The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-22
THE ''KNIGHTING" OF THE
 FAMOUS HARRY LAUDER

, Harry never failed to indulge in his favorite recreation the good old Scot tish game of golf. Playing over a celebrated New York course for the first time, he was rather disgusted d with the turf of the greens, and at longth, after missing an easy putt, he turned to his American chaperone with q characteristic look of con- kempt on his countenance, and 1n- quired-'I say. are these the best greens you have in American" On being reassured they were, Sir Harry caustcally replied, Well look here. let me tell you I've a. better green on a flower pot out my window in Scot land"
 Sir Harry'e keen sense of humor is always on the alert to see and seize the salient features of chara cter or incident, and he has the faculty of adapting both to the purposes Of the stage. Many of his best hits on the stage have come spontaneously sometimes the result of accident, but oftener the outcome of that un- conscious hunor which seems of per petually ooze from the great com edian.
 For instance one night when Sir Harry was appearing in a London Ildil Ie was leellIlS WTelCneuly Ill. and really ought to have been in bed instead of before the footlights. He was suffering from a racking headache, which almost drove all thoughts of the part he had to play from his mind. Obsessed with his own troubles he stepped from the wings, to be greeted with the usual uproarious applause.
 The noise, and the glare didn't help the splitting headache, Sir liar ry blinked at the audience and then, as he afterwards confessed, uncon- scious of his surroundings, he ut tered the plaintive comment:
 I've an awful sair heidi"
 The face the attitude of the man. were in striking sympathy with the words. For Sir Harry it was a species of tragedy; for the audience 1t was comedy of the most delightful nature. The house roared with laughter, then roared with applause, and I've an awful sair heid." became nightly feature of the business.
 On another occasion Sir Harry was playing in pantomine in Glasgow He rode on to the stage on a horse He had stipulated for the sedateet anil nal. fin the market-and he thought he had got it.
 " nerl me nTSt nlSht came, and Sir Harry made his entry, whether due to the blare of the orchestra the glare of the lights. or some other cause, the warranted quiet steed be- came unduly rest1ve. careered about the stage. and finally deposited Sir Sarry on the hard boards. He got up and ruefully rubbed his head. by which the time the roof of the thea tre was in danger of being rent by the convulsive laughter of the au- 6lence.
 That was another part of the busi- ness which had to be retained. But Sir Harry got another steed, less fiery.
 As a recruiting sergeant Sir Harry Lauder met with astounding successs. It IS on record that on one of his campaigns in Manchester. his call t3 the coIors was so irresistible that he had fifty recruits on the platform of the Coliseum within fifteen minutes. He was very serious on these oc- casions and fun was the last thing in his mind. Lots of my hearers" he said when they listened to a com edian talking about the army, would ask themselves. What authority has he to come and address us like this?'' Well, ] had no other authority than thfs;7 My nearest and dearest, my only son, was fighting in this great war. and thought had no right to ask my son to fight for man who was abel to go and fight for himself" That was before Sir Harrys son made the supreme sacrifice.