A STORY OF MR. SOTHERN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 143, 17 June 1881, Page 4

A STORY OF MR. SOT HERN.

The "Theatre "for March contaioßen interesting article on Mr Sotbern, and amongst other amusing stories it tells the following :— Perhopa one of the densest crowds that London ever knew assembled to witness the entry of tha Prince of Walea with, the Princess Alexandra some years ago. The refined beauty and grace of the little Princeflß had been* loudly proclaimed throughout the land,' aod . euriosity. to ree the bride of, the i'al&re King of j&ttglsfi' was up to fever heat. The lice of route Wae not a long one, some of the streets being very narrow ; and it was calculated &S the time that over 3,000,000 of people frtfra Various points - of the compass' essieted e§ this welcomiDg spectacle. The procession having' to promenade Fleet-siree* *« route to Temple Bar (without passing through which vexatious portal no respectable procession weuld be complete), the editor of Punoh issued invitations to a select coterie of artistic and literary friends to assemble at tie Punch offlce at ten o'clock in the morning, to ptrteke of lunch and see the, show from the windows. As a sample of the men present there were Mark Lemon, Shirley Brooks, Tom Taylor, John Leech, Tenniel— the entire Punch Btaff; Millais and Frith, the eminent painters j Rnekin, Lord Lytton, Charles Dickens, Cruikshank, Tennyson — in fact, a more brilliant assembly of men of genius perhaps rarely met under one roof. A magnificent entertainment was served; and if the good things that were said oh that Bright March morcing had been carsfuily noted down they would have filled a number of the famous jourcal within whose wells the company met. Among the person* expected was Sothern the comedian, whdfee Dundreary was at (hot moment making people laugh their heads off at the Hay market Theatre. The procei£ion was sot to move until twelve o'clock,, and Lord Dundreary did not leave home until half-past ten. All was plain sailing as" far as Fleet-street; and discharging his carriage at the corner of a street intersecting this thorougiare, he reached Fieet-street, and by dint of lard squeezing and pushing, persevering, and watching every, ooovsment of the gigantic orowd, he at last got opposite the Punch office, and there be was compelled to halt. To cross the street was simply impoEßible. Deeply buried in the dense throng, he stood for quite sd hour watching his friends at the win-' dowV He cpold hear now and >, again a peal of laughter »nd the ring of their merry voices. "By the gods," mused the comedian, ""I'm." missing an enormous treat ! I must get across this street, by hook or by crook — but how?" Happy, thought 1 At that moment he saw a policeman. He worked; his way toward him, and Baid "Bobby, if youMl marage to take me across the street to ttie Punch office 1 I'll 'give you a sovereign." The policeman simply smiled, and pointed to the impenetrable throng. "I know it will be tough work, and perhaps I may lose my coat and bat in the struggle," pursued Sothern ; " but it's more important that I should be there with my frieridp." "I've no doubt of it, iir jbut it's impossible, Why, you might as well ask me to take you through the walls of St. Paul's tbeie." "Nonsense/' urged Sothern, witb irrepressible persistence. " You are a tall, strong man — I'm thin and wiry ; if you'll open the way, I'll follow, and it's to be done with little effort. Look here (whisper) get me over, and I'll give you a£s note !" At this offer ihe policemen shut one eye, rubbed bis ear, puckered his lips elevated his nose, stood on tiptoe, and surveyed the scene before him. "Brace yourself for a mighty effort," eaid Sothern, encourgingly. He made en effort, but without succesF. The crowd instantly howled with one voice, "Back, back, Bobby, beck ! Where are you shovin' to? ; At that moment Dickens and Brorks ceme to the window, each with a glass of champagne in his hand, looked ou', surveyed, the scene, and then retired, radiant with some observa-tion-made by the author of "Pickwick." This tableau was too much for Lord Dundreary— to miss all the brilliant talk of that morning— -to miss being presented to some of the most gifted men on earth !>— he would make one lest effort. "Policeman," whispered he, "have you got a pair of band cuffs? I'll strike you. Arrest me. Shout—- • A pickpocket— l've got him !' Drag, me across— the crowd will take up the cry and make way—that's the programme— here's the money in advance I l ' The policeman was a huge, strapping member of the force. It was the work of an instant. Into his pocket went the note , out came the handcuffs. Sotbern mode a plunge at the breast, of the man, who literally hurled himself at the crowd, dragging his victim after him. Off went faatß, down fell belf-a-dcssen people not physically, gifted, and after three miniates? nerd fighting with the most savage opposition, the twain landed on the steps of the Punch office. To say that there was a yell of execration at the policemen for his vigorous dovp de wain would faintly deectibe the howl: that went up from the crowd. It reminded one of that volume of sound beard on a Derby day, when the favourite shoots past the winning-post. " Ponch'^w'ae the word in more senses than the journal implied. There were punched heads, punched hats, to say nothing of ribs and noses, and Sothern and the bold blue ''Bobby" sought rapid refuge within the hospitable portals .of the -Fleet-street humorist. Happily at that moment a lend voice shouted "The Prince is comiDg— order! " and the excitement lulled. The" comedian made his way up to his friendly and quaffed a glass of champegna, which was held to his lips by Mark Lemon. While this was going od, Giuickehank, always ready for » joke, wheeled the policeman out of a back doer into a eido street, with strict j h junction b not to return until after the precision fced pasted ; and Sotbern saw tie thow, made 6on?e charming new ficqp&itHanceß, jar took of bis. lnncb, and:, mt<rbcl a cry of welcome to the pretiy bound in strong iron hracfietfi. Millaia cbtfflngty^ sogeeated p grand biet or ical picture for the • ■..-* ,'•'''■-••" ■ •

. Academy— " Lord Dtm&reary m fetters ai\ the Greefi Welcoming of the Beautiful J3ride." Shirley Brooks insisted! that" a Frerch dramatist would have got oPalsis Royal farce oufc of the incident, and Sothern consoled himself with the reflection that he was the only peraon of the millions present who witneaaed tha pageant iu handcuffs.