The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-28
EXIT W. J. FLORENCE.
The Curtain Has Been Rung Down on
His Career. =
SOME OF HIS PLAYFUL FRANKS
After Him-Anecdoteso OF the Brilliant
Actor.


Actor.
There Is no doubt that Florence was one
OF the brightest wits on and OF the stage
that this country has ever produced.
The many sides to his character have
never come to light and II is only now
that she has been called from Sorrows
bed" that his many good traits are being
found out.
His power 10 bring tears TO the eyes OF
his friends was, however. exceeded by his
power to incite great mirth. His many
stories and practical jokes OF which he
was the originator and In some instances
the butt are numbered by the thousand.
One OF the best practical jokes that was
ever played on BILLY" Florence was
played by "Dundreary Sothern.
Florence was living in a fashionable
neighborhood near Forty-second street,
New York. and during the time that he
made his residence in that part OF the
city. the quietness which always seemed
to reign over the house in which the
Florence family lived, was q matter Of
remark.
The domestic peace was disturbed one
quiet Saturday morning. A large coal
cart containing ton OF small pea coal
drove up in front OF the house. and the
driver proceeded to dump the load OF an
thracite, without having the usual receipt
signed by the occupants Of the house, or.
otherwise informing them OF Its delivery.
In n short time another coal cart ap-
preached the Florence house and another
ton OF small coal was deposited on the
sidewalk The driver OF this cart went
through the same performance as the
former one and did not even go into the
basement or make any attempt to see
whether the coal was to be put In the
cellar or not.
In less than five minutes after the
second driver had departed q third
turned the corner OF Forty-second street
and deposited third ton on the sidewalk.
The entire walk was blocked by this
third ton and the servant girl was In
despair. as oil her remonstrances could
not keep the drivers from dumping the
coal with any explanation.
A fourth. fifth. sixth and seventh ton
were piled on the sidewalk, and for four or
five houses the walk was blocked. The
passersby walked In the middle OF the
street and wondered what was the after.
Mr.. Florence watched with interest the
proceedings OF the coal cartmen. When
the seventh ton was dumped he went out
into the street and said that the next coal
man that made his appearance would be
landed In the lookup, but the driver re-
fused to explain or say anything about
the order.
During Saturday afternoon the seven
tons lay on the sidewalk and by Sunday
morning were scattered over the entire
block. The neighbors were up in arms
and many protests were made both to
Mr.. Florence and the police.
Al.
was quietly reading In his drawing room,
a messenger climbed over the seven tons
OF anthracite and ringing the front door
bell, delivered message to Actor Flor
ence. 1t was from Sothern and read as
follows:
Would be delighted to see you at the
hotel. have tried to climb up your front
stoop, but failed. Come soon.
SoTHERN."
"Billy" Florence knew who the practi-
cal joker was, but instead of fuming and
raging he went quietly to the neig h bors
and told them who had Uttered the street,
begging them to make complaint to the
police and compel the officers of the law
to prosecute Sothern.
The outcome was that "Dundreary
was forced to pay fifty dollars to have the
seven tons OF coal removed from the
street. When they met Florence asked
Sothern what he was going to do about
the matter.
II have got to remove the coal, but
what to do with the seven tons is what
beats me-" said Sothern.
"Send IL to the little benevolent institu-
tion next to Bellevue Hospital. The poor
people will be benefited by your Joke" re-.
marked Florence.
This was done. and worthy institution
was given a chance TO dispense coal TO the
poor people in the city.
A soTHERN-FLoRENCE DINNER.
Sothern gave dinner to Florence at a
London club and invited him for half al
hour later than any OF the other guests.
He said to his guests. who were prominent
men In literature and politics and in the
nobility: when Florence comes, sup
pose you all get under the tablet He'll
think his lateness has caused you to
leave" So, when Florence was announced,
all except Sothern got under the table,
and the tabecloth bid them from sight.
As Florence entered he saw Sothern
alone and said:
Has nobody come yetp"
"Oh. yes" said Sothern in loud voice.
They've all come. And as soon as you
were announced they hid under the table,
though why the devil they did 1t / can't
imagine" One by one the guests crawled
out, looking red and ashamed.
Florence and Sothern combined to make
a practical joke. which has been told as
the best they ever did. They gave din
ner to Adelaide Nelson's husband, Charles
Lee, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Lee was
a soft-spoken, dudish Englishman. with
vague and terrible ideas OF American civ
ilization. They assured him that the
guests would be types OF Americas best
society. All the guest were introduced to
Mr.. Lee under false names. For instance,
Dan Bryant was called William Cullen
Bryant. and Nelse Seymour figured as
"that eminent statesman, Horatio Sey-
mour."