ANECDOTE OP THEODORE HOOK.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2841, 23 March 1878, Page 4

ANECDOTE OP THEODORE HOOK.

Strolling one day arm-in-arm with Daniel Terry, tho actor, spa street in fc-oiio, his nostrils were assailed by a most savory odour. Looking down an urea, lie saw the serrnnts in the kitchen below dressing up a fine dinner. " A party, no doubt," raid Terry j "jolly dogs ! what a least! I should like to make one of them." "I'll take a bet I do," replied Hook. " Call for me here at 10. Leaving his friend, he mounted the steps and knocked at the door. Believing him to be one of the expected guests, the servant conducted him to the drawing room, where a number of people were already assembled. Making himself perfectly at home, with half a dozen people the host discovered that a stranger was present. " I beg your pardon, sir," he said addresjmig the uninvited one, "Your name?—l did not quite catch it; servants are so incorrect." "Smith sir, sir, b'niilh," replied the unblushing Theodore, "don't apologise you are quite right, air, servants are great blockheads; I remember a most remarkable instance of their mistake*." "Bot really, sir," interrupted the host mildly, " I did not anticipate the pleasure of Mr Smith's company to din-> uer. Whom do you suppose your .ar/e addressing?" "Mr Thompson, of course," answered Hook, " an old friend of my father's. I received a kind invitation from you yesterday, on my arrival from Liverpool, to diuo with you-to-day, family party, come in boots you said,"

1 lie host at once disclaimed the name of Thompson or any knowledge of the vivacious Smith. " Good heavens ! then I have come to the wrong house, 1' exclaimed the hoaxer; "my dear sir, how can I apologise? so awkward, too, and I have asked a friend to call for me." The old gentleman, probably thinking so witty a personage would make an excellent addition to his party, bngged him to remain. With a profusion of apologies, Hook at first pretended to decline—ultimately accepted. Everybody was delighted with him, all the evening he kept up a constant fire of wit and repartee, and ultimately sat down to the piano, and sang extempore verses on every one present. In the midst of these'the door opened, and, true to his appointment, in walked Terry, at the sight of whom, striking a new key, he sang :— I'm very much pleased with your fare, " Your cellar's as line aa your cook j My friend's Mr Terry, tho player, And I'm Mr Theodore Hook. And " that name," says Lockhart, " was already enough to put any wig in Guildhall out of curl."