AN ACTOR'S-PRACTICAL JOKE.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 20, 18 December 1906, Page 8

AN ACTOR'S-PRACTICAL JOKE.

■ Mathews the elder once went to Woolwich, with five or six friends, in the character of the Spanish *Ambas&ador. The deception was a practical joke. During the visit Mr Walter Thornbury tells us that a fishing-smack was hired. The master a simple, good-natured tar, was impressed with the honour of such a noble freight., His Excellency professed to consider him a noble British captain and friend 'of Nelson, and told him he should mention him to the Spanish King, on which the old sailor shed tears of delight. The old captain was then fooled to the top of his bent,

Mathews swallowed a bit of candle, made out of apple with an almond wick, and then called for some lamp oil. which was sherry poured out, of a lamp tin. When they returned to Woolwich Mathews landed, changed his dress, took off his cocked hat,i spectacles, and orders, and returned to the boat in his own person, informed the captain that the Ambassador returned unother way,, and took his place for the voyage back. He was anxious to hear what his Excellency had been doing. The captain described him as a "werry personable man»~ not what in England wo should call ’andsome, but worry personable, and the haflablest critur I ever seen, in my life. Why, sir, he treated me 1 more like a brother than anything else ! But there, he made me quite sick, old as I am, with the dirty Spanish ways. Why, if you'll believe me, he swallowed at one draught a whole quart of llarnp ile, and ate up a largo tallow-candle in a mouthful ! I seed him with my own eyes, or I wouldn’t have believed it—l seed it all go down his Spanish throat, and I’ve since been werry much puzzl*d, though, to think whatever he did with ttoe wick."