way with his personality
The strange thing was that he failed
to learn the name of the tune If he
asked anybody what it was they politely
changed the subject, nor could he bring
the conversation back to it
1t became so overpoweringly familiar
at last-for he could not turn without
his ears being smitten by it-that he
finally cornered a small boy who had
Iwhistled the. perpetual harmony in front
of him in the street.
What is the name of that tune which
you are whistling?" he asked the urchin.
"G'arnl" said the boy. who're yer
gittin' at?"
"Ten me the name of the tune" per-
sisted Paderewski, land you shall have
this sixpence."
He produced the money as an earnest.
The boy took it and pocketed 1t.
! Il s'pose you're kiddin' me about the
tune" he said: "but, if yer amt, it's
Git Yer Hair CUT -