PERSONAL ANECDOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 14

PERSONAL ANECDOTES.

WOULDN'T WASTE IT. t i\ When Gomersal and Conquest took the Garrick Theatre, Leman-etreet, Whiteebapel, they "agreed to abide by one hard-and-fast 1 rule, and that was no free admissions were i to be given by either. One evening Paul Herring, the celebrated "I'm sorry," said Gomersal, who was in J clown, asked to be passed in free. j front, "but I cannot, Paul; it's against the ' rules; but, as I don't like to refuse an old friend, there's a shilling to pay with." i "Thanks," said Paul. "What are you j playing?" j "The Dumb Man of Manchester," said , Gomersal. i "And who plays Tom?" "I do, of course." "And," said Paul, "do you think I'm going : to pay a good honest shilling to see you try- i ing to struggle through a part like that? No, i I'd sooner go and have a drink with it." j And he did.

AN IRVING STORY.

Edward German, the popular composer, spent years of apprenticeship in the London Savoy when he was a second-violin in the ; orchestra during the Gilbert-Sullivan regime. His first chance came when he was Invited to be conductor in the London Globe Theatre for Richard Mansfield's production of "Kichard III." His beautiful music for Henry Irving's revival of "Henry VIII." was completed • before any arrangement had been come to as to fees. One day German was asked to say what he wanted; but the young man was afraid to mention any fignre. Then Irving turned to Bram Stoker _and inquired: "What did we give Sullivan?" The sum was stated. "Then we'll settle It that way," said the generous Irving. But before German retired from the room : there was another unexpected proof of the actor-manager's good nature. "I like your music, and therefore think that you had better keep the copyright." How many copies of the "Henry VIII." dances have been sold is known only to the publishers, Messrs. Novello, bnt German has had excellent reason to appreciate Irving's kindness.

AX OBJECT L-BSSON.

Some individuals have never grown beyond the kindergarten necessity of requiring an object-lesson to support an assertion. Mr. Edmund Yates put a check to the suspicions of such a person In a summary but convincing way when he held a position in the London Post Office. By my chair hung two long speakingtubes, says Sir. Yates. Mr. Smith, as we shall call the visitor, inquired what they were. I told him, and explained that one went to the mesengers' lobby, while the other communicated with the constables' box. ■"Do you mean to tell mc that there are constables always ready to come at your call?" exclaimed Mr. Smith. "Pooh, that's swagger!" He left soon after, and I thought I would give him a lesson, so I blew down to the box of the constables. "Yes, sir," was the answer. "Are you both there?" "Yes, sir." "Stop a stout man with a white waistcoat who is coming down the stairs. Take him to the lobby and hold him till I come." "All right, sir." By and by I leisurely went down the stairs, to find Mr. 'Smith with a constable on each side, holding him by the wrists. "Here's the man, sir. He says it's a mistake, but they always say thaj, as you "Mistake!" roared Mr. Smith. "What is the meaning of all this?" "Only to let you know about my 'swagger,' " said I. "Let him go new." POOE SANDY. The memoirs of the latter half of the eighteenth century are rich in anecdotes at the expense of Scottish characteristics and peculiarities. Many an unhappy Scot had hie pride wounded and his feelings hnrt at London dinner tables when the wine had loosened the tongues of the diners. Nothing delighted Johnson and his English friends more than to bait poor Boswell about the poverty of his country. "Pray, Boswell." said Wilkes on one occasion, "how much may t>e got in a year by an advocate at the Scotch Bar?" "I believe, two thousand pounds," replied BosweU. "How can it be possible to spend that money in Scotland?" asked Wilkes. "Why, sir," said Johnson, joining In the conversation, "the money may be spent in England; but there is a harder question. If one man in Scotland gets possession of two thousand pounds, what remains for all the rest of the nation?" "Yon know," added Wilkes, "in the last war, the immense booty which Thurot carried off by the complete plunder of seven Scottish isles: he re-embarked with three and sixpence."—J. A. Lovat-Fraser, in the "Antiquary."

TO STOP "GUSH."

Prince Henry of Prussia, during an unofficial visit to England, was once the guest of a certain American millionaire. At dinner one evening he chanced to sit next to a beautiful but very conceited woman, who Put on all sorts of little airs and gracesto try to captivate the Kaiser's blnff sailor brother. "Oh, your Royal Highness," said she, "I am so glad yon like dear old England and the English people. Now do tell mc frankly what has impressed you most forcibly—has given you the greatest pleasure—during your visit to this country I m simply longing for your 'confession' on this point." Prince Henry, who hates gush," and was greatly bored, looked round his hosts hospitable table, and then with seeming earnestness, replied: "Yon I ask what has impressed mc most forcibly during my short visit to your country Well I'll tell you. Yon shall have my confession." His neighbour, who expected some delightful compliment, blushed and listened with eager attention, "i have been fascinated with many things since I came to England," contained the Prince dreamily, lookIng down on to his plate, "but what has fascinated me—what has given mc more pleasure than anything else—has been, 1 think, your glorious roast beef!" "Oh, your Royal Highness, our roast beef! But surely something else has impressed you?" "Yes " replied Prince Henry still dreamily tender. 'yes, indeed, I think nest to your English roast beef I have beeu most impressed !>y your lingUsh boiled beef."

NO CONNECTION.

Here is. a little story of Mr W. D. Howells, the American litterateur. "Literary fame," he says, "is uot so very highly regarded by tho people, is it? I remember when I was in San Remo some years ago seeing in a French newspaper a notice that bears upon this question. It was a notice inserted by a rat trap maker of Lyons, and it said:—'To Whom It May Concern.— M. Pierre Loti, of Lyons, inventor of the automatic rat trap, begs to state that he Is not the same person, and that he has nothins in common, .wits one Fierce Lod, a writer. , "