The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-20
A KANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER TX.
Two Evenings in New York Wit
Harry LAUDER.

Harry LAUDER.
The readers of this paper know
that the writer is fond of Harry Lau-
der. that is to say. if they are regular
patrons of the State Journal, they are
informed on this point. If an occa-
sional patron, they will surmise this
in a few minutes.
There are several reasons for this;
he is man in every sense of the WORD
he is an artist of song and good cheer;
and there is possibly some Scotch
blood of the same chemistry in our
veins: for. as told to the Rotary club
at a luncheon in Topeka in March,
when the popular star was in the cap
ital city. his name is Harry MacLen-
nan Lauder.
He was born near Edinburgh; my
father was born at Inverness. HIS
mother was a MacLennan.
You naturally would think that
would never miss an opportunity to
see and hear Lauder. You think cor
rectly, as the regular subscribers of
this paper who pay 12h cents week
for it. or $3.50 a year by mail. are
aware 1 have seen and heard him
many times: three times in Topeka,
twice in one day. once in London.
twice in New York, once at a. m.
On this memorable trip to New
York, experiences on which are in
these chapters related, Lauder was
filling a two weeks engagement at the
Metropolitan Opera house, and I was
one of the first-nighters. With me
was Col John S. Dean of Topeka and
New York and of the United States
service.
We had two seats in the balcony up
near the stage, and Mr.. Murray, gen.
eral manager of Mr.. Lauder, asked
our seat numbers. Mr.. Murray has
been in Topeka with many attractions,
once with the Twelve Temptations"
many years ago and again in Topeka
this spring with Lauder. Murray in
troduced US to William Morris, who is
the Klaw & Erlanger and probably
more so for many dramatic person
ages. His favorite star is Lauder.
The immense opera house, with its six
balconies, was filled. The perform
ance was practically the same as given
in Topeka and about the same songs
were sung, with a few extras.
During the intermission a sprightly
young woman came out before the
curtain and in fifteen minutes raised
thirty thousand dollars for the third
liberty loan. The first subscriber was
William Morris. $4,000. Later Lauder
walked to the front of the stage with
a large new photograph of himself, the
only one taken. He said, IT want to
auction this photograph. the proceeds
to go to my million pound fund for
manned soldiers. We must allow no
returning veterans to sell shoestrings
on the street corners. Do I have any
offers?"
twenty-five dollars" said some
one in the audience.
Fifty dollars" said another.
"One hundred dollars" said a third.
The bidding proceeded to 500.
IF you will make it $500, 1 will
sing you a song I rarely sing, and 1
will autograph the photograph
Eight hundred dollars" said lady
In the audience.
When the check was passed up to
the stage, the lady got her auto
graphed photograph.
ct will give you $50 for your fund"
shouted some one, ''if you will sing
"A Wee Hoose 'Mang the Heather
Let me have your check" said
Harry.
The check was Forthcoming and so
was the song.
ct will give you SO If you will
shake hands with me-" said a gentle
man in the lower box quite close to
the stage.
Lauder walked over to the corner,
stepped toward the box. extending his
hand, but about foot away from the
man who wanted to touch palms with
him.
Let me have your &c." said Lau-
der.
got his handshake.
Some one In the audience SAID, 1
will give you SIS if you will sing
'Roamin' in the Gloamin'.
Lauder hesitated and finally said.
'I will sing it Wednesday evening""
Mr.. Lauder, as in Topeka, made the
New York audience sing with him the
song so fascinating, called, We'll All
Go Hame Together"
Again and again did Lauder re-
hearse his audience.
Looking up toward US in the bal
cony, he said: "A little light up on the
shelves there. Why don't you open
your mouths, like this" and he held
out both hands with his wrists touch
ing. moving his palm and fingers up
and down like the mouth of an alli-
gator. The shelves and the entire au-
dience responded with a will.