By Albert H. Broadwell , Photographs by A.J. Johnson

 

Waiters are proverbially clever; in fact, they are mostly too clever for anything or anybody. The man who ever gets the better of a waiter has yet to be found. Not that waiters are not human after all, and who would blame them? - but they have a sublime way of juggling with your change, and in such a way, too, that would have you believe that coppers were withdrawn from circulation for the time being.

 

There are two waiters "par excellence" who claim special notice at our hands at present. There is no half-and-half way about them; they take the cake, the biscuit, the pancake, the bun, the wedding cake, and the champion cake all in one. They catch and throw, and juggle and throw, and catch and throw again; sometimes they miss, and then there's a crash and a bang, and the fragments of plates and glasses fly like chaff in the wind.

 

They are stage waiters, and form part of a group of four clever performers who go by the name of The Rambler Troupe, and their ramblings have taken them to most parts of the habitable globe, to the intense enjoyment of thousands of people.

 

It has been the writer's good fortune to witness the Ramblers' clever act at the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square, one of the best places of amusement in London.

 

The photographs as shown in this article are exact reproductions of the doings that take place on the stage. They will convey in some measure the marvelous proceedings which take place in the course of this the most extraordinary dinner on earth.

 

An elderly gentleman and a lady of prepossessing appearance enter the dining room of a restaurant. They are received by two waiters of the most approved and up­to-date type; their names will be Garcon No.1 and Garcon No.2.

 

Garcon No.1 takes upon himself the onerous task of unloading the happy pair of their coats, stick and fan. With an artful twist he throws up the gentleman's hat (whilst the latter isn't looking) and catches it on the back of his head in the most comical manner. Now, however, they are entering upon a more serious phase of the business. It is proverbially difficult to do two things properly at one and the same time, so that our worthy guest places a half-smoked Havana of the finest brand upon the edge of a small table close by. The waiters spot this, of course, and there's a rush for the coveted weed.

 

Garcon No.2 makes a dash, but misses. Garcon No.1 quickly picks up table and all and by an artful twist, and an equally artful jerk, he throws the cigar up into the air and catches it in his open mouth with the consummate skill of an expert juggler. Result: Consternation of Garcon No.2.

 

In the meantime our guests have taken their places. But the cumbersome standard lamps, with their gorgeous shades of flaming red silk, are found to be in the

way.

 

"Here, garcon, remove these lamps, will you?"  "Yes, sir," comes from both attendants, simultaneously, and no sooner said than done.

 

Quicker than lightning those lamps fly right up to the ceiling and are caught

again and placed aside, to the horror and amazement of the diners!

 

It is the waiters' turn to be startled, however, for no sooner have they