This version attempts to mimic Datas' book. The paging and text follows
the book's layout as far as possible.
CHAPTER XII
CONCLUSION
I THINK that by way of a fitting conclusion I
cannot do better than to relate a little anecdote
concerning King Edward and Dan Leno, which
occurred during one of the proudest moments
of my life. I had been summoned with dear old
Dan Leno, that great artist Bransby Williams,
and Albert Chevalier, to attend a Command
Performance at Sandringham.
"Oh----I've seen you before at the Palace,"
said King Edward after he had shaken hands,
and I was then presented to King George (at
that time the Prince of Wales), Queen Alexandra,
and the present Prince of Wales, who was a little
boy.
The performance was given in the private
theatre at Sandringham, and I was greatly
amused because it was King Edward who fired
question after question at me, the others not
getting much of a chance. His first was in con-
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208 DATAS: THE MEMORY MAN
nection with certain battles of ancient Greece,
and I rattled off the dates, the people engaged,
the number of slaughtered, and the number of
captives, together with other interesting details.
After the show we retired to the drawing-
room, where the Royal Family entertained us,
and I remember, as though it were only yester-
day, King Edward going across to Dan Leno and
saying: "Well, Dan----what would you like to
drink ?"
Dan's reply was given in his little croaking
voice: "I'd like a drop of port if you have any
in the house, Sir."
King Edward was tickled to death, and re-
marked that he expected that they would be able
to find some. It was on this occasion that Dan
was made the King's Jester, but poor Dan did
not live long to enjoy this honour. He died on
October 31st, 1909.
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