Ha! Ha! Ha! I am astonished. I didn't expect to find more than ten
persons in the house to-night, and I see there are eleven.
[Illustration]
I want to thank that gentleman in the first row--the man with the
vigorous growth of hair. It's such a relief to see a man with some hair,
in the front row.
Say, I don't think I ever told you of the time I went with a
Shakespearian company to tour the New England States.
Never knew I was an actor? Why, of course.
Wouldn't have thought it? Neither would I, if I didn't know to what
extremes a man of my attainments may be driven, when his bread-basket is
empty.
Well, I signed for a hundred a week and all expenses.
I got expenses all right, part of the time, and had to employ one of
Pinkerton's men to look after the salary.
[Illustration]
Up to yesterday, he hadn't found it; but no actor who goes out of New
York town ever expects to get any salary, and I didn't.