A THRILLING LEAP.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

A THRILLING LEAP.

] E, H. Sothern told at' a dinner in New-York aßtory. about his famous father.-'..--'' !;'-'

"My father'in his youth," he said,' "was once playing in a romantic drama wherein he mado a tremendous leap—a leap ; from his lady lofo's tower to a mattress behind a wooden 'rock on the stage far below. It was a thrilling leap, and my father no doubt enjoyed the applauso it won him; but one night he sprained his ankle and vowed he would leap no more,

. "So the manager hired a professional acrobat to do the leap, made up as my father's counterpart, while my father would slip tack under cover of the tower wall and. descend' to his dressing-room by means of a hidden ladder. "The afternoon the acrobat camo to the the theatre to rehearse, he made the leap, and then set up a loud complaint. " , I

• "'What's tho matter?' asked a young member of the company, who happened to be in the theatre. . " 'Why,' said the acrobat in a disgusted voice, 'th'iß 'ero leap is too tame. It's too easy. A man with glass eyes and cork legs could do it, Now, if they'd let me throw two flip-flaps in the air as I came down

" 'Splendid I' cried the young actor. 'The very thing I' "'You don't think the boss would mind?' said the acrobat, doubtfully, !• 'Mind ? Why, man,- he'll bo tickled to death. Ten to one he'll raise your Salary.' "That evening when the great leap scene began, my father was gratified to see tho acrobat, a perfect picture of himself, crouching in the shadow of the window.

-." 'Love, good night-good night 1" my father cried. ,r 'Stay I' moaned the heroine, and she threW|her6elf on his neck, 'Stay.! That leap is death ]' " 'Nay, nay, my own; 'tis honour,

I leap, 'tis true, but there la that within my heart will bear me upthine Image, love. And so, good night, good night.' "He kissed her madly on the brow, tore himself from her clinging arms, and rushed across tho open Bpace into the shadow.

"'Jump I' he hissed between his teeth,

. "And out, stalght out into the air, shot tho acrobat. Twico his little shape whirled round like a great flywheel. Then he lit lightly and easily on the topmost point of the wooden rock.

"Roars of laughter and thunders of applause shook the theatre. The acrobat bowed stiffly and strutted off into the wings with his arms folded, But the remarks of my poor father on his ladder have not come down to Times."