MAX O'RELL IN CANADA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2202, 4 July 1910, Page 7

MAX O'RELL IN CANADA.

AN AMUSING LECTURE ROOM EXPERIENCE. Max O’Rell tells in “Harmswortb’s Magazine” an amusing story of bis experience in Canada with a lecture- j agent whose honesty he had reason to doubt. He writes : 1 Once, in the town of X., Canada, I was advised to be careful, as the j party who had engaged me did not ] enjoy a reputation of a very high j character. When I arrived at the , hotel I made inquiries of the clerk { whom I knew, communicated my fears to him, and expressed my re- , gret that I had nobody with m« to | look after my interests ‘‘in front of ! the house.” “I have got what you want,” ha said to me. ‘‘Good. Who is it ?” ‘‘Why, my wife,” he replied ; ‘every dollar that can be got from that manager she will get for you, I’ll bet.” Shortly after I was introduced to a little brunette, looking about 20 years old, all eyes and forehead and all there —not an uncommon type cn the American Continent, and to ho often met with in Canada as well as in the United States. At half past seven we went to the hall together. She remained at the ticket office and I '-vent behind the platform, passing through the hall, as there was no stage entrance. A couple of hundred people had already arrived. At eight o’clock the little lady cams to me and said that the local manager had not yet arrived, and that things looked pretty suspicious as his representative declined to give her my fee without his authorisation. “Don’t yon go on the platform before I let you know that all is right and I have the money,” she said, and she returned to the front, passing through the audience again. * * * ♦ Two or three timea she came to report progress, and the audience, who saw her go constantly to and fro between the stage and the ticket office, began to suspect that there was something wrong, and that probably lecturer and. manager were not on the best of terms. At 8.15 I requested that some announcement be made, and the indulgence of the house be asked for. An official of the hall went on the platform and begged that the audience would kindly wait a little longer, as the lecturer was suffering from a sudden indisposition, which, however, ho hoped would soon pass away. A titter of merriment went through that audience, which convinced me that the state of my health caused them no anxiety whatever. At 8.30 my little lady manager arrived triumphant behind the platform. She had two hundred dollars in her bag, all in silver. ‘‘You’re . all right now,” she exclaimed. here’s the money. I’ll have the curtain rung up.” ♦ ♦ ♦ * The official immediately gave the order to ring up. Then he stepped forward on the platform, and without a smile, announced that "‘as the lecturer was now feeling much better he would at once proceed with the lecture.” When that audience saw me appear on the platform, holding in my hands the bulging and jingling tails of my coat where I had hurriedly put the money, they were convulsed with laughter and ‘roared. For at least five minutes I could not begin. Then 1 said ‘‘Ladies and Gentlemen,,” and wunked slightly as I looked at the wings of the stage. They ‘"caught on” at once, and roared and roared again. I never had such a start to keep an audience in good humour for an hour and a half.