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AT THE FORKS OF THE GRAND Robert West -entertainer ana rescuer. fire burning in a small shack on the river's edge. There the "young ladies and gentlemen" put on their skates. Bobby - always cour- teous and hospitable - laced the young ladies' boots and adjusted and tightened their straps. And with dignity he accepted any fee that was offered him. In the summertime, visitors frequently called at his home to hear his ballad recitations - at five cents a poem. And frequently too, according to doubtful news-items supplied to the Star-Transcript by the Commodore himself, a crowd of Paris notables would board one of his end-wheelers, enjoy a leisurely cruise up and down the Nith, and then repair to his patio for a social hour. About 1905, Bobby became a professional entertainer. He some- how assembled a wardrobe of bizarre costumes and bought a magic lantern and a phonograph; and then he announced that he was ready to give performances at birthday parties, garden parties, and Sunday School picnics. His repertoire, in addition to slides and records, included recitations, songs and dances. Evidently his engage- ments were few. He was soon reduced to pulling his equipment about the streets on a small wagon and giving sidewalk performances (like an organ grinder), and to soliciting a few cents from those who cared to be his audience. 250