The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-06
TRIED FRENCH,
FOUND AUDIENCE
WAS EN- GL|SH
NATE LEIPZlGER, KING OF LEG
ERDEMAiN, TELLS OF AMUSING
EXPERIENCE IN PARis-AP.
FEARED BEFORE ROYALTY.

Il went to a lot OF bother before
learned that one does not have To
know French TO play In Paris" says
Nate Leipziger. sleight-ofhand man.
OF Detroit. who is just back home
after a trip abroad In which he play.
ed in England and in South Africa az
we'll
Il got an offer. while playing in
London, TO go TO Paris for season at
the Follies Marin" he says. "One
stipulation was that | should speak
French. That was trouble because
my Straightforward work requires @
great deal OF talking TO go with It. but
pitched in with a teacher and in
time got SO that | could patter of my
talk somehow.
Il went over TO Paris In July and
was nervous as could be ON my first
appearance. The audience was good
but they did not seem to know any
more about what I was saying than
did. They liked the tricks well
enough. but I did not know what was
the matter until one fellow In front
began to comment In very good Eng
lish on my performance. Then I In.
CURED, and found had been playing
TO an audience of American and Eng.
fish tourists principally, shooting my
bad French at them. Paris Is jam
med with foreigners at that season.
and | never bothered TO use any
French after that.
Il really enjoyed the opportunities
OF showing my tricks before royalty.
The most amusing time | had was ut
house party given by the old EN-
press Eugenie. widow OF Napoleon ILL.,.
In her place near Aldershot. The king
OF Spain was one Of the spectators
and also Queen Victoria. her mother,
the Princess of Battenberg and 9TH
ers.
Il had to work in a corner OF the
crowded drawing room and the little
king was the most interested OF all.
He insisted on being the one to assist
me In every trick and laughed good
naturedly when the Joke turned on
him. He would smile. then turn and
talk TO his queen about 1t. and then
fall for some other trick.
King Edward Is kindly old gen
tleman who takes things easily.
Il was one OF the entertainers at
Lord Farquhar's one night when the
king and queen were present and King
Edward laughed heartily at all the
jokes, while Queen Alexandra was
keen to find out how things were done
and had me do some tricks a half
dozen times Later | gave an exhibit
ton by royal command at Bucking.
ham palace.
Il had played before the prince and
princess of Wales in Lady Guinness
house previous to this.
The most interesting part OF my
long trip abroad was the South Afri-
can tour at which played Cape Town.
Durham and johannesburg. That
country has never recovered from the
war and times are not good there. In
fact, one OF the papers had cartoon
suggesting that | pull some money
out OF the air for the benefit Of the
treasury, which was sadly In need of
IT,"
Leipziger will appear before the peo-
pie of his native town week after next
in the Temple theater and will then
go TO San Francisco TO open a 80
weeks season.
Then | am going back abroad he
says. Not because | am any worse
American than | was before | tried
the European stage. but because | find
the money so good over there for any
one in my line and the jumps so short.
II is easy work as compared with play
ing vaudeville in America
Leipziger has developed line OF
sleight of hand work that is distinctive
" his own, his card tricks being par
tlcularly novel and original. He met
a number Of other American variety
artists abroad and says they do well In
the British music halls.