The Washington herald., 1918-10-20

stones. The picture presented was
ghostly indeed.
Students Rebel.
! Vigo. the lecturer, was arrayed In
full evening attire and carried his
carefully prepared lecture in. a roll.
On the stage were several of his as
sistant 'snatchers," while below the
stage under the trap on which the
imitation grave was mounded was the
very black man who was to imper-
senate the "stiff" or cadaver. About
half hour before the time set for the
lecture to begin a well defined rumor
reached the lecturer that the students
OF the medical colleges were preparing
to attend the affair and prevent the
lecture, as they tokingly explained IL
was against the ethics OF respecta BILE
resurrection" 1t was learned that
the young men had provided them
selves literally with ammunition in
the way OF overripe vegetables and
fruit and eggs that had passed their
stage OF usefulness
As the college boys filed into the
theater. Vigo, who had been surveying
the audience through the peep-hole in
the curtain. lost his nerve and urged
Col. Snellbaker to announce an in
definite postponement of the lecture
The genial colonel instead Of adopting
Vigo's advice sent for a quart bottle
OF brandy and a pitcher of ice water
and said:
Now, Vigo, let's discuss the situs-
ton"
He succeeded in getting Viso TO
take several big drinks and while the
LIQUOR atfFranfns
nerve, he sent for Lieut. Brooke
Amiss, who commanded the first DO
lice precinct. and informed him that
the students were in the theater and
intended to mob ViRo should he at
tempt to deliver his lecture. The DO
lice reserves were summoned and
stationed in various parts Of the
mouse TO prevent disorder. BY that
time Figo had partaken literally of
the brandy and was somewhat hi
| larlous and ready. as he expressed II
to face the devil and all his irnps.
So the curtain was rung up disclosing
the grim graveyard scene with three
villainous looking assistants armed
with searchlights, hooks, spades, and
pickexes and a long canvas sack, The
men lurked in the shadows of the
stage while Vigo stepped to the CEN
ter and endeavored to read his lee
ture. But the brandy had dimmed his
vision and in the dim light of the
/ stage moon he found he could not read
q me. he retreated TO the wings and
held consultation with Col SMELL
baker. stepped from the box I was
occupying and with the colonel urged
Nigo to deliver an e1temporaneo
! lecture as the house was as full as
he was and 1t would never do to dis
appoint the audience at his initial
lecture. Nigo handed me his written
lecture for safekeeping and braveIv
stepped back 10 the center Of the
| stage.
In MaudIin Condition.
he was by that time in almost a
Hlauoiln condition and proceeded to
present one of the strangest serio-
comic performances IT had ever heer
/ III! good fortune to witness either on
or on the stage. His voice was thicl
and further impeded by his foreign
accent He waved his long arms ,p
WILD gesticulation. and began bv
stating that resurrection as an art
was as old as the world He asserted
/ mat In ancient times II was a most
honorable profession to dig up the
dead for the benefit of medical sci
ence,
Now will show you how It is
done In modern times" he said, Civ
ing a low whistle.
At this signal the lurking figures
In the shadows became suddenly ami
mated and sprang into action. The
earth was shoveled from the mound
and the hooks inserted through the
/ trap-door and under the arms Of the
/ living cadsver. who was clad only in
sheet. AS the "stif" was brought
into view, Vigo commanded:
Lay him on the ground until l leo
! ture some more"
! The very black colored man who
was impersonating the stiff" evi-