The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-12-08
THE nOX. sLOTE
How He Paid a Hotel Hill
Twenty Years Ago.
YTom The s. louis GlOb9- DcinOcrat


well Slote,n was not always the
successful and money-making
comedian he now is. There was
a time-well, say about twenty
years 9so-When the almighty
dollar was to him a rather scarce
article, and he did not have so
many of them in his possession as
he is reppted' to have now-nOt
bya large majority. About that
time the lady who has been his
companion on and off the stage
ever since, and who nay be said
to be the lesser light in this dra-
matte constellation, became Mrs.
William j. Florence, and the
newly-married pair started out in
their long and bright career
across the theatrical armament.
1T happened that ,Soon after
wards they played a two weeks
engagement at Baltimore, son
shares" as by the terms of their
engagement with the manager it
wasnominated in the bond. 70
play On shares now with E;lly
f orence means money for both
&C or and manager, but in those
days the managers got the lions
share. On examining their as
sets, Mr.. and Mrs. Florence found
that, if they paid their fare to
: Cleveland, where their next er-
gagement called them, there
would not be enough money left
TO liquidate their hotel bill-not
by a g. f. On the other hand, to
pay the hotel bill would not.
! leave them enough money to 90
to Cleveland. The awkward di-
lemma heightened even the mer-
ry face Of Billy Florence, and he
paced the room, turning owe va
fious expedients. Mrs F~lorencet
was in tears, and, like Rachel, re.
fused to be comtorted. As usual,
fthe woman's brain was the first to
see a clear way through the diff
Guilty.
d. 81 tell you, Billy" she at length
said, stopping her tears, sit won't
do not to pay.the bill, and we
have got to go to Cleveland; you
20 to Mr.. Gilmore, who keeps the
hotel, tell him the difficulty we
are placed in,.and perhaps he will
trust u.s."
"Ill do it." said Billy, "but sup
pose he says no, be dad-what
will we do thin?' !.
Mr.. Florence went down stairs
in fear and trembling. He APP.
preached Mr.. Gilmore, the hotel
proprietor, three or four times,
but retreated unable to muster
the necessary courage.
Mr.. Gilmore catching sight Of
him, cameu up with extended hand,
sob, Mr.. Florence, you are just
the man | was looking for; | want
you to go out and take a ride
with me this afternoon"
J. Florence accepted, a puzzle
look in his face, aHd a hope in his,
mind that something would turn
up to enable him to breach the
subject.
The ride extended quite a dis
lance through the beautiful SUI
tburhsaronnd Baltimore, and Flor
ence waited in vain for pause in
the conversation, where the in
PRODUCTION Of the subject of his
financial condition, present and
prospective, would not be too
awkward and malapropos.
j; On their way back Gilmore,
turning suddenly to Billy, said: |
understand, MI. Florence, you are
going to Cleveland2 Well, now,
Imet a gentleman thathas bought
two tickets to Cleveland and then
concluded not to go. Here they
are. Let me present them to
you.
= Already amazed, his astopish-
mentdeepened as Gilmore pro
.ceeded. Now as to that boardbill;
l understand you haven't been as
successful as you expected, and
we'll let it stand until you come
this way again.
1t was a heaqy load that had
been lifted from his mind. With
jlight,heart he and his wife went
to CLEVELAND, where they played
a very successful engagement,
out of the proceeds of which their
indebtedness at Baltimore was