The Washington times., 1905-10-22

ed the boys practice step. Natural
ly l did not object
The greater part of the dressing
room floor was carpeted. which Mr..
Primrose dryly observed was an
aftermath of Miss FRITZ Scheff's en-
gagement of the previous week. For
tunately part of the floor was bare
and the two youths came to at
tention thereon and began to dance.
Mr.. Primrose squatted down to
watch their feet at close range. as
suming an attitude that was strong.
ly reminiscent Of Stuart Robson In
his famous cockfght scene. As they
danced he clapped time, utterin4
little cries of encouragement or
friendly criticism. Finally he stopped
them and bade them watch while he
danced the step for their benefit.
Then all three danced together and
the instructor was easily the most
active of the three l forgot to
ask questionsf while watching the
private performance After few
minutes Mr.. Primrose cried enough
and dismissed the youngsters with
some friendly words of encourage
ment
Il do that every night" he OBJ
served at is in addition to the reg
ular rehearsal5. / call 1t the trim
mings."
"You must Go quite a bit of dane
ing yourself?" observed.
81 am always dancing" he replied.
Il couldn't be happy if I stopped.
am more than fifty years of age and
i have never had an ache or pain in
my legs in all that time"
The patient artist mad been wildly
endeavoring to make sketch of Mr..
Primrose, but that gentleman's
activity baffied his efforts. Where
fore he hoisted the distress signal
Of our private code and 1 asked Mr..
Primrose If we might continue our
chat at his hotel next morning while
the men behind the pencil got in
his deadly work. An engagement
was arranged and the artist and N.Y.
self departed to view the remainder
of the performance from the front.
Next morning at the lounging
room of the Raleigh, Mr.. Primrose
and l resumed our discussion OF the
troubles of minstrel man.
when do you expect to retire
from minstrelsy2'' l inquired.
Never" said Mr. Primrose, cheer
fully. Il have just built hand
some country home at Mt Vernon,
II. Y, where will probably spend
only a few weeks out of each year."
"If that's the situation, why didn't
you select the seashore?'' 1 asked.
mot for me-" he said. decidedly.
81 don't care for the water. Some
years since l met William II. Crane
at the time he was so enthusiastic
about his place in New England
He wanted me to build near him,
and expatiated on the fact that
could have a yacht. AS I began. to
state my views on the subject he tn
terrupted me with, Now don't work
of that old gag on me about having
40 use for water He couldn't stop
me, though, chuckled Mr.. Primrose.
81 told him that I had no objection
TO water as a chaser"
! had managed to hold Mr. Prim-
rose to a pose that afforded the
artist the opportunity he sought.
Presently he joined us and exhibit
ed his sketch. Mr.. Primrose viewed
it with approval and at the artists
request affixed his autograph to the
drawing
Have you ever noticed" he re-
marked. eyeing the likeness criti-
cally, how much my profile resem-
bles that of Henry Irving?"
When he pointed it out, the like
ness was quite apparent He con-
fided TO us that many people had
called his attention to the point.
well. good-by Mr.. Primrose"
said, as distant strains of music an
nounced the approach of his parade.
''Will l see you next year?'
You're almost sure to" he replied.
81 could make enough money on a
farewell tour TO support me in lux
ury for the balance of my life, even
If / didn't own cent at present.
But don't wait with too much eager
ness for that farewell tour It's go
ing to be decidedly slow in coming"
FRANK MORSE