An Actor's Speech

The oratorical and speechmakiug habit on the part of some of the stage lnniinaries often leads#to striking if not ridiculous results. De Wolf Hopper, decked out as a Spanish soldier of the sixteenth oentury, in the act of reciting the performances of the immortal Casey is a case in point. Could anything more absurd be imagined than Prancis Wil6ou, in the costuine of avagabond, making a serious speech, assailing nis enemitjs and hurling figures of speech at his detractors. To be called on for a speech when robed in such habiliments would be sufficient to disconcert anybody, including the actor. Jerome Sykes, when with the Bostonians, was oalled upon for a speech in Pbiladelphiu nuder peculiar circumstances. ïhe finale of the last act of "Prince Ananias" fouud Sykes and McDonald sitting on a throne, Sykes smoking acigarette, robed in a JRoinau toga of green with lavender drapery thrown over his shoulder and a papier mache crown on hishead. Imagine the consternation of the comedian garbed thus to have an audience set tip a cry for a speech. Sykes squirmed, while MoDonald said, "Go ahead, Jer ome; say something. " Sykes ambled down to the footlights and said : "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. McDonald, my compatriot who sits up there, informed me just a minute ago that he had a neatlittle speech prepared that he'd like to have a chance to try on the audience. I hope you'll give him a chance. " Whereupon McDonald looked silly, and Sykes was never again prompted to