New-York tribune., 1909-01-10

would Just jerk the COn-wthOut. OF course. touch
ing t-across my face and catch 1t IN the right eye
and then walk of with 1t. This always raised great
laughter and quite a successful little business.
But night it unfortunately failed 70 work
l should mention that L never put on grease PANT,
and in consequence my face looked rather white
and palld beside those OF the other performers IN
the pantOmne. One night the manager called my
attention to this fact and to Obge him frightened
up my COuntenanCe with a latherIng OF grease
I,aint-with most untOward results. for when /
came to the critical part of my performance. where
l had to jerk the halfCrOwn from my left 70 right
eve, the coin refused to stIr,-t was stuck 10 the
paint, and, much to the amusement OF the audi
enCe and to those the stage well, had TO take
1t out of my eye with my hand
l have performed in all parts OF the world and IN
some rather curious places; but l think the most
awkward place L ever worked IN was az a street
corner in Boulder City when / was doing a tour OF
the world some years ago. The performance was
an imprOmptu affair. | happened TO be at COO-
garlic and some one suggested that / should 90 TO
Boulder for the benefit of the miners had plat
form put up at the corner OF the street outside the
hotel where / stopped, round which the seats were
ranged Unluckily for ME, a terrific gale was blow
ing at the time OF the performance, and one fearful
blast sent quantity OF my belongings N the way
of hats, sticks, and various juggling implements
into the street, which the miners kindly gathered
up and returned to me- The gale made II 1nlpos-
sible for me to perform number of feats but am
always ready for emergencies, and managed 10 give
an exhibition that satisfied my aud Clce.
A Feat of Balancing
A VERY little thing may interfere with some
feats- / remember some years agO-It was a
Chicago l think IN my room at the hotel
practising balancing two billiard balls each other
top of a cue. To my horror l found was IN
able 70 perform this feat. Now. It IS extremely
difficult and it took over eight years practice before
had mastered 1t; indeed when was learning 70 90
it, / was told by several people that / was SIMPLY
wasting my time trying to do a thing sc;eEtlHcally
impossible of accomplishment My feelings, there
fore when | found myself unable 10 balance the
balls the cue. be better imagined than
described. l should not attempt to do any ieat IN
public if | found myself unable TO do It with perfect
certainty private and vet it absolutely essen
tial that l should give this usual that evening
For over hour / tried to balance the balls on the
cue; but failed every time to do So and sat down
in despair. What had happened TO NE / could not
say; but the fact remained that l was unable any
longer to perform the finest feat had learned after
years of practice.
As | was sitting by the table IN nv r0om wonder
ing what should do. fanCed heard a faint throo-
b1ng noise. After listening for little while, SUD
denly jumped up and rang the bell violently
Tell me quick cried to the servant. W hat IS
that nOises Listenl"
oh" replied the man, that is the gas engine IN
the basement"
Stop it at OnCel" j said Stop It If Il costs
hundred poundsi Quick
The man fled from the rOOn and by his loCN !
am afraid he thought had gone crazy. but ne h4u
the engine stopped and in few minutes the thIoO-
bing noise ceased
Then once more tried balancing the billiard balls
the cue, and succeeded IN performing the ie4t
without the least difficulty 1t as had thought.
the vibration of the gas engine had upset the balance
of the balls and had made it impossible tor me u
perform the feat
His Mothers Protest
7 WILL conclude these little "reminiscences Of ny
career with incident that still remains tesi