Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-19
a CHARMING ENGLISHMAN.
Cecil Clay, the Husband of Rosina Yokes,
and the BacISer of Her Comnanv.


One of the men about town, concern
ing whom everybody seems to have a
pleasant word to say, is Cecil CLAW, the
promoter and hacker of the Rosina
Vokes comedy company Mr.. CLAY has
been here in New York only a few
weeks, but he has already been made
welcome at almost all the good clubs of
the metropolis, where no visitor is more
delightedly entertained than he.
have seen a good deal of Mr.. Clay about
town, and | don't think | ever met
man who more heartily enjoyed life.
He is breezy, airy, witty fellow, who
possesses all the best of the distinguish
ing characteristics of the English gen
tleman. He is a brother of Frederick
Clay, the composer, and Rosina Vokes
is his wholly charming wife. Mr.. Clay
himself has done some admirable work
in literature, and among the bright
sklts that have come from his pen is the
christmas Pantomime Rehearsal
which is played with enormous success
by the Vokes company. He put it to-
gether some years ago, believe, for the
use of company of amateurs in Lon
don, and since it has been played in
America he has very carefully concealed
its authorship, for the reason that he
has great shrinking from personal
publicity. Financially Mr. Clay is what
we sometimes technically call well
fixed" in this country of ours. He al
lows his wife to act because it gives her
pleasure, and not because there is the
slightest monetary necessity for such
course. The London home of the Claws
is one of the most delightful places l
ever had the honor of entering. 1t is
just the home an ideal Bohemian of the
finest tastes would surround himself
with. The furniture, pictures, and
everything else about the house are of
the most elegant and costly description,
but they are placed without the slightest
regard for that set order which is apt
TO demonstrate itself painfully amid
rich surroundings. Several valuable
dogs of various breeds are allowed to
run loose all over the house, and there
is general atmosphere of freedom and
unrestrained happiness in the whole es-
Enlistment. The same Joyous sort of
thing Mr.. Clay carries into his business,
and his entire company are allowed to
do pretty much as they please. The
end of it is, that all of them have very
good times; and, singularly enough,
they get along like happy family,
without discord or friction. But, al
though Clay is a man of singular ge-
niality, his manner can freeze about as
quickly as that of any man | ever saw.
A night or two ago number of us were
conversing together. when somebody
introduced a rather loud-talking young
American chap to Mr.. Clay
"Ah, yes, observed the enthusiastic
Yankee. From the other side. | see.
OF course you know Pony Moore, who
hangs out in London"
No" responded Mr.. Clay. as his
face became instantly grave and stony.
Il don't know Mr.. Moore. but | have
heard of him. He is blackguard."
The American was slightly shocked
ut this abrupt reception of his singular
supposition that an English gentleman.
moving in the high walks of London
life, should not be on terms of personal
intimacy with loud, profane negro
minstrel, who wears diamond as big
rs a watering-pot. keeps up perpetual
bender with all his friends at home, and
gives an annual ball that is about the
most notorious entertainment of the
whole London year. But he recovered
himself quickly enough and responded:
well, Pony used me pretty well when
| was in London, and | always found
him u puffick gentleman" The ludi-
crous nature of the situation brought
Clay's smile back again, and he en-
joyed the performance of his new ac-
quaintance with u good deal of hearth
ness, as he seems always able to enjoy
everything in life. -NcW York Letter 20
Boston Herald