The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-18
j. *. EMsrErs CAREER.
ThoLife: of tho Great Comedian as Told b!
Himself.


Tho, of tho Great Comedian as Told by
Himself.
Joseph X. Emmett began lite as a sign
painter in st. Louis, where he was born
March 10, 1874. He was not in love with
the occupation, and gave it up. Two
years ago he gave this artless account of
his youth and the beginning Of his
career:
.fWhon Twas old enough 1 was sent
to school in st. Louis, TO Col. Dave
Armstrong. j was u very bad boy, l
guess, for the old Colonel used to thrash
me pretty often and severely. would
MT study, and remember that the Col
onel would call me up and repeat the
old saw about bird that can sing and
won't sing being made to sing, and then
he would light on me and pepper
me like fury. 1 struggled along
about as other boys do, and
finally learned little sign-painting
and worked ut that. always had a
musical benz, and my first appearance
in public was as a drummer in the
orchestra at Deagle's Varieties. One
afternoon we were sitting around, and
as there was q piano i'll the, room, I
strolled oyer TO it, and sitting down, l
sang song, accompanying myself on
the instrument. The manager CHANGED
to be in another room and, walking in,
asked who who was it that had sheen
singing, l pleaded guilty, and as he
was in needof attractions, he said: "l'll
give YOU S25, to 30 on the stage and sing
that song" "When?" / asked. "Be-
ginning tonight" he said. "And that
night | went on and was very favorably
received by the audience. After
week l went TO him and told
him l thought l would give him a
song and dance, and he told me that il
would | should have s. more week.
III short time they put on new pIay,
and in making up the cast they needed
some one for an Irish part and the man
ager who had heard me telling an Irish
Story gave the part to me. That was
my first appearance in character acting.
This play was succeeded by Jack Shep-
pard and l was given the part OF Men
dez, which changed into German aud
made great hit. The papers spoke
kindly OF me and praised my perform
ance. which, have no doubt, was more
than it deserved. From that time on,
however, ! have stuck to German parts
and out OF that has grown my reputa-
ton"
He made fair success of "Carl, the
Fiddler" another play written for him
by Gayler, but he abandoned it and re-
turned TO "Fritz." "Fritz" was rewrit-
ten again aud again, but in every altera-
fion the end Of giving Emmett chance
to uAe his musical voice and bring out
his troupe OF children and dog was
kept steadily in view. The failure OF
Gayler to produce third play within
the stipulated time led to their separa.
ton, and Emmett formed a company OF
his own. He made two trips TO Europe,
playing in England and Ireland to large
audiences. There were several versions
OF Fritz "Fritz in Ireland" and
another "Fritz Among the Gypsies."
AS an actor he was the personifcation
OF the greatest good humor.
Towards the latter portion Of his Gu
reer he led q most incorporate life,
spent vast sums Of money in debauchery
and forfeited MS mnch more by failures
to keep his engagements. A year ago,
bis wife, to whom he was married in
st. Louis in July, 1864, brought suit for
divorce on the ground OF infdelity, his
leading Indy. MiBs Maud White, being
named as the correspondent. He insti-
tuted cross-suit, but withdrew it with
in less than month, and settled on his
wife sum OF money which enabled her
TO live Comfortably.