One of Sothern’s Practical Jokes.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 436, 11 January 1890, Page 3

One of Sothern’s Practical Jokes.

It was with Miss Neilson’s husband, Mr Philip Lee, for a victim, that iSothern, the actor, perpetrated that which was probably the most extensive (and expensive) of all his extravagantly - conceived and caiefullycarried out 4 sells.’ Unfortunately for Mr Lee, he expressed, on the occasion of his first visit to New York, and in Sothern’s presence, doubts as bo the existence of the wild and delightful American Bohemian life of which he had heard. Sothern told him that his letters of introduction were all to the wrong people, but that if he liked he could introduce him to the right set, and Mr Lee having expressed his gratitude, a supper party was arranged. Covers were laid for twelve, Sothern presiding, and Mr Lee, as the guest of the evening,"sitting on his right hand. For a time all went well, but while the soup was being served one well-known man was seen to take from under his coat a battle axe, and another celebrity drew from beneath his collar a dirk-knife, with a blade over a foot long, which he gravely unclasped and placed beside his plate. Then another took a “ six-shooter ” from his. pocket, while his neighboui drew a scythe and a policeman’s staff from under the table, and laid them in th 6 middle of the table. ‘For heaven’s sake,’ whispered the astonished Mr Lee in Sothern's ear, ‘what does this mean ?’ ‘ Keep quiet,’ replied Sothern, ‘ it is just what I most feared. .These gentlemen have been drinking, and they have quarrelled about a friend of theirs, a Mr Wemyss Jobson, quite an eminent scholar, and a very estimable gentleman ; but I hope, for our sakes, they will not attempt to settle their quarrels here. It is dreadful, but I hope, dear boy, that they will go away quietly, and have no row. It is a fashion they have here to settle their disputes at a table, or wherever they meet. All we can do now is to wait events.’ ‘But there will be murder here,’ exclaimed Mr Lee. ‘ Can we not give warning to the police ?’ ‘ Impossible, my dear fellow,’ said Sothern, regretfully. ‘ Where you even to be suspected by these men of any desire to leave the room, you would be shot like a dog, and no satisfaction would be given your relatives in a courtof justice. Such is the country.’ ‘lt is an infernal country, then, muttered the guest. For a few moments all went well, when suddenly a quarrel broke out at the head of the table, and one of the party springing to his feet fiercely exclaimed —; 4 Whoever says that the “History of the French Revolution,” written by my friend, David Wemyss Jobson, is not as good a book in every respect as that written lay Tom Carlyle on the sapie subject, is a liar and a thief, and if there is any fool present who desires to take it up, I am his man.’ ■ .../ . ■ All the guests rose suddenly, and every man grasped his weapon. Shots were fired,, and the room was nlled with smoke and uproar, several of the guests closed ind truggled with each other, and one of

the conspirators, thrusting a long knife into the amazed victim’s now trembling hand, said—‘Defend yourself. This is butchery—sheer butchery.’ But Sothern sat quietly by, and gave as his advice —‘Keep cool and don’t get shot.’ By this time the whole hotel was roused, and l fancy the joke went further than even Sothern in his wildest mood intended. His guests of the evening were a troup of knockabout negro minstrels, who had been instructed how to act. ‘Pemberton’s Memoir of Sothern.’