JOINING THE " CRAFT " 



stage, was a Tasmanian. She strengthened her voice 

 by going every morning to the top of a high hill at the 

 Huon, where she lived, and singing her loudest facing 

 the wind. 



I have just mentioned being made a Mason in 

 Hobart. There was a man there who was initiated 

 about the same time as myself, but in an Irish lodge. 

 He was one of many brothers. They were all of the 

 same type — over six feet in height, gaunt and lean ; 

 they wore long frock-coats to cover their spare limbs. 

 One giant had taken a tobacco shop, and it was during 

 one of the Hobart race-meetings he spoke to me in his 

 shop. He was doing all he could to attract custom. 

 Joe Thompson was down in Tasmania for the races ; 

 the cigar dealer asked me whether it would be possible 

 to get Mr Thompson in as a customer. I said I thought 

 it would, and advised him to send a letter to the great 

 man, inviting him to his shop. He of the four feet six 

 inches of legs and six feet four inches of frame alto- 

 gether — and yet he didn't weigh eleven stone — told 

 me he thought it would be a great thing if he could 

 advertise on his bill-heads certain special brands " as 

 supphed to Joseph Thompson, Esq." I am telling you 

 a fact, and do so to show that there was a certain 

 amount of astuteness in the tobacconist's whimsical 

 idea, for, even in that small community, the legend of 

 racing men having the very best was well appreciated. 



The giant tobacconist had all sorts of ideas about 

 Masonry, and it was almost an education, and better 

 than a comedy, to go and have a talk with him. He 

 had a little wife who was a perfect terror to him, and 

 the repetition of conversations which he had with her, 

 apropos of taking up the craft, was a scream. He 

 always settled her by saying that he would have the 

 privilege of calling the Prince of Wales " brother." 



