OLD THEATRICAL FRIENDS 



round to my office in Essex Street to have a demon- 

 stration of a race game which I had on view. It was 

 George's dehght. After that evening at Drury Lane 

 George Graves was nearly giving up pantomime, but 

 he didn't, and year after year goes on, he being the 

 great star and in congenial company. One cheque 

 for a week's pay I have seen — four hundred and 

 twelve pounds. 



Whether he is at Brighton, in his dressing-room, or 

 on a racecourse, he is always the same. A bubbling- 

 over of ready wit, a famous raconteur and a hypnotiser 

 of an audience, such is Graves. 



I was speaking of Brighton. This to many of us 

 means the Royal York and Royal Albion. This must 

 not be taken as a boost, for Harry Preston doesn't 

 want that. I have been at home there for so many 

 years that personal reminiscences would not be 

 complete without a few words. I once wrote of Harry 

 in a sort of Who's Who. 



" LONGSHOREMAN HARRY " 



"Good-morning, sir; Thank you, sir; Yes, sir; 

 I hope everything is all right, sir. Come and have 

 a small bottle, old boy." This, all in one breath, 

 indicates, first, the host, and then, the comrade. 

 Can swim, fight, swear, teach bull terriers tricks. 

 Is charming to old ladies and bows to young ones, 

 keeping one eye open all the time. Is said to have 

 one eye in the back of his head, which he protects with 

 a skull cap when swimming. Has an inseparable 

 brother and affectionate sisters ; converses with 

 empressement and invented the Royal York salute. 

 His servants understand him and his guests think they 

 do, but it is six to four nobody does. Is wise enough 

 to know himself quite well. Disappears through a 



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