Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19

dSheQ t00 mAu II MS master was at nome
To which he In the silk stockings promptly
replied, NO." and told the comedian and
his companion to go about their business
With delicious GOODNESS and cheek Toole
said 1t was pity the owner was out for
two OF his brothers from the workhOuse
had called to see him.
y
still more elaborate hoax was that
which he perpetrated at the expense Of
some Americans who had ventured to speak
disrespectfully Of the British. climate, and
who, when they visited the famous actor
at his house in st. Johns Wood. were as
tonished by the wealth of fruit of all de-
scriptions which appeared to be fiourishing
with more than tropical luxuriance on the
various trees in his garden. Needless to
say. the grapes, melons. strawberries and
other produce had all been fastened on by
the agency Of invisible wire, though it Is
said Mr.. Toole'S acting was never more ex
ualiy plucking grape here and straw
berry there, and inviting his astoniShed
visitors to do the like.
In Toole's "reminiscences. published in
1888, the famous comedian related a prac-
tical joke in which the elder Sothern and
-Toole both figured in their characteristic
manner:
"a friend Of mine and myself" said
Toole, had engaged to meet sothern on a
little matter Of business at a chop house
always interest me and which l wanted to
show Sothern. Sothern was late. We were
only going to have chop steak and q
glass OF wine. so we did not order anything.
but thought we would wait until Sothern
came. Both my friend and myself were at
tracted by Misunderstanding old gen.
pair of tortoise-shell eyeglasses. who was
not eating q chop. but devouring 1t. going
at 1t as If 1t had done him an injury. It
was not the thing at all, I know. but on
the impulse OF the moment, prompted by
his odd appe arance, I stepped up to him at
a critical moment Of his luncheon slapped
him Familiarity on the shoulder and said:
youG
very Indignantly. dropped his knife and
dared to salute him in that way. I apollo
gized In the most graceful manner possible
said he reminded me Of an old friend, hoped
he would not think anything OF 1t, quite a
mistake, and in due time I overcame his
evident desire to strangle me.
1--WE adjourned to another part Of the
ROOM and by, and by sothern came in.
nudged my friend. and feeling that my op-
portunity for revenge had arrived.
F." Odd looking. fellow said to him. the
old gentleman who has just commenced
step over, slap him on the shoulder, call
him George and say it's years since I've
seen him. He's such an odd-lookng fish,
"I'll do it, said Sothern.
" No. replied. perhaps would know
YOU
" Not at all: he'd never know me- an
swered Sothern.
"'What a strange looking old chap he
is? 1 don't think you had better do It, l
said.
when once an idea had taken possession OF
him. Just as the old gentleman was con-
veying a dainty morsel to his capacious
mouth he was saluted by Sothern with
hearty smack on the back and an exclama-
ton of:
"Hello George! Why, it must be years
'"The stranger could scarcely speak for
"How dare you, you ruffian" he ex-
claimed.
"Whereupon Sothern, in his pleasantest
manner, began to make his excuses.
Don't tell me, sir; you did 1t on pur-
pose! I know It. have had my chop here
for twenty years. and such a thlng never yer
occurred before Landlord La Wnat 1 Is tn a.
This is the second time have been as
saulted and called George in this very
room within ten minutes
81 made an opportunity to hnd out that
old gentleman on a subsequent occasion,
and over a glass of particular vintage OF
port wine, which he always favored at me
house in question, made my peace with
him, and laid the foundation of an agree
able acquaintancship.'
X
One of Toole's jokes on Sir Henry irving
was to send him a live kangaroo as a
Christmas present during one fuletide
which the famous comedian was spending
in Australia For some time this beast
was more of a white elephant than a
kangaroo to Irving, but finally he gave 1t
to the London zoo, where it was still living
a while ago. The tragedian and the run
maker were close chums up to the time. OF
the formers DEATH and as often as Irving
could spend the time he took himself Off
to Brighton, where Toole spent the long
wears Of pitiful breakdown that preceded
his end.
Toole's life-story is too well known to
MOOD anv repetition Beginning as a wine
merchants clerk it was his amazing pow
ers of rnimicry which finally led him to go
on the stage Encouraged by Charles D1ek-
ems. who wrote enthusiastically OF MS