National Republican., 1881-02-12
BILLY FLORENCE.
About an Interesting Person He Once Met
with.

|
Once, during tour in the West, writes
| Mr.. Florence, the actor, an incident occurred in
which rather think 1 played the victim. We
were en- route from Cleveland to Cincinnati. an
eight or ten hours journey. After seeing my wife
comfortably seated, walked forward to the smok-
| ing car, and, taking the only unoecupied place.
pulled outmy cigar-ease and offered cigar to my
| next neighbor. He was about sixty years of age
! gentlemanly in appearance, and of somewhat re-
served and bashful mien. He gracefully accepted
| the cigar, and in few minutes We were engaged
] in conversation.
"Are you going far west?' inquired
"Merely SO far as Columbus" columbus, I may
explain, is the capital of ohio) "And you, sir?"
he added interrogatively.
81 am journeying toward Cincinnati. l am
theatrical man, and play there tomorrow was
young man then, and fond of ayowing my pro-
fession.
"Oh, indeed! Your face seemed familiar to me
as you entered the car. am confident we have
met before"
az have acted in almost every State III the
Union,' said I, half patronizingly Mrs. Flor
ence and are pretty generally known throughout
the Northwest"
BLESS mer' said the stranger in surprise; Il
have seen you act many times, sir; and the recol-
lection of Mrs. Florenee's Yankee Girl, with her
quaint songs, is still fresh in my memory"
do you propose remaining long in Columbus
"Yes, for seven years." replied my companion.
Thus we ehatted for an hour or two. At length
my attention was attracted to little rcd-laced
man. with small sharp eyes, who sat Immediately
opposite US, and amused himself by sucking the
knob of Il large walking stick, which he carried
caressingly i'll his hand. He had more than once
glanced ut me in a knowing manner, and now and
then giving a sly wink and shake of the head at
me, as much as to say, Oh, old fellow, know
you, too"
These attentions were marked that finally
asked my companion if he had noticed them.
THAT man acts like lunatic,' said l. soto roce.
"A poor halfwitted fellow, possibly" replied
my fellow-;raveler. "Inyour travels through the
country Mr.. Florence, you must have often met
such strange characters"
We had now reached Crestlne, the dinner sta
ton, and after thanking the stranger for the agree
able way in which he had enabled ME to pass the
journey up to this point, l asked him if he would
join Mrs. Florence and myself at dinner. This
produced an extraordinary series of grimaces and
winks from the red-faced party aforesaid. The In
yitation TO dinner was politely declined.
The repast over, our train sped ON toward Gin
cinnati told my wife that i'll the smokingcar
had met most entertaining gentleman, who was
well posted in theatricalS, and was on his way TO
Columbus. She suggested that should bring him
into our car and present him to her. | returned to
the smoking-car and proposed that the gentleman
should accompany me to see Mrs. Florence. The
proposal made the red-faced man undergo species
of spasmOdic cOnvulsions, which set the occupants
OF the car into rOars of laughter.
"No, thank you,' said my friend 81 feel
obliged to you for the courtesy, but 1 prefer the
smoking-car. Have You another cgar?"
Yes" said l. producing another Partaga.
again sat by his side, and once more our con-
yersation began and we became quite fraternal.
We talked about theatres and theatricals, and then
ayerted to political economy, the state of the
try finance and commerce in turn, our intimacy
evidently aflording intense amusement 10 the fox
eyed party near us.
Finally the shrill sound of the whistle and the
entrance of the conductor indicated that we had
arrived at Columbus, and the train soon stopped
at the station.
Come" said the red-faced individual now
rising from his seat and tapping my companion on
the shoulder, this is your station, old man.
My friend rose with some difficulty, dragging his
hitherto concealed foot from under the seat, when
for the first time discovered that he was shacked
and was prisoner i'll charge of the sheriff, going
for seven years TO the State prison at Columbus