Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-16
Salt 9ake aemotrat.
TALK WITH FLORENCE.
The Genial Billy Gives Out Some
Pointers on Plnys-The Em-
peror of china and "a Par.
Tor Watch-Rcminis-
cence of SothcrD.

cence of sothcrp.
On the register of the Continental hotel
last night, says the Philadelphia Times,
was signature that nobody could read.
1t looked like fac smile OF q Chinese
laundry check, and opposite the hero
glyphic scrawl was written plainly, "and
servant" and the register showed that
rooms 2 and IA had been assigned to
the owner of the mysterious signature and
his valet. Chief Clerk Anderson was
asked by half hundred curious people
during the evening who was stopping in
room No. 2. Clerk Anderson got very
tired answering the same question, and
told good many that it was foreign
dignitary travelling incognito. A facetious
actor, who stood near the register, told
one man in a confidential way that it was
the Emperor OF China, and that he had
forty-two trunks and seventeen servants.
By 8 o'clock nearly everybody in the cor
ridors of the hotel had heard in q casual
way that the Emperor of China was up
stairs, and everybody wondered what his
royal topknot was doing in Philadelphia.
A Times reporter.wh knocked at the door
| of No. 2, expecting in moment to stand
before the Emperor of the fowery king
dom, was told to come in, and, sitting at
a table with the manuscript of mo Thor
oughfare" in his hand, sat w. j. Flor
ence, the actor, familiarly known as the
Hon. Bardwell Slote.
'Is the Emperor Of China in? ?" was
asked.
ellis royal quiets has gone out to take a
Russian bath but what do you mean ?
| Why do you ask for the Emperor of
| China?"
After he had been told about the Curl
osity his signature had aroused, the actor
said: "Hum, SO I'm the Emperor of
China. Well, Thomas" he continued,
looking at his valet, ego and tell the
head waiter to have supper ready for the
Emperor of China at ten sharp; Chinese
supper, Thomas" The valet did as he
was told, and the valet had to go to the
head clerk to find out what the Emperor
of China was likely to crave.
CARE YOU A PARLoR MATcH?"
Mr. Florence left New York yesterday
afternoon on the Washington express.
There were four theatrical companies on
the train: Florence's, Mile. Rhea's, a
"Michael StrogofF' combination and
Evans and Hoey's "Parlor Match"
troupe. The conductor of the train in col
lecting the transportation slips of the diff
ferent theatrical companies got very
much mixed, and tapping Florence on
the shoulder inquired in a troubled voice ::
care you parlor match?"
There are no parlor cars on the train.
l tried to get n compartment" replied
the actor, installing the conductor.
ooh, l know there amt any parlor
cars on the train / want to know if you're
Il parlor match ?" said the conductor.
mo, haven't a single match" said
the actor, producing an empty match
safe.
~ don't want match I want to know
il you're parlor match-I'm trying to
count them. There's twenty-five on this
train and can only account for twenty
four" said the conductor, looking at his
list.
edo look like a parlor match ?" asked
the actor. 81 weigh over 200 pounds. u
"You don't understand me. Do you
belong to the Parlor Match company o.
actors? That's what I'd like to know
said the conductor, his face lighting up
Oh! the Parlor Match company Of &C
tors? No! Pm not parlor match. Pm
a member Of Mr.. Florence's company
replied the actor, as the conductor started
: on through the train to find the missing
parlor match.
"Bless me-" continued Florence to {
friend, 81 couldn't understand why the
devil that conductor took me for {
match" The passengers in the rea
seats roared. Then the actor laughed .
Bardwell Slote guffaw and the passenger
laughed again.
A "REMINISCENCES OF soTHERN.
"Do you know" said the actor, as Ii,
threw the manuscript of 'No Thorough
fare" down on the table, "that | wa
thinking of Ned Sothern little Will,
= ago. Two years ago got letter sgne,
Donnelly q Co., who gave their address
Carter street, Philadelphia. They wrot
that they were going to publish book @
! men who had been on the stage and wer
dead. Donnelly & Co. asked me to con
tribute sketch of Sothern. did. TIL
book was never published and I've neve
seen my manuscript since. I've give
l' good deal to find Donnelly & Co. and m
manuscript, because want to contrbut
il to an actors series of books now brin
= published in New York. Sothern and
: made Il tour of Scotland once. We wer
not playing, and one night we stopped q
n place called Preston. l proposed tina
we go to the theatre, and when we, got t
the box office wanted to buy the seats
They were only two or three shillings
J but Sothern said No, Wen 90 in free
At that time he was known all over Grea
Britain. Walking up to the box offic
o window the following scene took plac
IA between Sothern and the man inside:
"I'm Mr.. Sothem."
"Who's Mr.. Sothern ?"
Don't you know Mr.. Sothern?"
"No; l don't"
.g Good heavens, Billy, here's ma
W doesn't know mel"
Il "What of Mr.. Sothern?" inquired tn
N man ut the box office.
"a "He's Lord Dundreary," replied Sotl
B. ern.
+. "Oh! Well, that don't make any di
n ference. Lords pay here, just the san
il, as common folks, What kind of tickle
RS do you want?"
%, go to the devil said Sothern, viii
oT ping out half crown. Give lis tv
or seats
II, FLORENCE TO HAVE THEATRE OF IL
e. OWN.
q "l'm going to Europe this spring
b. went on the actor. 81 don't know VIII
of | shall play there. Next winter Pm goil
"a to have theatre of my own in Ne
is York. Pm tired of travelling aroun
Pve been on the stage since was II, al
v ", Pm A now, although don't feel a. n
A.