Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-28
OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO.
FLORENCE TELLS TWO STORIES OF
HIS EXPERIENCE.

HIS EXPERIENCE.
The Remarkable Comedy Entitled "The
Sanguinary Bootjack" p, Billy's Narrow
Escape from a DIobbing Down South 7
During War Days.
81 was thinking just now, said Mr.. Flor |
ence to u 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 playl Oh, it was a ridiculous
mess OF nonsense. It was called Florence
Worried by McVicker,' and it grew out Of a
play gotten up In New York by John
Brougham called Tho Sanguinary Bootjack
and presented by his stock company.
"Brougham wanted to SGT something that
would startle the town, and, faith, he did it.
You see tho curtain rose first ON q scene rep
resenting a green room, and there sat Mr.
Brougham reading a new play to his com
pany. Well, the different ones found fault
with their respective parts and all wanted
them uttered, and this and that for all
the world as actors and actresses per-
form when they have now parts assigned
them Heavy old women wanted light roles,
and vice versa In the midst of this hubbub
a woman is announced. She wishes TO see
Mr. Brouglam ON particular business %,
suppose another stage struck female, groans
Mr. Brougham, as, indeed, proves to be the
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 90 on the stage r won't Mr..
Brougham kindly give her an opportunity
What is your manner he asks. Mrs Buz-
gard, she answers 'Buzzard-Buzzard, he
says, that sounds familiar. Where have
heard that namep It's well known name,
she Shippers firm of Hawk e. Buzzard All
yes And does your husband approve Of your
intentionF oh, no; he is much opposed
TO it, ft
THE MISGUIDED WIFE.
"Well. he advises her not TO 90 against her
! husbands wishes, hut she insists on trying,
and finally Mr. Brougham assigns her a paEt
In The Sanguinary Bootjack In the next
scene the play proceeded. Il was a lot Of
rubbish, but the audience seemed 10 like it,
| and was following it closely, when suddenly
an old man sitting in one of the front seats
rose to his feet and cried wildly, God bless
me, is that my wife-my infatuated-my mis-
guided Belindal Il is-it is Come home,
woman and rushing down he tried TO climb
over the orchestra TO the stage. This was no
other than Brougham himself An usher
and an officer who hurried down to eject him
were other members Of the company. Belin-
| da Mrs Broughaml screamed and tainted on
the stage, while n fireman in a red shirt up
| with the gods shouted down to leave the
\ young woman alone and let her play her
part or he'd come down and fix things to suit
himself This was myself, though here ii
Chicago l played the part Of the husband
| You may fancy the noise, confusion and up
roar there was in that theater. Wen, THU
piece ran for months and drew immensely
people focked to see Brougham's company
cutting up pranks in the audience. Imagine
the sensation If Days or the Madison Square
should introduce such horse play.
ITO pass from the grotesque TO the tragic,
said the actor after moments pause, shal
tell you Of time in my life when | wa
really, truly frightened 1t was a case o.
stage fright, though not Of the orthodo,
type. ! was playing an engagement in /
southern city during the late unpleasantness
was an out and out Union man, but ha'
tried TO be guarded in my remarks, and was
as you may fancy, surprised and startled &
receive one morning warning not 70 appea
that night under penalty OF rough treatment
In fact, was alsocommanded 70 leave town
Ididn't know what 70 do was, o. cours'
{ helpless. If a southern audience decided
? misuse me, what could dos ! did not 81
anything TO Mrs, Florence, as / did not car
70 alarm her. / went out and walked b
myself and tried to think. | was terribl
depressed and sad over the matter. l felt
was a stranger and alone and had no ono
advise or help me. In passing Catholi
{ bookstore I saw copy Of Thomas
e Kempis' ! went in, bought Il, and read i
( and in few moments the burden was a
lifted Ifelt happy and cheerful knew
s should play that night-felt sure l shoul
o have protection. The hour came TO go 20 ii
o theatre. ! went, dressed for my part, wer
. to the peep hole and looked out at the aud
ence. House packed with men-not woma
{ in front.
= FORREST SAVED HIM
"That looked ugly Irealzed they NEAR
+ 70 keep their word. What was / 10 doi A
/ stood there wondering what yourse 70 pun
, sue. the side door that led TO the manager
box opened and two gentlemen entered on
, "a fine big, tall fellow-came toward n
] crying out Billy, how are youi Two com
thirty-flve miles 70 see you play Ii wa
Gen. Forrest General, said, you've CON
straight down from heaven tonight Il
, asked me what / meant, and in a few WORD
explained the situation. Don't you worr
: one moment be said why, these are all m
/ friends in front. ! own this town. You 6
/ right ON with your play. III take care
i you.
THE stage was cleared, curtains rolled U
= and the play began. In few moments
g made my appearance An angry mutt
y swept through the audience and the enth
house rose as ono man, Instantly Gen. Flo
. rest leaped from his box ON the stage and he
y up his hand. 'Stopp he Numbered; VIII
does this meant Mir. Florence is my friend
= / shall protect him.. Wasn't that a thrillil
" situationl
Mai 49, rose in the audience and state
\ a number Of offensive remarks which b.
Y been circulated as coming from me; amoi
~ others that there was not h6entleman in
whole south Fancy my making such hoI
x lessly insane statement as that. When
eI had finished his indictment ! stepped doN
" to the footlights and said; Gentlemen,
lg being born under the Stars and Stripes i
M crime, must plead guilty OF all TIN
w other charges am innocent. have neN
IA uttered any OF these remerks imputed 70 m
w When ] had finished, the general, who v
~ standing there by me, said, is that enoul
III gentlemen and yell Of assent went up; Il
AT three cheers for Gen. Forrest, and then tn