Reynold Wolf tells this one of Nora Bayes:
Once Miss Bayes was appearing in a breakfast scene where eggs were being served, and a child sitting in a box made manifest his interest in the food. Stepping down to the footlights she tendered the youngster an egg, but his mother drew back her child with a sign of annoyance.
"You should let the young man take it," said Miss Bayes, quietly. "It is unique for eggs to be passed from this side of the footlights."
A big fat man at the theater sat on his overcoat. Thus the little man behind him could not see at all.
"I can't see anything, mister," said the little man plaintively, touching the big man on the shoulder.
"Can't see anything, hey?"
"No, sir, I can't see a thing."
"Well, then, I'll fix you up. Just keep your eye on me, and laugh when I do."