The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-14
ANNOYED THR M4NAGER,
AronSon Tells Why He Discharged Come.
dian Francis Wilson,

dian Francis Wilson,
NEw YoRE, March lS.-The sudden
discharge by Mr., Rudolph Aronson oI
Comedian Francis Wilson Is generally
looked upon favoably by other mana,
gers, the consensus OF whose opinion
seems to be that no other course was left
open TO Mr., Aronson consistent with his
own dignity and position.
It Is asserted that during the principal
portion OF this season Wilson, while
travelling with Mr., Aronson's road COM
pany, constantly permitted himself lib.
critics that were slbversive OF discipline.
He was In the habit when called out be-
fore the curtain OF making speeches, the
animosity OF which toward his manager
was but thinly vellod, In some instances
assuming tho nature Of a direct attack
on him. He Is accused, too, OF being in
attentive 10 his duty and Of doing every
thing In bis power to injure the dis.
Cipline OF the company, in which hG re.
Geived an ahnormally largo salary.
" have been constantly annoyed this
season, said Mr.. Rudolph Aronson yes.
terday, "by Mr.. Wilson's conduct. He
has not hesiIated to speak disrespeCt-
fully OF me from the stage on which he
was playing with my company, He has
frequently had interviews with newspa-
pers that were evidently intended 10 be
most offensive to me. In Chicago he
made brutal attack on my stage mana
ger, Mr., Freeman, and underhQndedly
he has been endeav0ring 10 get people
who are in my employ away from me for
his own purposes.
"Every dGy OF late" went on Mr..
Aronson, VI have had visits from chorus
people who came to ask me II ] had au-
thorized Mr., Wilson TO employ them.
On inquiry found that he had a dresser,
or something Of that sort (this man was
in my employ, who went aroung among
the members OF the company, pretend
ing he had authority from me 10 employ
them from Mr.. Wilson. OF course /
have discharged that man also.
"What completed my disgust with
the man was his action one day last
week In Brooklyn. | went over 10 the
Academy there on Thursday night and
stood behind quietly watching the per-
iormance. When Wilson came on as
FaraOaS in 'Nadjy' he got very cold re.
Ception from the audience. This proba.
bly, is what annoyed him. You know in
that scene he Is supposed 10 Clink q pair
Of cymbals he has In his hand. Instead
OF doing this, he deliberately turned his
back TO the audience and threw the
Cymbals away toward the back OF the
stage, narrowly missing two or three OF
the chorus people. Then he walked of
the stage, and, us Mr., Freeman tells me,
Cursing and swearing at the cymbals.
This, OF course, was only an excuse, as
they were the same he had been using
all the time.
"At this moment everybody was on the
stage and OF course werc utterly nom
plussed what to do, for Mr.. Wilson ought
10 have gone on with some business he
had with one OF the other characters.
The action caused a stage wait OF about
three minutes, and you known what a
vast time that seems on the stage. Then
lie went on with his part half.heartedly.
When he came TO the theatre the next
night, about 7:45, he said he didn't in
tend TO play, and Mr.. Freeman ordered
Mr.. MaAin to dress for the part. When
Mr.. Mailin got dressed, out came Mr..
Wilson ready TO go on.
II then determined that this sort OF
thing had got to stop, and l then wrote
the letter disCharging Mr.. Wilson. /
have had trouble enough with him and
be shall never again appear with the
Casino Company. Years ago, when /
first employed Mr.. Wilson, he proved
very easy man to get along with and
thoroughly amenable to the discipline Of
the company. Ever since he appeared
in 'Nadjy, however, his conduct has
grown more and more intolerable. His
action inlBrooklyn was the last straw and
have done with him."
Yesterday Mr.. Aronson sent on James
T. Powers to Boston to play Wilson's
part. Powers has already been very
successful in II here, and 1t Is quite safe
to say that Wilson won't DO missed. His
place at tho Casino next season will be
hlled by Fred Leslie, than whom there
Is no better comedian or singer In comic
opera either in this country or England.