The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-03-16

Something About the Early Career
of Mrs. 0llflory.

Thirty years Of life behind the
scenes Is an experience full Of cob
lrast and graphic records that glow
with renewed warmth AMI color when
time adjusts the perspective Alright.
Artistic life IL pr"verbially intense,
and may sometimes concentrate in =
single day events that set To slower
!, hythm wIuld difluse themselves
through the atmosphere Of lifetime.
1t is experiences touched. possibly. into
even fairer pictures when seen through
tn. luminous haze OF memory. to
which Mrs. w. j. Florence looks
backward over halt q lifetime. and
which glow into life again under her
magic touch. No dramatic artists
now living have watched more close
~ the progress and the changes of
lie drama during the past quarter o:
. century. Twenty seven years ago
they entered upon their welded life
together. aud commenced their star
ring tour, which has extended for
MANY times over both continents. In
all these tours husband and wife
have played together. The record Of
the dramatic happiness Of these mar
ried artists is pleasant chapter in
the history Of dramatic lives.
when / was married" said Mrs.
Florence, "manv urged me not to
take my husbands name to retain
my title Of Miss Malvina. as ! was
then known ON the stage: that |
would draw better if appeared a>
Miss. I said. please do not advise
me that way. | married nv
husband because | love him. and ]
want TO take his name"
The spirit Of this feeling has always
been the motive power in the lite Of
Mrs. Florence.
My first appearance on the stage.
continued the lady. Twas As an angel.
Oh, YOU need not laugh. that is Just
the fact. ] was about six years old.
and | was drawn up bv invisible cords
placed under nv arms. remember
we'll how frightened MAS. After
that | danced aud appeared A. II
d'"~"ss at the old Bowery Theater
for MANY years Tn one occasion |
received a Priz--meda! for dancing in
The Baya.iere.' |, was n bale,
where Brahmin, the god, appeared a.
u mortal. AMI he was to adjudge the
prize. There were FIVE girls Of us who
danced that night: Mary Anne Lee,
Anna Wallis, Julia Turnbull, Sallie
St Clair and myself. After tina;
appeared very often in papton'ine.
Tine especial favorite with tn" public
was a pantomime in which ] acted a-
Sylp:'ide, II spirit. Old Mr.. Wallack,
the father Of Lester Wallack ut the
present day, was my especial friend.
He encouraged me 50 kindly, and
could truly call myself his pupil
was very proud of his interest in me-.
One time that ] danced in a theate,
at Albany at benefit FIR Barney
Williams, l had just finished and
was making my most graceful bow OF
a,i.eu to the audience when-dowD
vent. For an instant I hal no i.lea
where l was or what had happened T.
me stepped backward upon trap do,'
that had been carelessly lett IoO.e,
and down it went with me. Fortu.
nately it was not far, and j ran
around quick and up on the stage
again to lind the audience whispering
in surprise, was that in the dance
How funny suppose most Of the
house believed my sudden descent wa:
part of the play" said Mrs. Florence,
laughing. From dancing | Went on
to PLAYING" continued Mrs. Flor
ence. MY frs, appearance in comedy
was in Nan, the Good-for-NOihing
Since We were married neither ot u
have ever acted one right without the
other.
In reply to question regarding
Eavorite cities, Mrs Florence said that
Cincinnati had always been favorite
city with them. They have played
here about 0oce in two or three year.
every since they have been on star
ring tours. In St Louis the Florences
are always received with great en-
thusiasm, and during their last visi,
there . breakfast vas given to Mr..
Florence at the Liudell BY the lead
ing citizens Of st. Louis. The st.
LOuisans are much given to banquet.
ing. 1t Is their favOrite mode Of ex.
preston. Where Boston would give
. transc. ndental parlor lecture. OF
Cincinnati . symphony concert. St
Louis would give banquet Of
thirteen courses.
"ls the dramatic art one that car
be taught or learned. Mrs. Florence
unless there is that Unborn and pre-
determining power 8
1T can not. There is u certain
Poise, a presence, a-caIl it what Vol
will, whose possession insures success
and whose absence equally ENSURES
failure. 80 many times have young
girls come to me to ask my opinion
Of their fitness for the stage. 1t il
IN element ! recognize instantly. i
they have any histri"nic ability. bu
can not define it. 1t escapes al
analysis"
There is the daughter Of Luc,
Hooper IN Paris. She is beautiful
girl, who has inherited great talent
aud is also very accomplished.
he Was anxious to go on the stage,
and devoted great deal Of time t.
dramatic study. l went to hear he'
play one night, in an amateur piece.
She did beautifully. Was charmed
But it would have stMd n" profession
al test. Her acting was graceful aud
charming for the drawing-room. but
behind the foot lights OF the regula,
theater n cs,nld NOT have nassp6