Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-14

he felt assured that great things
were in store for them. he asked
me 10 call on Ethelbert a. Marshaii,
manager of the Broadway Theatre 70
| see IL he and Mrs. Florence couio nave
a week there. Marshall not only man
aged the great metropolitan estaohsn-
men.. but he had the Walnut street
Theatre, Philadelphia, and the Natlonai
! Theatre, Washington, In his circuit,
Florence was then % years OF age l
was a full year older. / remember tne
| interview with the theatrical maghate
as well as IL II had had occurred yes
! terday. He received me very courteous
ly until | mad made known the OBJECT
of nv visit when saw q smile
| craving upon his face which, l
was apprehensiYe, would develop
into laugh. That annoyed
me. and believe that let him per-
ceiye il. He talked technically, that Is,
Electrically SLOPPY, which was new 10
me. while talked as one trying 10 ei-
| fect a sale of goods. The one great oo-
/ lection 10 tho proposed engagement was
/ the fact that the Florences were about
20 enter the same line OF business as
Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams, who had
concluded remarkably successful en-,
gagement at the house, and MarSnall
believed that il would be unfair TO the
latter to encourage their proposed RI
walls. Next. the Florences were TOO
Young. "If Mr.. and Mrs. Williams
were not IN the way, however, l
wouldn't look upon the youth OF the
Florence team rs SO great
an objection after ALL" saw the
sarcasm and felt Ike re-
sentinr IL. I was foreman OF Rutgers
Hose Company %, or had been and IL
occurred To me that 10 wouldn't De
bad idea TO take my coat oil ana give
emphatic expression 10 my opinion oil
man who didn't look st things with my
eyes. However, he "felt very sorry
and believed that the day might arrive
possibly when he would be only too glad
10 have the Florences at his theatres.
Only very few years ago Mr.. Marsh
all was the back door-keeper OF the
Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia,
that had at one time been In his circuit.
His salary was very small. He was
aged and feeble. A complimentary
benefit was arranged to help the old
man, aud Mr.. aud Mrs. Florence took
prominent parts.
After leaving the managers Office !
returned TO Florence TO tell him OF the
failure OF my efforts, but he didn't share
in my Indignation. Twas always so
with him. His ways were the ways OF
peace. He was slow TO anger, and he
never displayed temper. have known
him to be nagged in q manner that
would put me in FRENZY, but he smiled
and gave the soft answer that turned
away wrath.
Look here, Billy" exclaimed, this
man Marshall isn't the only manager in
America. Suppose see Purdy Of the
National? Would you mind playing in
Chatham street?n The suggestion met
with eager approval. / called at the
theatre in the evening and bad brief
interview with the manager, Mr.. a. ii.
Purdy. He was fat little fellow, very
consequential, and the most prominent
feature Of his dress was huge watch
fob chain that he dangled constantly.
The house was not doing particularly
well, and the ingratitude OF Mr.. and
MIS-. DuIutl w lllldulss bNAA hg'A W
their ambition TO play on Broad
way rather than TO continue at
the house In Chatham street, ranked
in Purdy's bosom. The situation was
ripe for my commission. Are you
ready to sign now?" he asked bluntly.
was. He drew up the contract. /
cared little for its details except that IL
gave Billy and his wife their long
looked-for opportunity. L attached my
name 10 the instrument, and the Flor
ences thenceiorth, or for more than
thirty-fve years, were recognized as
stars OF the first magnitude. Their
opening night at the National was Mon
day, June 30, 1853. The few places Of
amusement In New York were patron
| ICED almost as much during the summer
as any other time. Florence and were
| IN 1859 co-lessees OF Wallack's first the
atre, at Broadway near Broome street,
and our greatest house was the night OF
the Fourth Of July
The first piece OF this the 6rst en-
gagement of the Florences was Gre
| land as IL Is" with Mr.. Florence as
| Ragged Pat. That was followed by a
pas Selh by Mrs. Florence, who was
billed as "late Miss Malyina," after
which came 1.-THE Yankee GAL" with
Mrs. Florence as Peg Ann Mehitable
Higginnuter, with songs and dances.
| Mr.. Florence playing an Irish part.
! The concluding attraction was for the
| stock company and called THE Patrol
! Of the Mountain" with &. L. Fox, who
became famous as Humpty Dumpty, In
low comedy part. Purdy chuckled over
| the engagement, as IL gave him the de-
sired opportunity to get even with Bar
ney Williams for deserving the scene Of
| his early successes. On the other
hand, Barney chafed until he worked
himself into a fever Of jeslousy. The
| triumph OF the Florences, and IL came
on the very first night OF their appear
ance, meant the advent OF formidable
rival I'm a field that he had fancied was
his own, and he made the mistake Of ex-
! hibiting his cha2rin. Florence was
elated, and went TO the factors plaza"
of that time, which was the sidewalk OF
Rabineau's saloon and Burton's Theatre
| in Chambers street, 10 receive the con-
gratulatIons Of his brother profession
/ ais. Barney was there, entertaining a
| few friends with his grievances, when
be espied Florence passing the walls OF
| the Manhattan reservoir, near Centre
street, and opposite the general post
Office or rotunda. He was a man Of I'M
governable temper aud quick impulse,
ana was rough-and-tumble fighter Of
no mean order. He instantly declared
/ his intention to thrash his rival, and as
/ soon as Florence came near him he rush
ed him and struck him singing blow
in the face, drawing blood. He would
! have repeated IL had not bystanders in