Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09
THE TOPICAL TALKER.

Ignorance Is Bliss, So Is Impudence Some-
iimes-Chats With and About Mr.. Flor.
ence.
| THE cable car was passing Ross street, when
the bright-eyed young woman said to the
wooden-faced young man beside her: ''Lookl
there's the Bridge of Sghs."
The stolid youth directed his gaze toward
Richardson's exquisite link joining Court
House and Jail, and remarked: THAT bridge
amt much of a size."
''Oh, that's not it-they call it a Bridge of
Sighs," rejoined the owner of the bright eyes,
because it's like another Bridge of Sighs in
in-in Spain. The Nihilists cross over it on
their way to Siberia-Its the last one they
cross. and so-and SO they call it the Bridge of
Sighs."
"Ohp' said the young man, a look of deep re-
spect for his fair instructor lighting up his
vacant face for moment
When ignorance is bliss, tits folly to be wise
WHILE the Hon. w. ]. Florence was giving
audience to few of his friends yesterday
afternoon in front of the Grand Opera House a
man with fair cargo of drink aboard caught
hold of his arm and murmured:
''Say, 'scuse me, Billy, l."
stop! know what you want" said Flor
ence, thrusting his hand deep down into his
trousers pocket.
'I'm blank blank son of gun," apologeti-
cally remarked the inebriated one.
Yes, you look like one" assented Florence,
as he pulled out half dollar and continued,
"Now go awayw
The man took the coin, smiled family and
faded away.
Hes friend of mine, sure! He called me
Billyp' was Florence's final remark.
&xs
A PRoPos Of a story which Mr.. Florence told
yesterday concerning the release of a
prisoner from Sing Sing-but which it were
hardly in good taste to tell here. though it re-
bounds to the credit of the warm-hearted actor
"a Pittsburger related the following: "a
young fellow who worked in the same office
with me. and was generally liked by all of US,
unhappily fell into evil courses, and at last the
law got hold Of him. He was tried and con-
victed, but sentence was deferred for a few
days. In the interval went to see the Judge,
and told him all the good could about the
young man. 1 laid particular stress upon his
brightness and ability, and the promising ca
reer which his crime had blasted. The Judge
listened to all had to say patiently. Then he
asked me: He is an intelligent, well-educated
fellow, is heT lassented.
~ am very glad you have told me this the
Judge remarked, very glad. 1 was going to
give him four years.
$50 went away well satisfied. The prisoner
was brought up for sentence and the Judge,
after few remarks about the prisoners evil
dent intelligence and ability to tell right from
wrong sentenced him to six years in the peni-
ten ntiary, the limit of the law.
Since that day my services as an intercessor
with the juriciary have not been in demand,
strange to say"
TIE memory which Mr.. Florence possesses is
not the least among his endowments. Law
renee Hutton, the author and critic, relates that
at the time of the first production of Robert
sons admirable comedy of Caste in this
country the play was the subject of some litiga-
tion and of considerable newspaper discussion,
which will be still remembered. Mr.. Lester
Wallack had purchased the manuscript of the
play from its author, but before the regular
Wallack season of IS67-6S opened. it was
brought out as has been shown, by Mr.. Flor
ence at the rival house. Although Mr.. Wal
lack, as it appears, had the best moral right to
the comedy in this country, he could not, in the
absence of an international copyright law, pre-
vent its being played by other people.
= Caste at that time had never been pub
lished In England, and Mr.. Florence. who
claimed to have seen it only on the boards of
the London Theater, is said to have committed
it to memory as an entirety, scenery, costumes.
dialogue, stage business and all, a feat in
almost without parallel, but not
altoge ther impossible to Mr.. Florence, for a
season or two later here, when Mr.. Mccullough
for the first time played Spdrtdcus at Booths,
be repeated great portions of the tragedy ver-
Datim to a party of gentlemen present, al
though he had never studied it read it, or
played in it. and had not seen it played for
many years.
YESTERDAY when 1 showed Mr.. Hutton's |
statement, which The Mirror of this week |
contains, to Mr.. Florence, he acknowledged |
hat the muemonic feat had been SO accom-
,lished by him, as had many others like it.
YES" said gentleman who was present at
he moment ''last year when Mr.. Florence was
playing in Cleveland, 1 went behind the scenes
o see him, and found him testing his memory
N the lines of Sir Ltscius OTrigger, and he
vas nearly letter perfect in them. You hadn't
played the part for a good many years. had
-ou, Mr. Florence.
'Tt was twcnty-six years since had played in
The Rivals" was Mr.. Florences reply.
HEPBURN JOHNS.