Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-24

by the f1reside, with his back to the
audience and a handkerchief thrown
over his face.
The fire I'm the CRATE, or the lamp
which was supposed to represent the
fire, had been lit and as good luck had
1t there was q hole in old Potters hand
kerchief. Through this Mr.. Hare, i'm
personating that eccentric old gentle
man, saw to his intense horror that
the flames had caught that part of the
scene painted to represent the mantel-
piece and were slowly but surely creep
Ing up and gaining ground. He knew
that If the audience saw the steadily
increasing flames a panic would ensue.
Fortunately some moments had to
elapse before he was called upon to
take his cue. and slowly rising up in
the slipshod manner assumed in por-
traying the character he toddled off
the stage. His exit caused consider
able laughter and Mrs. Kendall, turning
to see the cause of the unexpected in
terruption, realized with characteris-
tic quickness the perilous predicament
Instantly grasping the situation and
the reason of Mr.. Hare's departure she
placed herself with admirable calmness
between the ignited scenery and the
audience. Meanwhile Mr.. Hare was be-
hind the scenes.
NO FIREMAN mere
1.-THE fireman." he called. but there
was no fireman. 1.-THE gasman, then!"
he demanded, but the gasman had Just
stepped out to have a smoke with his
pipe.
Happily he obtained a wet blanket
and this, with the assistance of a car
penter, was pushed through the fire.
place from the back to the front of
these scene and wrapped round the
flame, which, not without considerable
difficulty, was extinguished. The bare
arms of the workmen, the blanket and
the fire were all this time hidden from
the audience by Mrs Kendall. The dan
ser being over Mr.. Hare returned to
the stage with the same comic walk
and Mrs. Kendall interpolated a "Well
Brother Potter, and where have you
been!" She laughed and SO did the au-
dience, little knowing that through the
courage and presence of mind Of the
entertainers they had escaped terrible
catastrophe.
One time on leaving an evening party
to which he had accompanied Mrs.
Hare, the comedian walked some dis
lance down the long carriage rank
looking for a four-Wheeled cab He
was followed by one of those objec-
tionable London ''touts." who, running
beside, kept asking in the obsequious
fashion of his tribe:
"Kerridge, my lord? Kerridge, my
lord? May I get your lordship's kerr
ridge?"
At last Mr.. Hare, having silently
ignored the fellow, secured his convey
ance and was on the point of driving
home. Then the persistent one put his
head through the window with the
question:
Where to, my 1ord?"
Now, Mr.. Hare can be emphatic. On
that occasion he promptly answered:
"Oh, go to the DEVIL"
Whereupon, turning his face and his
lantern into the cab, the touting link
man, with an altered grin. said qui-
city: !
Business still keeping pretty good, I
'ope, Mr.. 'AreP'
Didn't Know Him
It was during the Juror caused by the
success of Society that, getting into
carriage of the underground railway,
he unexpectedly found himself face to
face with an old school fellow whom he
had not seen for some years. Not
! knowing that he had adopted the stage
as a profession, and taken the name OF
Hare, his friend cried out, Halo,
Farsi How are you?" And after they
had chatted about old times the con-
versation turned to the theaters. He
asked Mr. Hare "if he was fond of the
stage" And having received reply in
the affirmative presumed that he had
been to the Prince of Wales to see so
ciety," the piece of which every one was
talking.
mo-" said Mr.. Hare. doubtfully, at
can't say that I have seen it."
"Then you should go at once" said