My first appearance as an artiste in a music-hall was in 1867, in the Old Scotia, Stockwell Street, Glasgow, now the Metropole Theatre. My turn was an extra one, and I warbled a song entitled “The life of an Actor.” It was the duty of one of the stage assistants to stand at one of the side wings and throw a handful of flour in my face, so as to complete the act, which created roars of laughter. I rendered three songs on that occasion, and was called in front of the drop curtain. At the conclusion of my performance, which had been a decided success, Mrs. Baylis, the then proprietrix, engaged me for the following week at the magnificent salary (now don't whisper it to your friends) of twenty shillings.