Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-02-14
SHY FLORENCE.
An Entertaining Chat and Running
Fire OF Impressions.
lst. Louis Globe -Dsnocrat.l

44Is Uu0 0Ens w. ~ 0tDI0uC6
were entertaining q couple Of lady
friends in their handsome private
psrlor st the Southern, when
Globe Democrat reporter was
ushered into their presence yes
tsrdsy afternoon. Mr.. Florence
aud his estimable better half are
to-day the oldest and most distin
Iguishsd representatives Of the
early days Of dramatic art in the
United States. They have not
only ssen the growth Of the drama,
but have participated in the limo.
vations and helped to bring about
the improvements in the theatrical
profsssisn. Back in the forties
Mr. Florence Was q comedian OF
mo mean Fepulation and under his
direction in his companies. such
stars - Irving, Booth and Barrett
began the careers which have
plsced them at the fore OF thei Z
|prsfession. The veteran actors
knowledge Of plays, players and
plsy y-gosrs 10 almost unlimited.
Hs has . keen appreciation Of the
bpoints Of comedy and tragedy,
= his own wonderful success
blsarly sttests.
II have very often been inter
iswsd, but il / osn serve you /
6m~ at your disposal" was Mr..
Florsncs's greeting to the news
paper man.
"Why don't you write book OF
FOUR experience on the stage r
vas the way the interview began.
II have often thought Of doing
u, but my duties have kept my
mind 20 constantly occupied that
bvsn an inclination to do 50 would
be thwartsd BY the lack Of time" /"
"The stage isn't what it used
10 be, Mr.. Florence r
"There have heen many changes
an the last thirty years. Our
profession has its epochs as we'll
be others. Tragedy at present
ssems to be superseded by the
society or parlor plays like Divorce,
land such dramatic productions ~
Esmerslda, Celebrated Case and
othsrs Of that character. In the
oldsn time great regard was paid
10 tragedy costumes, and more
yersatiiIty among actors. The
xtar and combination system.
(which has abolished stock COM
paniss in large cities, is. in my
opinion, great injury TO dramst-
10 art. Then an actor played
different parts when a city was
visited By each star, and he thus
had Z chance 10 show his versatile
msrit. Nov, the actor essays the
sane neGf for years. travelling
around Ife country with . star.
Besides, every town Of ID, 900 in
'ha bitants has . so-called opera
house. and 10 meet the popular
r1smor for amusemsnts all kinds
NJ interior companies. from .
minstrel show 10 . Shakspearian
kra9sdy troupe, infest these local
tiss. and weaken the influence OF
De ~ and highest order Of
drsma.A
"Why u it that 80 many men
k6d women who attempt the stage
Hall 7"
"Bscauss they have no genius.
Actors and ACTRESSES are born
hoo many ambitious people.
|anxious to shine - . star in the
thsatrical armament. want to be-
gin q the top instead Of the bot
tom. They are restless, and
csnuot wait until time and Q dis
terminating public discover ard
spplaud their efforts. Good
actors and actresses invariably
come from the ranks. The details
Of the profession are the 6rst es-
ssntials TO success"
"In your observation and ex-
perisnce Of the drama in France
and England and the United
States have you noted any char
actsristic differences p
svery many and prominent
d;stinctions. The Americans and
French arc easlly enthused, and
.rasp the merits Of the play
readily, but the English are
slower but hardly less correct in
Judgment. The British are also
more faithful to their favorites,
which contrasts wildly with the
6okleness Of the French, and the
he stating, upsvsn approval OF the
Americans. Il 10 . peculiarly Of
the people Of this country that
a,me actors draw large audiences
n some cities and in others play
to empty benches. Our people
are extremely varied and capri
cious in their tastes, and while
one year there is . demand for
comic opera and extravaganza.
the next year the standard TRACE
dies are the rage. Yet Shakespeare
is a. popular here - any country
10 the world when his plays are
undertaken by such men as
Booth, Barrett and Mccullough.
Whom do you consider the
greatest actor Iiving?"
II have my private opinion.
but do not desire to make 1t
public. Professional courtesy
would cause me to hesitate
ITO your mind are there any
poiuts OF resemblance between
/ Irving and Booth and Irving and
Barrett?
II think all three are thorough
artists, and, with the addition o.
4 John Mccullough, form thu