Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-29
Nm. ]. FLORENCE.
.,,Suys RBxBIsCESuE o. TN d.
PARTED COMEDIAN
-,..,,, Scores Ger First Success Before q
Wheeling Audience - Their appearances
Far, and What They Played.


-, tbeatre-going people Of Wheeling
.lvavs had their favorites, and
D., .,tors have ever held larger share
.h.ir esteem and admiration than
.s.,,I.m Jsrym Florence, the comedian,
- 5ied last week in Philadelphia,
~. brief Illness, at the age of 60
The Florences. husband and
-. have long been familiar names to
IONS Of the Opera House.
wu J. Florence was born in Albany,
.,.os 1881. BE made first appearance
s- his city in comparatively recent
~ Ii was about twelve years ago
!Len he first played at the Opera House
S sTSa Mighty Dollar" was the piece,
:, was produced on two evenings.
a. ssd been playing to good business
~ ~ ever the country, the play making
0' :, vas quite an event in local theatre
.i.irrles. and the house was crowded
ca Sotb evenings. He has appeared at
- Onera House almost every season
' ~. hat time, and no actor has ever
''-j,vsd greater popularity with Wheel
e., overs OF the play. Florence last
Led here on the 18th and 14th OF
S.-cb in 1889. The bill was the
s%T;gbrv Dollar" and "Dombey &
g. and he scored a triumph. His
-, 10 has accompanied him on nearly
sverv visit to this city, and was always
.Syorlte here. lie has also been seen
!, the Opera House in "Bardwell
Si,st" and the Ticket OF Leave Man"
a REGISTER reporter had chat with
Manager Reister, OF the Opera House,
-ag,er1av. in the course of which he
ia. 81 well remember Mr.. Florence. He
,ros one OF the best and most popular
tors that ever visited Wheeling, and
bo was also genial friend, an entertain
ing coryersaJiOnaliSt, and a plain and
nngssuming gentleman. He always
c,1ad 10 see me In the afternoons, at
my Office. and talked in a pleasing man
mar for hours upon general subjects.
In his death the American stage loses
one Of It's brightest lights"
The departed comedian was especial
II GOOD in dialectic roles, but there was
M coarseness about his acting, which
always had a vein OF pathos and tender
ness in it.
Among the pieces in which Florence
won his greatest celebrity was the
..TIcket-of-Leave Man, 'The Returned
Volunteer" and the mighty Dollar. "
In The Rivals" he perSOnated the part
Of Sir Lucius O'Trigger, and in The
Her-st.Law" he assumed the humorous
We, manly role Of Ezekiel HOmespun.
Mrs. Florence was sister TO Barney
Williams wife. The two sisters played
IN this city when they were but girls.
They wore called the "MestayerS," and
until they visited Wheeling were COM
psratively unknown, although both were
clever actresses. They rented the old
CITY Hall for the performance. The
old Atheneum was not yet in existence.
The two sisters were just entering upon
their career, and had 10 contend with
the vicissitudeS usually encountered by
Young players. On the first night the
house was packed and they were given
cordial reception. A number OF their
admirers among the young men OF those
DAYS arranged benefit for them which
was a catering success, and they were
presented with q reed formed OF crisp
$40 notes. IL was in Wheeling that
they made their first hit, and
Mrs. Florence, several years
sfterward, remarked 20 Wheeling
man that she would always remember
Wheeling as the first place in which she
was striving so hard. She also prom
ised that as soon as Wheeling built a
theatre she would make special visit
TO this city to play. Mrs. Florence, as
well as her husband, on several Occa-
slOns expressed themselves as more than
pleased with their receptions here.
Mr.. NJ. Reilly was one Of the proprie-
tors OF the old Atheneum, and one or
the early patrons OF the play in this city.
In conversation with a representative
OF the REGISTER. yesterday, he re-
lated the following interesting rem
ipiscence of VIM. j. Florence:
Several years ago." he said, 81 met
Mr. WOOdSide, paymaster for the B. &
0. Railroad Company, and the converse
ton drifted to theatres and actors. He
was well acquainted with Florence, and
said he was the kindeSt hearted
man he ever met. Florence while play
Ing in Dublin, Ireland, bought an over
coat, which he presented to WoOdside
upon his return 10 America. Mr. Wood
side was taken completely by surprise,
and his establishment was increased
when he found that the coat hit him as
neatly as if it had been made by his
tailor. The great comedian then in
formed him that he had secured his
Dimensions, but he refused to divulge
the source"