SPOILED THE RECITATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 231, 1 December 1916, Page 7 (Supplement)

SPOILED THE RECITATION.

My father never could or would recite. He had a sort of constitutional aversion to doing so, writes E. H. Sothern, the famous American actor. Perhaps he fancied people looked tunny when reciting; he certainly took a fiendish pleasure in d-sconcerting recite:*. 1 remember once attending a benefit performance with him and Edwin Adams when John McCullough was to recite. He was billed to declaim a favourite poem of his, "Flynn of Virginia." They say he was quite wonderful at it. On this Occasion my father and Adams selected seats in the middle of the front row of the orchestra and quite upset the proceedings. The recitation begins with the words. "You knew Flynn, Flynn of Virginia ?" Mr. MeCllough cmae on and wa<? greeted with great applause. He made an impressive pause and began: "You knew Flynn, Flynn of Virginia?'' Ned Adams and my father stood up and, looking steadily at McCullough, solemnly shook their heads, as though to say, "No, we never heard of him"; then they solemnly sat down again. McCullough was disconcerted, but went to it aagin. "Yon knew Flynn, Flynn of Virginia?" said he. Again the two solemn figures arose, shook their neads sadly, and reseated themselves. This occurred three or four times, each time McCullough finding it more impossible to control his laughter, until at last lie could do so nolonger, and went off the stage hysterical. FERRYMAN'S FORETHOUGHT The old ferryboat was making hard work of her trip across the loch, and the little group of "pleasure" seekers huddled miserably together as they watched the threatening waves. The storm seemed to gather fury the farther htey got from land, and ever yon; thought that a real calamity was near. A look of hope spread from one frightened face to the other as the ancient ferryman, after a short conver. sation with his mate, approached the passengers, who waited breathlessly to .learn his decision. When near enough for them to hear his voice above th<s howling storm, he shouted: — "We'll just tak' yer saxpences the noo, for we dinna ken what micbt come ower us!" SUSPENSE. Once an American army nurse who had returned from Cuba ton declared that never again would she go to a country wliose language she could not understand. She was startled one day by the unexpected visit of her Cuban laundress. The women was intensely excited. Anxiety sat oil her brow, and sorrow dwelt >n her eves. She gesticulated, and she talked. The nurse Knew not a word of what she said, but the pantomime filled her with terror. The Cuban's band seemed to speak of an attack on n hospital—of wounded men butchered and nurses cut to ribbons. The nurse was frantic. She mustknow the worst. Tn the hospital was an officer very ill of typhoid fever. "She knew he understood Spanish. Only on a matter of life or death would she disturb him. but this was obviously a matter of life and death. She led the Cuban woman fo the btdside, and there the story was repeated. The officer listened intently. The nurse held her 'breath. The T'—an ceased. The sick man turned his head ! on the pillows. "She says."" he whis- ; pered faintly, "she says the stripes 'n I vonr pink shirt-waist have run ond she doesn't know what to do with it." SII.VKR BADGE. j The gratifying announcement v ;<s ! made officially recently th t his Majes. ! tv had approved the issue of a Silver j W.-r Badge Joi men discharged from the Army on account of age or sickI i:e-, Th.' badge will go to officers and I men <.i the British, Indian, and Ovcrj sForces who have served at home or I abnnd shic e August 4. IP!4, and who • on aeocunt of age. or physftal infirtn- . ity arising from wounds, or siiknessi | mused bv military service, have, in the case of officers, retired or relinquished their commissions, or. in the case of men. be»n discharged from the Army.