New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-20
" J. FLORENCE DEAD.
80 HIS RRIEF ILLNESS IN PHILADEI,-
bp nu,, SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

o'clock to-niehs s dine 20 rn.umon;a ue
.-.e.ed slight cold early last week, which
''hs r,;aav became so much worse that he was
% :, sb,e TO appear in his part in The Heir
fs"ss On Saturday he was advised to remain
IT, Int insisted on acting. After the play
n0'''~ ming he gave a supper 10 Mr. and Mrs.
fa hat WAS obliged TO leave the table before
SsnaS'' ,s,or and take to his bed. On Sunday
il e'. much worse, and his symptoms were
~ alarming; on Monday his condition was
sAu"sN critical. and several of the most emil
gu ITyA,ladelphia physicians were called In 10
ss' .;u They have issued bulletins every day
ssrho n - which Mr.. Florences condi-
sa~ 80 been set forth as the grav-
"h IL made slight improvement
81 .'aov and Wednesday. but scarcely enough
q ut hope of his recovery He passed al
- Wednesday in a comatose condition,
%" - consciousness today and talked
but W. W. those around him. Many of Mr.. Flor
H" immediate family, and his partner Joseph
tnes have attended him during his illness.
~, r1orence. who was in England was sumnohea
ME early in the week.
.,.ncholy tidings that came to us last night
iM nah Of Mr.. Florence in Philadelphia, strikes
s"' moi simply with affection. but with dismay.
~ - -.0oa was a man Of such vigorous and amuent
NJ -, the idea of illness and death was never
tSr "a with him. Whoever else might go, ne al
ssse1"1 ..,,a,n and for many cheerful years he
Saa w.. - onr fancy and brighten our lives His
SooN p !, buovant and brilliant that it seemed not
SPIN =. .,,ld ever be dimmed. Yet now, in a
PS' Ne hight is quenched and there is darkness
H',S- 18th We shall hear his pleasant voice no
- go no more the sunshine OF face that was
S ...n without Joy and can never be remembered
-. .orrow The loss TO the puphc Is Vet!
W" r.v actors within the last forty years nave
- r,on level with him in versatility, IN power
s@~ ~ To his friends the loss is unSpeakabe. HIS
.,,s,css bis simplicity his modesty' ms aneouon"'o
n. ready sympathy, his inexhaustbe patience
fal'' ..,.r,sal these attributes united with his
Us DDe a,o1ery 10 enshrine him In tender affection.
p0.'sl.~ ,.rvn FLORENCE whose real name was Con
"'l---1 IN IN Albany July &c, 1881. When a
Ill., - ,oinas the Murdoch Dramatic Association,
w. ..v raye evidence Of extraordinary orsina"e
So IN December 8. 1910, he made MS hrsV ap-
on the regular stage. at the Marshall theatre
y n,.srond Va. where he unprecedented TOBIAS IN
~ ~. s.-s,V.rs After that he met with the usual
.,",+ra.s n Young player. He was memoer OF
-. .o,A eompaniss-notably those OF W. Z. FORBES
- 49, Providence H. ~ Museum and the famous Johh
S,.stnso5 Of Toronto and Quebec. Canaoa. La'er ne
,nd me company at NibloS Theatre New YORK. uhooi
A. nsrArsment Of Chippendale and John SETON
uY tbrre IN Nav s. 1850. He also acted at
% "a t,o.duav under Marshalrs management, and
i ,s5e he was a member of the company at
p.,rsh.m,s Iyceum On January l. 1853, he married
v.lvpa PRAY. sister Of the lady who became the VIE
a, Barney Williams and in that way those two lnsil
comedians came 20 be domestcally associated
Al this important juncture Mr.. Florence wrote sew
.al pays upon Irish and Yankee SUBJ CTS theh very
,opulsr and he began TO figure as star-Mr. florehce
n oourse standing beside him. They appeared al
pu,dv,s National THEATRE June 6, 1858, ana then,
An ,or long time afterward they had great popu-
.itv and success. Mr.. Florence had composed many
songs Of a popular character lone OF them caIeu
sBobbiDg Around had sale Of more than loV,Voo
