Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28
A LONDON HERO.
AN HOUR WITH PONY MOORE, THE
PET MINSTREL.
lila Friends and His PecuIiarities-Iiis
Home, His Treasures, and
His Dogs.
,rorre,pooa,nee Of me EIchmona DIspa,ch.l


LONDON, July 10, 1889.
The person who has been figuring pr9inl-
nentlv in tine American newspapers 81 late
"a PONY Moore is a well-knOwn Londoner;
IIe is none other than the famous Minstrel
of Moore and Burgess. fame, and besiheS
being burnt-cork artist he is also patron
Of an sOlts Of sport. HIS son-ln-laN J.
Charley Mitchell, the prlZ -h-hter' TOT
many wears Moore has been prominent
ngure in London life. livery American
Who GOES TO London visits st. james Hali'
where Moore and mis- artists give nightly
performances. he il known IA the
American quarter ia London as a man
always willing 20 hclpa friend and always
ready 10 plot tourists through nnite-
chapel. Petucoat Lane. the seven DieiS,
and other quarters Of London town that
have become famous. lie knows every
man Of prominence in the big city. ne -
on familiar terms with the Scotand-i ara
detective. the sprigs Of mobility. and the
crooks of the sluhs. az well n the big men
of Parliament lie has acCu muiated alarge
fortune md has q score OF fads. Ohe or
fheqo is the collection Of unset diamonds
lie carries them loose 40 his pocket, ana
often pulls ont handful ana gloats over
them like misCr would his gold:
lie has pccullarities as we'll as fads., ohe
ni.ht not long since gentleman and two
ladies' entered St. James Hall. he per-
Torrance was in progress. and the usher
had some difficulty in finding the proper
e.ots. Moore WAS end-man. He held his
bones an his hands and looked on ner-
vou,v. Massive diamonds sparkled IN MS
shlrt-front and on his fingers. Ilnaily ne
became nervous, and jumping from MS
seat yelled 30 the usher:
Whats der mattcr?"
Then turning TO the interlocutor, and
with a majestic wave of his hand 10 the
leader of the band, he shouted: stop de
show Stop everything: Here, you fool
usher. seat the party in these seats. hhht
sort of q crazy man are youI"
The ladies blushed, the usher nearly
tainted. and the whole show was IN contu-
sion. When the party was seated Moore
turned 10 the stage and said: Now 60 on
wild de show. 1 know how TO run TINS
house"
The usher sneaked ont, the band played,
and Moore sat down contentedly.
GOOD EMPLOYER.
Moor has many pecuhantles, but he IL
withal a good employer. He has three
men i'm his band who have been with him
for twenty-five years. Mlnstrclsy, now
ever. is not very far advanced IN England.
Moore l= still singing "Oh. Dem Golden
sinners He has been singing 1t nightly
for twelve years. He also goes through
little gvmnastic performance ON chair.
the same MS he has done every night for n
quarter of % century. Londoners do not
seem To- tire Of 10. either. for the applause IL
always hearty and the theatre crowded.
] called on him few DAYS before he
sailed for America. He calls his charming
residence al the 81. Johns Wood end OF
Finchlrv road Moore House" but the
hovs Of the minstrel and theatrical pro-
fe,,ion know IL only As " Liberty Hall"
II is apprOachcd bv a gate Leading INTO
"a pretty avenue. with gardens on either
side. and III front Of the house 10 which
this avenue brings YOU q large fountain
PLAYS merrily, cooling the atmosphere IN
it- vicinity. Dogs OF all sorts raise their
voices as one approaches. from the huge
hOarh0und (nearly as big rs mule) and
massive champion 81. Bernard TO the
tiniest little toy spaniel ever born, which
Mrs. Moore plavfully calls her Watchdog.
This canine regiment passed IN safety and
the house reached there Is enough 20 be
seen 10 interest one for hours. The house
was formerly occupied 10y Blondln, the
great and only, and Mr.. Moore has collected
cuiOs on so enormous q scale that his
residence. OF part of II. il practically mu-
scum. There are statues which used 10
stand i'm various theatres. water cOlOrs 10y
Fred Nokes among others, the harmOnlum
on which BlOndin played while strOlhng
across Niagara, the trick tables on
which Mr.. Moore used to perform his
coujuring feats, q genuine Rubens which
be bought from Lady Murray, tambourines
with gold jingles presented by Daniel
Bryant and Charley Backus, the glorious
American Ministries; the ponderous belt
presented TO Charlie Mitchell when he
fought his drawn battle with Sullyan a
couple Of pictures which Mr.. Moore
brought from Spain, and got arrested
over for beating the customs people, a
cup or two won by Pony's horses when he
used 10 60 racing, and testimonials from
brother professionals TO the number Of
over o thousand, as Sir. Moore himself as
sured me. One of the most curious OF
these is a cork used professionally by tho
troupe which has been mounted IN the
form Of "a medal with massive go Id set
tings and ad0rnments and inscribed with
the names of the five most successful
songs which the troupe who are the donors
of the Gift have sung" Iaploca." Ada
with the Golden Hair" Mulligan
Guards" ION, George, DO Let Me BE"
and Unlimited Repertoire"
AMERICAN TO THE BACKBONE.
Il 4. 7 l.,