AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ODDS & ENDS 59 



Interludes of acting came into many seasons. 

 Hunt Theatricals, got up for the ever open mouth 

 of the Fowl Fund. 



When the amateurs gather together strange 

 things happen. One of the strangest perhaps was 

 casting me in my first effort on the stage for the 

 part of the Witch in " Creatures of Impulse." 

 I could not sing a note ! 



When the principals arrived just before the play 

 came off they were somewhat surprised. 



Miss Henry, now Mrs. Owen Lewis, a completely 

 charming amateur, who could have been a pro- 

 fessional at any time, took the chief part. 



I acted with her twice, and she was that wonder- 

 ful thing the leading lady who only thought of 

 everyone else. Very young herself, she was a kind 

 of Fairy Godmother to the beginners, helping them 

 in every way. No trouble was too great for her 

 to take with the raw entry, she coached and en- 

 couraged, and with her a play had to go. She 

 could sing and dance charmingly, and could at 

 any time have gone on and seen London applaud. 



I saw a case of stage fright with a brave young 

 soldier, Mr. Lloyd, killed in South Africa, and no 

 one in front noticed anything. 



One memorable night when doing " Dandy 

 Dick," and the thunder was to have rattled off 

 the tea-tray, it was silent. 



Round rushed Mr. Dick Burke, looking for the 

 blood of all missing thunder to find Jack, our 



