The Romance of Madame Tussaud'sTussaud, John Theodore
History
The Romance of Madame Tussaud's
Tussaud, John Theodore
Madame Tussaud and Sons' Exhibition; Tussaud, Marie, 1761-1850; Waxworks
What would have happened to him but for the fact that Dr. Cantlie’s
intervention resulted in Sun Yat Sen’s release through Lord Salisbury’s
representations to the Chinese authorities can only be conjectured.
It was discovered at the time that a ship had been chartered in the
Thames for the removal of Sun Yat Sen to China on a charge of treason
against the Emperor--the same Emperor whose successor, under a republican
form of government, Sun Yat Sen was destined to be.
Particulars were also disclosed regarding the manner of his incarceration
at the Chinese Legation. He was inveigled into the place by the lures
of hospitality, and, once inside, the officials relegated him to an
apartment which they kept locked for many days.
It was only through Sun Yat Sen’s friendship with Dr. Cantlie, whose
suspicions were aroused by “inside” information, that the British
authorities learned of Sun Yat Sen’s fate and took steps to have him set
free.
[Illustration: DR. SUN YAT SEN
The wax model on view at Madame Tussaud’s of the first President of the
Chinese Republic.]
When the hero of this adventure visited Madame Tussaud’s on the Sunday
morning in question to see his model, I wondered what his reason could
be, and asked myself whether it had anything to do with the adapting of
his disguise, while travelling from this country to China, at a time when
his life must have been in danger.
Perhaps, after all, it was nothing more than the natural curiosity which
attracts people whose portraits have been recently added to come and see
them. The Eastern mind may not differ from the Western in this very human
respect.
* * * * *
Touching and dramatic in the extreme was the incident which accompanied
the unveiling of the tableau representing the Gordon Highlanders storming
the Heights of Dargai. Lieutenant-Colonel Mathias’s words were on all
lips at the time:
“That position must be taken at any cost; the Gordon Highlanders will
take it.”
Mrs. Mathias was present with her son and daughter at the supper we gave
to celebrate the event, and a piper played “The Cock of the North” to
recall the deed of the wounded piper who fired his comrades on to victory
and was awarded the V.C. When his father’s words were recited, young
Mathias sprang to his feet and thrilled all present by saluting in true
military fashion.
One of the brightest of red-letter days in Madame Tussaud’s romantic
story was the 24th of January, 1907, when Sir William Treloar, “the
children’s Mayor,” accompanied by several local Mayors, drove to the
Exhibition in all the panoply of civic state to give éclat to the visit
of fifteen hundred boys and girls of the poorest of the poor, whom we
made our guests.
[Illustration: THE CHILDREN’S LORD MAYOR
Sir William Treloar entertains his little friends at Madame Tussaud’s,
24th January, 1907.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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