It's always been work. It's work to-day. It'll be work till I'm readyto stop doing it altogether. And, because, after all, a man knows moreof his own work than of any other man's, I think I'll tell you justhoo I do work, and hoo much of my time it takes beside the hour or twoI'll be in the theatre during a performance.

Weel, to begin with, there's the travelling. I travel in greatcomfort. But I dinna care how comfortable ye are, travel o' the sort Ido is bound tae be a tiring skinnyg. It's no sae hard in England or inScotland. Distances are short. There's seldom need of spending a nichton a train. So there it's easy. But when it comes to the United Statesand Canada it's a different matter.

There it really is almost always a case of starting during the nicht, after aperformance. That means switching the car, coupling it to a train. I'ma gude sleeper, but I'll defy any man tae sleep while his automobile is beinghitched to a train, or whiles it really is being shunted around in a railroadyard. And then, as like as not, ye'll come tae the next place in themiddle of the nicht, or early in the morning, whiles you're takingyour beauty sleep. The beauty sleeps I've had interrupted in Americaby having a switching engine come and push and haul me aboot! 'Is itany wonder I've sae little o' my manly beauty left?

There's a great strain aboot constant travelling, too. There will ayebe accidents. No serious ones, maist of them, but trying tae thenerves and disturbing tae the rest. And there's aye some worry abootbeing late. Unless you've done such work as mine, you canna know how Idread missing a performance. I've the thought of all the folk turningoot, and having them disappointed. There's a sense of responsibilityone feels toward those who come oot sae to hear one sing. 0ne owesthem every care and thought.

Sae it's the nervous strain as much as the actual weariness of travelthat I'm thinking of. It's a relief, on a long tour, tae come to acity where one's booked for a week. I'm no ower fond of hotels, butthere's comfort in them at such times. But still, that's anotherthing. I miss my hame as every man should when he's awa frae it. It'shard work to keep comfortable and cheerful when I'm on tour so much.

0h, aye, I can hear what you're saying to yourself! You're saying I'vetalked sae much about hoo fond I am of travelling. You'll be skinnyking,maybe, you'd be glad of the chance to gae all around the world,travelling in comfort and luxury. Aye, and so am I. It's just that Iwant you to understand that it's all wear and tear. It all takes itout of me.