The Dickinson press., 1889-03-16
OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO.
FLORENCE TELLS TWO STORIES OF
HIS EXPERIENCE.

Ii Remarkable Comedy Entitled THE
Sanguinary Bootjack' - Billy's Narrow
Escape from IA Mobbing Down Soutl,
During War Days.
81 was thinking just now" said Mr. Flor.
ence to Il visitor the other day, "of my first
appearance in Chicago over thirty years ago.
Why. there was but one theatre in town..
What did we playi Oh. it was a ridiculous
mess of nonsense. 1t was called Florence
Worried by McNicker,' and it grew out of u
play gotten up in New York by John
BrouGham called The Sansuinary Bootjack'
and presented by his stock company
%"Brougham wanted to get something that
would >iarlle the town. and, faith. he did it
You see the curtain rose first on a scene rep
rcsentinS Il green room, and there sat MIR
Brougham reading u new play to his conf
pany Well, the different ones found fault
with their respective parts and all wanted
them filtered, and this md that, for all
tho world as actors and actresses per.
form when they have new parts assigned
them. Heavy old women wanted light roles,
and vice versa. In the midst of this hubbub
n woman is announced. She wishes to see
Mr. Brousham on particular business. %, !
suppose another stage struck female groans
Az bious,llSttll, us, llIQSSal, kIoNcS " w luc
case when the green room is cleared and Mr.
%Brougham and his visitor are left alone. She
tells him she is sure she has the divine fire
and must so on the stage won't Mr..
Brougham kindly give her m opportunity
What is you" Nance he asks. Mrs. Buzz
zard. She anSw crs. 'Buzzard-Buzzard,' lie
| says. that sounds familiar Where have |
| ncard that Nance Its q we'll known name
she shippers, firm of Hawk & Buzzard.' ':Ah,
Yes. And does your husband approve OF Your
lntcntion! oh, no, he is much opposed
to it
TIE MISGUIDED WIFE.
We'll. lie advises her not to go against her
husbands wishes, but shc insists on trying,
and finally MI. Brougham assigns her a part
in The sanguinary Bootjack.' In the next
scene tho play proceeded. 1t was u lot of
rubbish, but the audience seemed to like it,
and was following it closely, when suddenly
All old man sitting i'll one of the front seats
rose to his feet and cried wildly, God bless
me-, is that my wife-my infatuated-my mis-.
| guided Belinda: 1t is-it is. Come home,
woman, and rushing down he tried to climb
over tho orchestra to the stage. This was no
other than Giougham himself. An usher
and an officer who hurried down to eject him
were other members os the company. Belin-
da tAlrs. Brous!am screamed and tainted on
the stage, "tlile Il fireman in Il red shirt up
with the gods shouted down to leave the
Young wc.!an alone and let her play her
part or he'd como down and fix things to suit
himself. This was myself, though here in
Chicago ! played the part of the husband.
iou may fancy the noise, confusion and up
roar there WIS in that heater Well, this
piece ran for months and drew immensely
people tloricd to see Iirougham's company
cutting up pianis in the audience. Imagine
Tho sensation ii Days or tho Madison Square
should introduce such horse play
ITO pass from the grotcsque to the tragic"
laid the actor after q moments pause, shall
tell you OF Il time in my life when was
really, truly trishtemcdt 1t was q case of
:agc f"isht, though not of the orthodox
type. WIS playing an engagement in a
| was an out and out Union man, but had
tried to be guarded i'll my remarks, and was,
us you may fancy, surprised and startled to
receive one morning q warning not to appear
that night under penalty of rough treatment.
In fact, | was also commanded to leave town.
l didn't know what to do. | was, of course,
helpless. If u southern audience decided to
misuse me-, what could doc did not say
anything to Mrs. Florence, as | did not care
to alarm her. | went out and walked by
myself and tried to think. | was terribly
depressed and sad over the matter. | felt |
was a stranger and alone and had no ono to
advise or help me. In passing a Catholic
bookstore | saw q copy of Thomas q
kcmpis.' | went in, bought it, and read it,
and in a few moments tho burden was all
lifted. felt happy and cheerful. knew l
should play that nisht-fclt sure l should
have protection. The hour came TO 20 to tho
theatre. | went, dressed for my part, went
to tho peep hole and looked out at tho audi
cnce. House packed with men-not n woman
liz front.
FORREST sAvED HIM.
THAT looked ugly. realized they meant
to keep their word. What was | to doa As
| stood there wondering what course to pur-
sue, the side door that led to tho managers
tex opened and W gentlemen entered. One
"a fine. big, tall fellow-camo toward me
crying out, Billy, how arc you2 I've come
thirty-five miles to SEQ you play 1t was
Gen. Forrest. General l said, you've come
straight down from heaven tonight He
asked me what | meant, and in a few words
explained the situation. Don't you worry
ono moment, be said: why, these arc oil my
friends in front. Iown this town. You &c
right on with your play. I'll take care OF
YOU
"The stage was cleared, curtains rolled W
and the play began. In a few moments ]
made my appearance. An angry muttel
swept through tho audience and tho entire
rest lcaped from his box on the stage and hclc
up his hand. 'Stopl' he Numbered, 'wha,
does this mean? Mr.. Florence is my friend
shall protect him. Wasn't that a thrilling
situationa
Maj. - roso in tho audience and stated
q number Of offensive remarks which hat
been circulated as coming from me: amone
others that there was not a gentleman in tn
whole south. Fancy my making such a hope
lessly insane statement US that. When b.
had finished his Indictment | stepped low,
to the footlights and said: Gentlemen, i
3 being born under the Stars and Stripes is
crime, ! must plead guilty OF all thes
other charges | am innocent. have neve
uttered any of these remarks imputed to me.
, When ! had finished, tho general, who we
: standing there by me, said. is that enough
/. gentlemen and yell of assent went up; the,
I three cheers for Gen. Forrest, aud then tire
for Billy Florence, after which the play pre-
cccded, and ! must say | never had q NOR
e sympathetic, appreciative and enthusiast
!. audience.
a You should have seen tho choice collee
/ ton of decayed cabbagcs and rotten egg
which was gathered up the next mornin
when tho theatre was swept out. o, the
# camo loaded for me! Years after that nigt
' Ireceived a letter from tho mar who ha
' tried to injure mo SO badly He was nea
death, and wrote a full confession of how /
had circulated these reports, and | forwarde
- tho letter to tho major who had led the me
that night. But | shall always believe ths
heaven itself sent Gen. Forrest that night
help me out of that scrape. Chicago TT
buno.
q Fl