Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE BEGINNING OF A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
on THE STAGE.
Entertaining His Fellow Workers in 3 Tpys
Foandry-His Ambition to Appear in
Broadway Thsatrs-Ths Result Of Bar
nsy Williams Display Of Jealousy.
n. Y. Sun.

" T. Sun.
Florence was graduated from Public
School No. >, in Henry street, near
Pike. He had gained rudimentary
education, the foundation of later eX-
tensive learning, including the French.
German, and Italian languages, which
he acquired by travel aud contact. He
had proiigious memory. He told me
that he was paid boys fortune, say
$50, when he was little kid, for writ
ing the once popular one-act piece from
the French, called 1.-THE First Night; or,
the Debutante, for the late Frank Chau-
frau, who utilized it for the Introduction
of his capital limitations of promi-
neut actors. Billy had seen the piece
somewhere and memoriZed 10. No copy
OF the sketch was known 10 be in print,
Chanfrau announced openly that he
would willingly pay big price for one
IL it could be produced. Florence heard
OF the offer-he was a call boy at the Old
Bowery-and Immediately set u work TO
write the piece. In two days he had IL
ready and subdivided into parts. Chan
frau could hardly believe the story, but
being satisfied with the copy, paid the
boy the coveted prize. heard Chan
frau and Florence talking In Phiadel-
phia about the remarkable feat nearly
forty years afterward.
Even at an early age Billy was a
promising actor. He had been to Rich
mond, where he gave satisfaction as an
all-around member of the regular stock
company OF the Richmond Theatre, and
had supported the elder Booth, playing
Richmond" TO his Richard" He
was very good looking, and, being
aware Of it, ne took particular pains in
dressing. That habit he kept up to the
time of his death. He was a good son,
and in all his wanderings never forgot
his mother, who became q widow In
1916, with eight young children TO care
for. Those who were large enough TO
work contributed to the support OF the
family, Billy,at first, working in Bruce's
type foundry, Beekman and William
streets, where he developed his stage
ability. At the noon hour he enter
tanned his fellow apprentices with song,
dance, imitation and recitation, and TO
gain their soul-stirring plaudits he re-
hearsed at home TO the Infinite aston
ishment OF his old mother Before that
he had given indications of his tendency
TO the disgust Of his father. who had
discovered matinees In the cellar at
tended by the barefooted elite OF the
neighborhood.
In those days the actor hardly had
the social consideration that he enjoys
now, and Billy suffered under the gen.
eral ostraciSm, which his father eXer-
cised with a cat-o'-nine tails in the wood
shed in the back yard in Attorney street.
One bitter cold winter night there was
a big benefit performance in the old
Chatham theatre, and Billy couldn't re-
sist the temptation to enjoy it, notwith-
standing the imperative charge OF his
father to remain In the house and the
prospect OF severe chastsement in the
event OF disobedience. Something like
five full pieces were announced, TO say
nothing about interludes of singing and
dancing. At about o'clock the irate
father missed the boy, and believed he
had, after all, gone to the show. He re-
solved not only to sit up for him, but TO
arm himself with stingaree, and stand
on post in the street about the time he
fanCied that Billy would be sneaking
home. At II o'clock he went out, and,
sentinel-like-he was British soldier
before he emigrated from Ireiand-he
paced up and down the sidewalk. AT
about half past ~ o'clock he thought
it not bad idea to step into
the house for minute. he went
to the garrett, where Billy slept, listened
a moment to unmstakable heavy breath
ing, punctuated with light snoring, and,
venturing to the door, demanded TO
know who was there. 'Is that you,
father?" came in gaping voice. II
didn't think it was morning yet. I'll
get up. sir" The father was astonish-
ed. Billy had noticed the patient vigil
of his father, scaled the fence, entered
the house by the back way, and jumped
into bed with his boots on.
was Mr.. Forence's first agent-let
US call it business manager-when he
resolved to become star. We were
fast friends as far back az 1852, before
his marriage TO the dashing danseuse,
Miss Malvina. That's forty years ago!
They were married by Methodist min
lister on New Years Day, 1853. She
was the daughter OF Henry Pray, master
carpenter OF the Broadway Theatre,
corner OF Anthony, now Worth street,
who was killed by the fall OF the curtain
roller. Florence was member Of the
Brougham's Lyceum company and Miss
Malvina was the danseuse at the time
OF their engagement to marry. Flor
ence had benefit and Malvina made
her debut as an actress on that event
ful occasion. He appeared as Tim
Dribble, an Irishman, and she
as Nan in the farce OF 1.-THE Good for
Nothing" He had coached her for a
long while, but she was an apt pupil
and she made decided hit. Their
success was ominous to Mr.. and Mrs.
Barney Williams, who were OF the
great stars of the day, and coming
money very fast. Mrs. Williams and
Malvina were sisters, and, presumably,
the relationship suggested to Mr.. Flor
ence that another pair In the same line
would find ample encouragement, as he
and his wife were announced soon as
1.-The Young American Couple" pre-
pared TO dispute the title OF the brother
iu-law and sister 10 supremacy as repre-
sentatives and impersonators OF Celtic
and New England characters. Billy
was en- excellent stage Irishman, and
he had the advantage of being a very
good actor. Barney had the advantage
of being Irish born and bred, but be
lacked Florence's natural histrionic
ability which thorough training with a
regular stock company had fully devel-
oped, broadened, and matured. Barney
was a one-part actor, that is. he con-
fined his efforts to peasant parts, but IL
brought him q vast fortune. he was a
!