QUESTION OF GAS 



on him like an old man, though he was only fourteen. 

 I named him Bultitude, for Mr Anstey's " Vice Versa " 

 was the rage at the time. Bultitude said : " The gas 

 won't come off, sir, we must make the fire bigger." 

 It was a very hot summer day ; we burnt everything 

 we could find ; but no result. At last — bang ! Out 

 flew two of the windows. I was thrown into the corner 

 in a sitting position, Bultitude laid on his back. There 

 had been an explosion — so the paper said next morning. 

 However, as we were alive to tell the tale, I thought 

 after that it was better to send the bag round to the 

 theatre every day to get it filled. Of course the 

 hydrogen came from the ordinary gas tap. Those were 

 initial difficulties. I used to show them statuary, 

 views, rat-swallowers, and every form of lurid and 

 attractive advertisements. 



The interest of the crowd waned a little after a month 

 or two, so I had the idea that a small orchestra would 

 add to the attraction, and immediately rushed round 

 to my advertisers, telling them of the magnificent 

 new feature, and, to their credit, they gave increased 

 orders. Fortunately my sign-painter was sober, and 

 we were all ready for the big night. The difficulty 

 was to find the band, but a printer who knew the ropes 

 of everything said he could do it. In he came the next 

 day saying : " They don't look very showy, sir, but 

 they will look all right when they begin on Saturday." 

 You should have seen them ! The spokesman of the 

 party asked and received a dollar " to wet it." As 

 an afterthought I asked them what instruments they 

 played. " Three brass and a clarionet," was the 

 reply. " Mine's the clarionet," added the spokesman. 

 I had to hope for the best. I had got some posters out 

 and, with new slides announced, hoped for a good crowd 

 in the street. It was a dark night and there was no 



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