The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-14
LAWRENCE R. JEROME.
Death of the Famous Joker and
Prince Of Good Fellows.
INCIDENTS IN HIS CAREER.
The Variety of His Humorous Fam
cies-The Fun He Had With
Billy Florence One Honest
New York Alderman.

New YORK, August l3.-The death OF
Lawrence r. Jerome at Sharon, Conn.,,
yesterday, was very sad news for his
friends in this city.
Mr.. Jerome was born in 1919, at
Pompey Hill, 0nandago county, New
York, andhad an adventurous life, COM
mencing as n farmers boy, editing,
with his brother Leonard, the Nqtire
american, being an Alderman in Roch-
ester, and finally settling down as a
broker in Wall street. For over ten
years he has not been actively engaged
in business, and never was very success
ful, but always immensely popular with
all classes. As he told his nephew by
marriage, Lord Randolph Churchhill:
81 can introduceyou to whom you please,
from a millionaire to u prizetighter."
He had four sons, three OF whom sur
vive him.
Infinite variety marked the humorous
fancies OF this unwearying maker of
laughter. Once when he was hunting
in the South he got some ridiculous pho
tographs made OF himself in costume.
The first, "Going to the Hunt" he
marked it, represented him in red coat,
mounted OIL q hobbyhorse. The second,
''Got q Crupper," showed him with his
clothing all torn and disarranged, and
his hobby upside down between his legs.
The third picture was SCOT the Brush.
and represented him sitting on his steed
once more, his face covered with patches
OF court plaster, while over his shoulder
he bore in triumph Il big feather duster.
The pictures were inexpressably funny.
In December last lie played memor-
able joke upon his friend William j.
Florence. 1t was at the Walnut Street
Theatre in Philadelphia. Billy was
playing Captain Cuttle there. Mr.
Florence has been successful in playing
practical jokes upon his friends, and
party OF them got together and conclud'
ed that they would pay him back. The
coterie OF jolly souls consisted of Capt.
William NJ. Conner, Wright Sandford,
Herman Oelrichs, Alexander Taylor, Jr.,
and Mr.. Jerome. Before leaving here
they had secured box at the theatre in
which Mr.. Florence was playing, and
also seat in front Of the orchestra cir.
Gle. The party, with the exception OF
Mr.. Jerome, entered the box and had
the curtain drawn SO that it Was i'm.
possible for Mr.. Florence TO see any OF
them. Everything went quietly for a.
time until Captain Cutie came before
the iootlightS. As he began to speak an
old gentleman who looked nearly ninety
years of age, occupying one OF the front
seats in the orchestra circle, began to
snore loudly, and the attention OF the
entire audience was attracted to him.
He was Curious-looking old fellow, his
hair stood upon end, and he looked rs II
his clothes had been thrown upon him.
1t was easy TO observe that his snoring
had decided effect upon the perform
ers and especially upon Mr.. Florence.
An usher finally came down the aisle
and told the old man that il he did not
step snoring he would have to go out.
When the usher had gone away the
old gentleman snored only little less
loudly. Finally he subsidized for time,
but when Mr.. Florence came on in the
picnic scene he again became boisterous.
When Mr.. Florence began to make
speech the old gentleman began to cry:
Rot! rot! That's all rot
This was followed by scene OF wild
confusion and the audience loudly hissed
the old gentleman. II cannot go on
while this continues" Mr.. Florence was
heard to say as he stepped to the foot
lights. Several ushers and the stalwart
bouncer OF the theatre rushed down the
aisle and grabbed hold OF the old man,
He expostulated and promised to keep
still fthey would allow him to remain,
but his pleadings were in vain, and they
walked him up the aisle. AS he got
halfway up he turned, and facing Mr..
Florence, said, in the most pathetic man
ner, "You wouldn't put poor old man
OF seventy in the snow, would yon?
The big bouneer was heard TO reply:
'NO, but we put an old man OF seventy
into Jail, what we're going to do with
you" :,
Just then the curtain nj the right-hand
box was pulled aside, and Mr. Florence,
who was standingvery near to it,spied his
friends Capt. Conner and Wright San.
ford amid roars of laughter. Not III
then did 1t flash upon him that the old
man who had been creating disturb
lnCe was mono Otncr LnHn Tue nuHesHhe
OF the author of the Sentimental Jour
ney." He was not arrested, and before
Florence could escape from the play
house he and his partners in crime were
on their joyful way to New York.
There was one part Of his career which
should be marked with white stone.
He was one OF the honest Aldermep in
the infamous Tweed Board, and so un-
popular was he with the great boss that,
though fairly reelected for second
term, he was counted out by Twecd's
henchmen, some OF whom are alive and
shameless to.duy. In 1880 or 1882 he ran
for Congress against McCOok and was
defeated. This was his last attempt TO
leave the ranks OF man OF elegance and
leisure, which he was so well fitted to
adorn. As Il member OF the Tammany
Society there is no doubt that If Mr.
Jerome had wanted diplomatic office
he might have had it; but he had no
favors to ask. In any other country
man OF his talents would have spent
years in the diplomatic service.