Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-19
THE BOYHOOD OF CRISP.
HIS STORY IS MORE ROMANTIC THAN oRDN-
AIRY ROMANCE.
HE Parents Star Actors in Their Day-His Patron
James Davis, Then Rich, But Reduced By
the Wardrobe Struggle Of
the Future Speaker.


~
ton Of Charles +. Crisp from well
r,tgb brieGess barriSter to the plethora
practice OF an acknowledged leSuei a.
the bar, and though Georgia OaliO'S
elevated him from the dreary routine u
a circuit iudgeship to the potent arena
n the halls OF Congress, yet his expe-
rience ON Tennessee soil is doubtless re-
nembered by him as the most unique OF
his life The English born lad Jana
Mr.. Crisp is the only Speaker who was
horn outside OF the United states was
carried 10 BardstOwn, KY, early IN the
ffties bv his parents, in company with
an only brother and two sisters, IN order
that their education might receive some
attention, their parents being actors
Atthat time one Of tue richest citiLehs
OF Nashville was James Davis MS
clothing and dry goods establishment
was known far and wide IS the largest
between Louisville and New Orleans.
MANY plantation was supplied from
his annie warehouse in exchange Tor
cotton and negroes, for the Cum0er-
land river was q very important artery
of commerce Ia those anterailroad days
Profits were enormous compared with
present margins, and as Davis mad the
means 70 purchase heavily for cash, the
passing years saw him accumulate
fortune princely for that period.
As his wealth increased, natural
fondneSs for travel asserted itself, ana
Davis made many a pleasure trip TO
Louisville, Cincinnati, New York and the
far east. The stage was his hobby, and
he was an habltue Of the best resorts
wherever he went. On one occasion be
strolled into the Niblo Garden theatre,
New York, when Macbeth was on the
boards. w. II. Crisp, an actor fresh
from a tour of England, was In the
title role and his wife imperSonated
the lady. Davis was so charmed with
their rendition of the characters that
he sought an introduction to the huS-
band. COngenial tastes led TO a closer
acquaintance, which developed Into a
lifelong friendship.
In the course of their travels Mr.. and
Mrs. Crisp found themselves in Cincin-
natl, and the Tennessee merchant rode
bv stage near the entire distance TO the
future porkOpolls 10 greet his old
friends again. They came TO Nashville,
and the husband leased the Adelpht
theatre, az that time one OF the most
famous temples of TheSpis to be found
in the west.
The actor organized a 6rSt-class stock
company, and the public responded so
readily to his ability and pluck that for
tune seemed ready 10 beStow her long
withheld favOrS. Highly elated, Crisp
decided TO branch out, and became the
lessee of the best theater in Memphis.
Many an old citizen even now recalls
with pleasing recOllectiOns the golden
era OF the drama in Tennessee which
followed Crisp was in the plentitude
of his powers as an actor, and his wife
was an actor Of clearly recognized
merit.
The father was a scholar OF no mean
a man OF versatile talents
and extensive observation. His wife
was a woman of matronly dignity, high
moral worth and marked culture. They
frequently appeared before the foot
lights and were soon installed prime
fayorites with this theater loving pub
lie. Crisp brought to Tennessee such |
stars as Charlotte CuShman, Julia Dean, |
Eliza Logan, Ada ISaacs Menken, Con- |
nor, Anderson, COuldock and others of
the first magnitude. Occasionally in
OF their visits Crisp and his
wife, with others Of their stock com
pany, would appear in towns within a
radius of 200 miles Of Nashville, and /
Mrs. Crisp became so pronounced a
favOrte with the people Of Huntsville, |
Ala, that they presented to her long
lease OF the theater there on the sole
that she would, even at rare
intervals, play 10 il.
Soon after moving TO Nashville the !
CrispS brought their children here. or
the sons, Harry evinced a decided pref
erence for the stage, and bent his euer-
gleS 20 ft himself for il as a profession.
lie succeeded well, becoming in time
leading man with Salvini. The younger
son, Charles f., was about twelve years
of age. His native SprightlineSS and
manly demeanOr soon attracted the at
tention OF Davis, who approached his
father with the proposition TO take the
lad in his store and train him for a
calling. So young Crisp
was transferred from his home and
became a member OF the Davis house
hold.
The lad accepted the situation cheer
fully and went TO work with will. His
bOyiSh belongings" were moved to the
Davis homestead, and he entered on the
new career with the determination to
earn as q merchant the money which his
parents had failed to wiring from the
stage. His breakfast was dispatched
early, for before sunrise Crisp was ex-
pected 20 De az the store.
The early pedestrians who passed the
Davis establishment often behed the
future Speaker OF the House of Repre-
Of the United States with coat
collar turned high about his tingling
ears In winter. o. ia his shirt sleeves In
summer, by the dim light OF awaking day
SjUrdily ShOveling snow from the door
of his patron, or welding a broom as
tall as himself 10 clear away the dust
from the rude pavement. This prelimi- I
nary task executed, the embryo states
man could take his place behind the
counter and stay there all day with the
exception OF an hour for dinner or Sery-
ice as an errand boy. His constitution
hardened under steady labor, and the
assumption of the duty Of seli-majnte-
nance at so early age laid the fOunda-
tion for that spirit of independence and
which has been so potent
factor Ia the battles of after years.
His companions, now gray-haired, say
that he ShirkeG no duty, and his old en-
ployer pays tribute TO his steadineSS
and morality. Regardless Of the wealth
er he was always prompt in his presence
81 the store, and worked unremittingly
month after month az the side of the
big force Of men under the rich mer-