The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-10-22
PLATFORM HUMOR
Unexpected Diversions That
Were Not on the Bills.
BILL NyE's TAcTFUL QUERY.
u Saved an Embarrassing Situation
and Turned Painful Silence Into
Burst Of Laughter-A Simple Notice
| That Made an Audience Roar.


Burst OF laughter-A Simple Notice
That Made an Audience Roar.
The funniest humor is the uninten-
fional kind. The best comedy is that
which has never been rehearsed or
premeditated. but springs to life In
close straits when everything of sue
cess for the platform performer de-
pends on his holding the spot light of
his audiences attention through cru
cial strain caused by unexpected di-
version.
Some OF the involuntary humor of
the platform is worth remembering
and repeating. For instance
Once upon time a lecturer reached
1iIs date at 7:3O He had to get his sup
per, shave and dress between then and
the usual scheduled starting time.
Sis. Accordingly he dressed with more
haste than he had intended, and two
top buttons of his trousers failed TO
receive proper attention. This showed
plainly I'm the glare OF the footllghts.
and bit of his dress shirt protruded
noticeably. The audience had a hard
time being courteous and rcconcllng
the righteousness of the speakers ap.
pearance with the serious dignity and
beauty OF his lecture. Still, all would
have been we'll but for the fact that Mt
the close of the address and while the
speaker still sat on the platform in his
unconscious dishabille the platform
manager rose and announced impress
sively:
THE next number on this splendid |
course will be given two weeks from
tonight by DIR. Robert Mcintyre, who
win deliver his celebrated lecture
'Buttoned Up People
The audience shrleked, and to this
day. through the tender hearted for.
bearance of those people, that lecturer
does not know why the announcement
OF his confrere's beautiful woEd pic
ture lecture created just that kind OF
enthusiasm.
At one time DR.. Thomas r. Green
was submitted to the long Introduction |
agony. He stood IL as patiently as
possible, and so did the audience, but |
when the introducer ceased and bowed |
out the paid speaker of the evening |
GDr. Green walked forward and said I'm
his most ministerial tone
II am going to add a phrase to the
aitany, making it read as follows
From our traducers and our intro |
ducers good Lord deliver us"
Sometimes n town committee is can.
fankerous and takes on u degree OF
choiciness never dreamed of or aspir-
ed TO by a city committee. At one
time Elias Day. n makeup artist. was
behind the scenes laying out his wigs,
boards, etc, when committeeman
came back TO see him. After the
usual greetings the committeeman
said:
81 hope to goodness you're bettcrn
the last number on our course was"
WHO was itF' asked Mr.. Day.
'Dr. Russell COnwel Of Philadclfy."
"Didn't you like hIm?" asked Day In
n daze.
Rotten" said the committeeman.
"Who came before that:"
Iceland Il. Powers of Boston"
"Well, you liked him, of course"
"Turriblc rotten"
"And what did you have before
that?" asked Day, now prepared for
anything.
"Schumam-lIcink ard her compa.
NY"
did you hear herr
J "Ever'body a-klckin' Said she was
poorer'n home talent"
"Well," said Day, the scttlcdness Of
despair In his tone, you'll like me-
But perhaps the best instance of per
tect adaptation on the spur Of the mo.
snent is found In an anecdotc Bob Bur
oette vouched for as having been the
Experience of his illustrious contcm-
porary, Bill Nye.
Nye and Burbank were being starred
that year by Major Pond They were
doing the Canadian provinces and on
the night of the special episode were
at Victoria. British Columbia, Bur