The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-01-10
ONE OF BOB HARRIS CONVERTS.
His Old Stage Companion, Archie Hughes.
Signs the Temperance Pledge.

New York Sum-
Archie Hughes, the wel-known burnt.
cork song and dance man, who has amused
the variety theater goers in this city, Brook
Ign, and Philadelphia for many years by bis
character sketches, songs, and jgs, was in
Uooley's theater, Brooklyn, on Sunday night
last listening to his old fellow minstrel, Bob
and Christianity. Hughes went forward at
the call for those who wished prayers to be
offered in their behalf. He passed
around through the private box
upon the stage, where he was met BY Bob
Hart, who shook him cordially by the hand
The occupants ofthe gallery recognized their
old friend, Archie Hughes, and spontaneous
| ly applauded, although there had been no
applause in the meeting. Mr.. Sutherland,
who is better known as Bob Hart, said that
he was glad to ask the prayers of Christians
| for the conversion Of one who had been a
| fellow actor with him in minstrel life.
Hughes was much affected, and signed the
temperance pledge in the presence of the au-
dience.
IL am glad to see you do that, Archie"
said Sutherland. II hope you will keep it. !"
I'll try my best, Bob" said Hughes, as he
went behind the scenes
Archie Hughes was found in the bar-rOom
of the Olympic theater, Brooklyn, yesterday
afternoon, but he was sitting at a table by the
stove, apart from the drinkers. Hughes is so
years of age, and for 80 years has been on the
stage He was born in Albany, and began
life on the stage in Philadelphia. He has been
as prosperous as most song and dance men
| and negro Ministries, and several times he has
had companies of his own on the road His
13-year-old adopted daughter died some years
ago. and after that he drank heavily, and it
told on him physically.
Eyes" said Mr.. Hughes,"I have signed the
pledge and mean TO keep it. / have been
drinking now long while, and have not
seen many sober days. haven't tasted a
drop since Sunday night, and for an old
drinker it comes awful hard to stop off so
sudden was intoxicated on Sunday night
| but had made up my mind to go and hear
my old friend Bob Hart. and 80 l went to
Hooley's. am at home there but more at
home on the stage than in the auditorium.
I was one of Hooley's old Ministries; many
q time have played negro sketches with
| Bob Hart When Bob was talking knew
| tina t he meant what he said, for he always
| did, and as listened became somewhat So
bered up. began to think that if he had
stopped drinking I could. i guess Bob saw
| l was interested. He spied me in the audi
ence. and when he asked for men to come
forward for prayers he gave me the wink.
don't suppose that / would ever have
| faced that audience il l hadn't been
under the influence of liquor, but 1 went
upon the stage, and as the boys all knew me
there was q good deal of applause. Bob
told me he was glad to see me there, and he
made quite little speech, Then / signed
the pledge, and promised him to keep it"
"Will you leave the stage2"
"Oh, no. That was not included in my
pledge. don't mean to give up my bust
ness, but mean to try to do better. have
always cried to do what is right, and liquor
has caused me all my trouble. 1t has kept
me from good engagements, good friends,
and comfortable home. / am so years old
now, but if l leave rum alone, can sing
and dance long time yet, and bring back
some of my old business"
"Will you join Bob Hart in his work?"
az can not tell yet l may make some
speeches in favor Of temperance. It's q
good thing, and whisky has done enough
harm for me to know it by this time. It's a
struggle now, for 1 haven't tapered of, but
have stopped square of, which makes it all
the harder"
The comedians old friends say that he has
become as firm as a rock on the subject of
temperance and will not even taste glass
| of hoor