The New York herald., 1877-09-09
ACTORS IN OLD TIMES ANDTHE NEW
Sensible Suggestions for the Rising
Generation Of Players.
THE STAGE AS 1T WAS AND is.
London Critics and London Resorts-The
Pewter Mug" Of Edmund Kean.

other cossv nest than that which the florences call
thor New York home True 1t Is in the heart OF a
hoel-tne Filth Avenuebut there is scarcely niche
or a nook, shelf nail in the spacious suite Of
apartments wnere not dispayed The evidences OF
lnat tas.e In art literature which she ouicrop
of culture and tie ASSOCIATIONS OF travel Mrs Gen.
eral GIlfvry and the Hon. Bardwel Slotc. M G. here
lose their tbeatrical identity among tue sweet
roundIgs OF adomIcile and IN their daily lives
tlnuc illustrate the generous results OF the Mighty
Dollar that has been hard earned and well spent 1t
would polite obtrude further than the peas
ant parlor which Mr. Fioreace calls his 'den' or
workshop for this quite enough the social
and business charac erstics OF the old actor. From
the windows you have breezy view OF Long Island,
the sails of The passing vessels the Sound,
tho villas OF The suburbs and the broken architectural
outline Of the roofs and seepes of the great city.
The desk by the side of the window is covered with
orderly arranged mass OF ola podrioa; manu-
scripts awaiting perusel, letters awaiting anewcr,
other letters folded away neatly and a business
like method indorsed Tor future reference; photo
graphs, among which are Mrs Florence,
Sotbern, Adams ana some children; bad pens,
and bits Of frightul handwriting that look like bots of
ink spattered by electric shock. Against wall
staods an upright piano which invites fancy from
finger ends whom the actor Is IN his gloom. Against
another is sideDoard its summit crowned with
flowers and It's cellar laden with soda bottles
and et ceteras which not suggestive of gloom.
a centre table covered with books and albums,
while miniature library cases here and there indicate
taste for modern French and English literature,
commngled with the enjoyment OF pen Ink
sketches OF odd scenes current life There is also
narcotic bedstead folded up making a mad attempt
TO pass itself OF for another bookcase'a reg liar
and sleep in'' OF which Sam Weller would
say, 'poppes nothing to it," and finally easy chairs
thai ft INTO all the and crevices OF the room,
that 1t seems OF each ii there such
anohor good resting place until look at tue
and dnd 1t quite equal, If not better Altogether it is
an uncommonly little box, with everything
slowed away snugly as II an earthquake regularly
every hour compelled readustment OF the surround
ings
SKETCH.
The gentleman who sits at the desk yonder and
cheerily says "Come in" is a picture OF good
Samaritan waiting Tor traveller, barring the iact
that he is usually hard at work. 1t is easy
scribe him, but ii the reader will mentally five
feet OF humanity, mould him u frame that Is
suggestive OF 40 pounds OF avordupos round it of
that 1t does not show single sharp angle, array
him neatly fitting attire that becomes the man,
from shirt button to shoe heel, add wealth of wavy
brown hair that only needs length to blossom Into
curls: broad, well-developcd forehead; a pair of
clear. twinkling, honest, merry blue eyes, always
beaming kindly and with full reservoir OF sympa-
with fun dancing every dImpe face that reminds
one OF physognomcal punch; mouth expressive
and pliabie, more eneminate than drm with enough
quotation marks around tho entitle to
honorary membership IN the Paragraphers Associa-
tion voice at gentle and fuil of admirable in
tonations and manner that invites your confidence
and you have iair pen portrait OF William J. Flor
ence.
The writer entering, remarked that he had called
TO chat Tor lew moments with reference 10 some OF
the "reminiscences OF the stage, and expressed hope
that his host would not be 10 a talk the
ject.
''Why, certainly not, my boy; sit down. What
know you shall know d. L., though IFS not much
just consider yourself an |. T."
IA what sir?''
"An Interrogation Point"
''rnen, Mr.. Florence, let me ask you to commence
at the oeginning, aud in free nd easy way relate
well, say the story OF your own experience"
"Good! Llgnt cigar; let's stretch. Mark you.
however, want you to be serious, myself, ior
there isn't any fun nonsense in what propose
tell YOU"
EAKLY SURROUNDINGS.
''My first experience the Richmond Theatre
in Virginia, w1icn Was then under 4gemenL oil
William Ii. Chippendale-I think about ls49 or 1850
For many years he Was manager of the Haynarket
Londop. We had one oi the best working stock com-
paules O INC IL consIsteu VI ATS ones
The mother Avonla Jones The gentle
mau now known Count Joannes,' or as we then
knew him, George Jones. THIS was prooaOiy nearly
thirty years ago. He built the Avon theatre, from
which the name OF Av MA Joues, bright, young
anu pretty daughter, who married Gustavus Brooke.
You remember tnat he went down bravely on steam
ship has was lost at sea"
"Was be good actor!"
eyes very good; leading man, full Of power, tact
and wual regarded as hrst class ability. We
had II company Charley Burke, the hall brother
OF Joe Jefferson. Jefferson, by the way, is cousin of
William Warren, the veteran Of tho Boston Museum.
They iamily OF ACTORS Burke's specaitles tnen
'Rip van Wnsle' and 'Soon ShEgle, two pieces
that have become modern specialIies, but they
were both The base OF the plays which have made the
success oi Joe Jefferson aud John Owens. OF course
the changes very great, many points having
been Introduced personal effect that not
thought Of IN those early days. Among the members
OF our company were Johu and Mrs Sloan, afterward
In wallaeks company. which was then playing the
corner Broome street. Mrs John Sel,on was ike
wise member William Held was the leading man |
think hes dead now
TIRE ELDEE Boorn-MRS JONES'.
81 recall the circumstance that during the season the
elder Booth was advertised 10 play his 1rst engage.
meni Tor many years Ia Richmond. The house was
crowded; the play Richard the Thru When VIC
got READY TO ring up The curtain however, Mr. Booth
est inueatus--out of sight abus and not get
At aDus He was ID. d. damned drunk Excuse the
profanity Everybody was a quandary Mr. Chm.
Dendaie went down 10 the ooights, made statement
TO the public that ne cOuid mud missing actor
hat those VINO were dlsappoinled would have tnuir
money returned at me door, that Mr. BOotn
should never again act uLder his management mo
fnsjyrity oil the audience lett the theatre In the
upOfriDg, wnLe was IN the green ROOM Booth came
IN cooking ike dIapldated last rose Of summer,
brcrsygled, Eeedy and unhappy. He was as limpy as
sCre people you nowadays when they stem
n aoxn stars aud say e. c. ia souri, or n
rsorp4ug gl0ry lie asked what had taken place
ftoid I'm Il described tue en"ct oil the dis pnoiut
ren. OF tDe audience anu the manner iu which thev
,Ecorttrsrliy retired. he TOOK his uaudkerebicf
u xrsc away The that 10 his eyes and
ss,nap 70 feel The EiGaioD keeny. The next day be
- IL rnr.ar n..arn II. Il. IL