, 1890-01-19
WAS A MAN OF METHOD
Interesting Recital on the Life of
Actor VIM. Davidge.
Recordad Miles Travelled and
Money Paid for Postage.
Played 1899 Characters and Died
on the Train Here.

William Davidge, jr.. residing at No.
1872 Pacific street, Brooklyn, vas left BY
will the personal effects of his father, the
late William Davidge. Mr.. Davidge's
sudden death from heart failure on board
a railway train at Cheyenne, while en-
route with a theatrical company to San
francisco, in June, 1888, is well remem'
bered. A reporter for the New York
World has been accorded the privilege of
a look through some Of the papers and
records left by MI. Davidge, and they
show a system of diary keeping and the
preservation of memoranda of interest to
himself and his profession that perhaps
has no equal.
Mr.. Davidge began his professional ca.
reer in 1886, in London, appearing first
as Adam Winterton in The Iron Chest
Some men find it difficult to keep a
diary for a few weeks. Mr. Davidge kept
a daily record of hislife during the half a
century and more of his career on the
stage. His stack of scrap books relating
to people in the profession, his letters and
personal memoranda constitute a unique
and interesting collection. He has per-
sonalletters from Dickens. Wilkie Col
Inns. Charles Reade, Lonefellow, BIlfe
the composer, and a host of dramatic and
literary dignitaries. His collection OF
autographs fills a large volume.
One of the hundreds of scrapbooks left
by him is entitled Alphabetical list of
parts acted by William Davidge since
1896" From this list it appears that he
played during his career l,099 different
characters. beginning with Adam Win
%terton" in 1886 and ending June 9. 1888.
with the Doctor in Jim the Penmdn,
the last appearance of Mr.. Davidge being
at the Park theater. Boston.
Mr.. Davidge made an entry in his diary
of every mile he travelled. At the termi-
nation Of e Fery trip this entry was made,
and it is complete with the exception of
his last trip from New York to Chey-
enne, Mr.. Davidge dying at the latter
place. Had he lived to finish this trip
tne eulIy WOulu uOubtlesS nave Dteu
found in its proper place. His diary Of
1883 contains these entries:
Miles travelled up to lSS7.~"......lGO, 1874
New York to Newark and return
SIX lines VI
New York to New Haven and re-
turn LAG
New \ DIRK to Boston ....... ........ 23O
Boston to New York.............. $40
New York to Cheyenne...--...-
Mr.. Davidge died Just as the train was
pulling. into Cheyenne, and his memo
randa give the total number of miles he
travelled from the time he entered the
theatrical profession in London, oyer half
a century before. How many men have
kept such a record?
In the same diary, that of 1888, the ag-
gregate of the money expended for post
age stamps is also carried out, and makes
a total of sc, $1,000. Each letter written
BY Mr.. Davidge is noted in the diary un-
der the proper date. The postage was
carried forward from month to month
and from year to year. making the total
given above.
Mr.. Davidge was the first man to lee
ture on Charles Dickens wot ks. This
WIS in London in ls45.
A full account of Davidge's death was
given in Tue LEADER at the time an
Issue in advance of local contemporaries.
The history of the beat shows that it
always pays to give chase when a story is
scented Geo. Y~allery was Burlington
agent here then. and when the train
reached the city he telephoned reporters
for the dailies that he had an item for
them. A LEADER representative has
tened to the depot and secured all re-
quired facts from Davidge's friends. The
reporter from this paper. it developed
next day, was the only one given the tip
who awaited himself of it.