eopies and those songs were sung by his WIFE, 10 ulo
exceeding delight Of the public. The IRISH Grams
served his purpose for many years, but ne Varieu 'h'
.rm Of artistic Industry by occasional resort TO
burlesQue and by incursiOns into the realm oil meo-
drama. One Of his best and most delightful perform
anoss was that Of The Irish Emgrant" with which he
often eraced the stage Of the old Winter Garden In
that h touched the extremes OF gentle humor ana
melting pathOs. He delightfully."- humorous, also,
IN Handy Andy, and in all that long line OF Irish
characters that to stage with Tyrone Power
and the elder John Drew. lie had exceptional talent
iOr burlesQue likewise and this he often manifested
h his early days Fra Diavolo." "Beppo," Lana
Rookh,' THE Lady of the. Lions" and "The Colleen
Bswn- vers among the burlesques that he produced
and with these he the pioneer. lie achieved popu
hrty also in The Returned Volunteer"
Eangenents were filled by Mr.. and Mrs. Flor
srte at the outset of their starring tour,
al the important cities of the Republic, and every
where they met with Kindness and honor Amoh
he early PLAYS written by Mr.. Florence were INT
ldsA Princess "O'Nen the Great "The slclhaI
Irdss Woman's Wrongs" Eva" and THE Drunk
AIS DOOM on April ., 1856 Mr. and Mrs flof
sooe sailed for England, and presently appeared d
prury Lane Theatre London, where they at ono
Stepped into favor The performance OF the YANKEE
Gal BE- Mrs Florence aroused positive enthusiash-lo
vas absolutely new, and Mrs. Florence was the mrs
Anerean comic actress that had ever appeared upoi
ae English stage More than 200 representation
v-e gwen at that time. Mr.. Florence USED 10 relaV
fs MS fortunes were greatly benefited by his success
London. and he habltualy spoke with earnest gra'i
has Of the kindness that he received there. From
iAi time onward he enjoyed almost incessant pros
khp. tour Of the English provincial cities ioi
hWed his London season. lie acted at Manchester
Liverpool. Edinburgh. Glasgow, Belfast and Dubhh
and both his wife and himself became favorltes-s'
nal their songs were continually sung and Wfsted II
De streets, wherever they went.
Returning 10 the United States, Mr.. and Mrs. flor
Hes renewed their triumphs, all over the land II
issl Mr. Florence played some OF Burton's ola char
srer In Wallack's Theatre the Broome-st. house)-
among them being Mr.. ToOdle and Capn Cutie. n
4er period he made ii custom TO lease "aiiach
Theatre during the summer. and there he proouce'
nany buriesques. In 1863 at the old Winter Gar
len Theatre, lie offered The Ticket-ofLeave Man
and acted Bob Briefly which one OF the best eH
pos Of his life. In 1867, Wallack's old theatre peI
men called the Broadway and managed by barney Mtl
hns Dc brought 10 that house the COMEDY OF NhSto
cA presented il with distribution OF the paris Vna
rs heyu been equslled. The actors were Mrs' Nna a
IT, Ars. Gilbert. Eie Germon, George Honey wv.
A4Fovf, Edward Lamb, and Florence-who Pdyo
uoGF vAlroy. In 1865 he presented NO ln9r
VlslAN' aad enacted ObenTezer, wilch was unnlI,
tS-sOy great performance and which hxea NE run.
among M leading actors OF the time. IN 1870 ne H.H
remarkable BIT as the Hon. Bardweu sloGe ~ " 80
pAI Of The Mighty Dollar" by Benjamin +. WOOL,
y bOson This was the last important new Pih ~
tSa ne produced. During the last hfteen years IL
a qneIed only selections from his accepted repereoi
L4seE ne has been associated with Mt. Jenerson-u
suOm ne brought strength that was deeply value
~ apliseated equally by that famous actor Siu ~
80 PSa9GHo-aeuhg Sr Lucius O'Trigger III Inc hN"i
81. Lehiel ii0nesDun In "The Heir-atLaw' -
.he PoNer OF Mr.. Florence was that OF LhpeeVy11
nd m "A