He was standing behind the scenes one night with Miss Georgia Busbey, who while waiting for her cue, said: “Tell me a story, Mr. Thomas, before I go on.”
“It must be a quick witty one then, Miss Busbey.”
“I know it, but I’ve come to the right place for it.”
Stuart Robson was present at a Lambs’ Club dinner of which Mr. Thomas was chairman; but he endeavored to hide when called on for a speech. Thousands of successful appearances on the stage never cured him of his constitutional bashfulness.
Thomas said: “Is Mr. Robson here? If he has not gone, we should like to hear from him.”
Robson said: “Mr. Thomas, will you kindly consider that I have gone?”
Thomas replied: “While the drama lasts, Mr. Robson can never go.”
Robson had been a close neighbor and friend for many years to Lawrence Barrett. His bosom friend Marshall Lewis fell in love with Barrett’s charming daughter Millie, and Robson pretended to think it was the greatest joke in the world.
“Why don’t you go in, and win and marry her, Marshall?” he used to say in the squeaky voice which was not for the stage alone. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do—the day you marry Millie Barrett I’ll give you five thousand dollars.”
This went on for some time, until to Robson’s astonishment and chagrin Miss Barrett accepted Lewis.