GOOD PRACTICAL JOKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2431, 7 January 1876, Page 3

GOOD PRACTICAL JOKE.

Irving end a party of friends and fellow* actors, among them J. L. Toole, the inimitable low oomediou, had organised an uproarious supper at a hotel in Dundee, during which meal thoy wero waited upon by a simpleminded Scotchman, who was unaccustomed to rolliolring sooiety, and who became latar in the evening considerably influenced by copious libations. Tho actors notioed thi», and, it must bo o jknowlodged, helped the poor fellow on by innumerable glasees of potent wines. He was at Ja?t in a state of tipsy delight at their gonerosity, and deola-ed to them again and again that ho had never, in all the range of his oxpei ienco, eeired such pleasant cuetomers e» the gentlemen of the stage. The night was far advanced, when the waiter was told to go and ask his ranter for the bill. Tho we 'tor loft the supper-room accordingly, end tho moment he was gone, the actors sprang to their feet, turned out the gas, opened the window, which looked on a broad lawn, and hid themselves under the table. In a few seoonds the waiter came rather unsteadily pong to deliver the bill j but great was his Burpiiee on entering the room to find it in perfect darkness, the window onen, and the guests departed. In an instant tuo tru*h booame, m he thought, clear— these xaically. gentlemen of the stago had decamped in ordto t) avoid paying the by.l, Uttsrly discomfit :d, and somewhat sobered by the inoident, he wont after the innkeeper, dreading to brer'; tho tomb le news, yet consoious that something muit be done to raise the house, so that the defaulters might be pursued. Direotly he left tho re ota the actors quitted their hidingplace, closed tho window, relit the gas, seated themselves at the table, just as they had been beforo, and resumed the flow of conversation. Presently they heard a rushing of feet in tho inn, a oonfuaion of voices, a gathering together of poople, and suddenly the door was thrown open, and disolosed tho innkeeper rid waiter, baokod by the whole establishment, in vauoua elemental /stages of costume. Tho guests looked in well- feigned amazement at this astounding interruption, aid Mr Irving, who was at the head ot the table, asked, *n a manner indicating some displeasure, what might bo the meaning of the prooeeding. The inukeepor was in utter astonishment, and, in angry indignation, tutaed round fiercely upon tbo stupefied waiter, asking him what ho meant by rousing them all up, and saying the gentlemen had gone : upon which tho waiter vowed that he had entered the room and found it dork and empty. luing and his friends, however, smiled superciliously at tbis.ond observed, in settling tho account, that really the landlord ought to bo more careful n future as to the sobriotyjof his waiters, for, had the party been composed of other gentlemen thai those of the stage, tho wholo soeno would have so disgusted them that thoy novor would Hvo entered the house again. _____________