ip.

CHAPTER XXIII. WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE ANTIPODES.

That night after the gentlemen of the party had donned their dress suits
and the ladies their best bibs and tuckers, we repaired in a body to the
Royal Theater, where a large and fashionable audience had assembled to
bid us welcome. The theater, presided over at that time by Jimmy
Williamson, an American, was handsomely decorated for the occasion with
American flags, and as we took our places in the private boxes and in
the section of the dress circle reserved for us, we were greeted with
round after round of applause.

After the closing act of "Struck Oil," in which both Mr. Williamson and
his wife appeared, our entire party passed through the box circle to the
stage, upon, which we were arranged in a semi-circle facing the
audience, which cheered us heartily as the curtain rose.

Just as the curtain went up a kid in the gallery, who must have been an
American, who at some time in his career had seen me play, and to whom
my face and form were familiar, cocked his head over the rail and
shouted in tones that could be heard all over the theater, "'Rah for
Baby Anson," a salutation that came so unexpectedly that it almost took
my breath away and that caused both audience and players to laugh
heartily. Mr. Daniel O'Connor, a member of the Australian Parliament,
then introduced us to the audience in a brief address that was full of
kind allusions to the country that we came from and eulogistic of our
fame as ball players, he referring particularly to our pluck in coming
so far without any guarantee against financial loss or artistic failure
except our own confidence in the beauties of our National Game and in
the sport-loving spirit of the Australian people. He tendered us a
hearty welcome on behalf of the Colonies, and bespoke for us a generous
patronage on behalf of the lovers of square sports, both in Sydney and
elsewhere.

To this address Mr. Spalding responded for the American ball players in
happy fashion, his remarks being greeted with generous applause on the
part of the audience, after which we returned to our seats to witness an
after-piece illustrating in farcical style the evils of Chinese
immigration, and then, returning to the hotel, we were introduced to
many of the leading business men of the city, remaining up until a late
hour.

At eleven o'clock the next morning we again assembled in the office of
the Oxford for the purpose of making a for