Burns wired him on that next
Tuesday, stating if he is
Going to retire, The Palace,
In N.Y.C. wants him to do
His final show there.
He stared at the telegram in
Disblief; The Palace?
With George and Gracie?
The premier show case for
Vaudeville with his best friends?
There was no heasitation, he ran
To the Western Union Telegraph Station,
Where he wired Burns
"I will be there! Will Jack and Mary?"

He waits for a few seconds so
The cameraman can retreat to his
Vantage spot to get the angle he
Needs to capture the whole table and stage.
There's only heart beats time before
Tony the Wonder will wow America!


His heart was beating as
If he were waiting to go on stage.
He pays the clerk a nickel, goes
To the public phone, works the hand crank,
Recites the number to the operater.
The phone rings four times, then the
Most beautiful sound in the world
Encompasses his being; that
Sweet Britsh accent of his beloved Lily.
"It's me Lily," He says,
She can tell by the tone of his
Voice she's going to love
What he's about to say.
"Hi sweetheart," she says.
"I'll be home on Wednesday. I'm retiring
Saturday at the Palace!"


He hands the plate over to his assistant
Takes off his white gloves, and tosses them.
His original idea was lust to run
To the short pole and just stick the
Cane in the hollow shaft.
It's then that Anthony the Wonder, old man,
Transformed to Anthony the Wonder, of
Vaudeville days!

Then he went to the management
Of the Ohio Theater, where he
was playing, and told them
That his last performance would be Sunday.
The Ohio Jumped on the idea.
New posters were quickly printed,
And slapped all over town.
All declaring that every one must
See Anthony the Wonder before
His final engagement at The Palace.