At the
conclusion of his lecture, he would bow his acknowledgements to the
audience and retire behind the curtain, where a tableau was arranged.
It represented the scene of his landing, and he standing with uplifted
paddle on which was tacked the American flag. A supe threw a bucket of
water over him, previous to his mounting the imitation cliffs, the
curtain would roll up and behold the hero as he just emerged from the
sea in his glistening rubber suit. The applause was tremendous. The last
night, every one being paid off and feeling good, Paul stepped behind
the curtains in his suit to receive his customary ducking. The bucket of
water was missing. The stage hand who was very mellow exclaimed:
"I had it here a moment ago but I can't find it now. Ah, here it is,"
and he drew a pail from under a table and deluged Paul. Up went the
curtain, the audience screamed, Paul looked down on his armor in dismay,
instead of water he was covered with white calsomine, when a voice
from the gallery roared:
"That's the first rale white-washed Yankee I've ever seen."
A white washed Yankee is an Irishman who has spent about two years in
America and returning to his own country apes the accent and
eccentricity of the down east Yankee.
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