Let Himself Out.

Otago Witness, Issue 2391, 28 December 1899, Page 67

Let Himself Out.

Luigi Lablache, the finger, was a, giant in size. "One of his boots." sayf a biographer; "would make a good portmanteau. One of his gloves would clothe an infant."

There is a humorous exaggeration in the statement, bul the fact remains that he was certainly an enormous man. It is recorded of him that he was very generous and also a lover of jokes. At one time he was staying in Paris, at the same hotel with General Tom Thumb.

An English tourist, who had been making strenuous efforts to meet the midget, one day burst into the great basso's apartment. Seeing the giant before him, he hesitated and apologised. "I was looking," he said, "for Tom Thumb." "I am he," answered Lablache, in his most sonorous tones. The Englishman was taken aback. "But," said he, "you were very tiny when I saw you yesterday !"

"Yes," said Lablache, "that is how I have to appear ; but when I get home to my own rooms, I let myself out and enjoy myself."

Then the great singer proceeded to entertain his guest, to the latter's evident delight.