Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-21
MEMORABLE MEETINGS

MEMORABLE MEETINGS
With Mr.. CIeveland-How "Jach" Stirling
Twice "Stood the President On His
Head" Metaphorically Speaking.
.NetO York Herald.
There are two incidents In eX-Presi-
dement, Cleveland's life connected with
his interest in the stage OF which the
public has never yet been Informed,
much as has that gentleman's private
career been spread before his admirers
and his political opponents.
heard them related the other night
up at the Five AS Club, where theatre
cal people of all degrees, from the man
who does q turn in the variety houses
to the opera tenor and the tragic star,
are wont TO congregate In summer time.
As was chatting with an actor who
did not pay his checks but signed them
overheard some one say in slightly
raised voice, as though it was the finale
to story:
"And that's the way Stirling twice
stood Cleveland on his head"
1t was not difficult TO learn how Mr..
Stirling came to do such remarkable
hing and to so insult the dignity OF the
eader of the Democratic party.
FoNDNEss FOR THE STAGE.
AS doubtless nearly everyone knows,
Mr.. Cleveland has Of late years had a
pronounced liking for the theatre, and
in consequence has quite circle OF
personal friends who are members OF
1.-The profession" So frequent and in
terested a spectator is Mr.. Cleveland
that by many actors he is reckoned TO be
one the best critics in the country. He
seldom missed an important first night
in Washington, and since he has lived
in New York the same has been true
also.
Mr.. Francis Earle Stirling, as his
name appears on the bills, or Jack,
as he is known on Broadway, is young
comedian who at present is the leading
man" in Sol Smith Russell's company
playing in the far west For several
wears he was with the late Mr.. "Billy"
Florence, playing juvenile parts and
acting as stage manager for the star.
READING THE RETURNS.
Il so happened that Mr.. Florence and
Mr.. Cleveland were great friends, and
whenever that popular and wholesouled
actor played in the city where Mr..
Cleveland was the latter never failed to
attend the performance.
In the election Of 1874, when Mr.
Cleveland first ran for the Presidency,
it will be remembered that he was q
resident Of Buffalo and went there from
Albany to vote. Florence was playing
THE Mighty Dollar" in Buffalo on cleo
ton night. The political excitement
ran very high, and the only way the
management could think OF to keep the
people In the house was TO have wire
run into the theatre and place ticker
on the stage from which the returns
could be read between the acts.
AS stage manager ii fell to Mr.. Stir
lipg's lot to come before the curtain
and read the slips. All went well un-
Ill tho middle Of the first act, when
Mr.. Cleveland and party OF state Off
cials came In the stage box. The first
returns had very strong Republican
aspect. In fact, as of course every one
remembers, the result was In doubt for
several DAYS after the election.
When Stirling came out he found
himself within 10 feet OF Mr.. Cleveland
and giving him information which
could be anything but pleasant The
fact that Stirling himself was a strong
Cleveland man did not serve TO make
the task any the more agreeable.
WORSE AND WORSE.
The news kept growing more and
more unfavorable each time the actor
came out. Cleveland's face grew dark
and thoughtful. Stirling could feel the
Governor looking at him as he read out
the unwelcome returns, until finally he
grew so nervous under the despairing
but unfiaching gaze OF the candidate,
and felt so embarrassed by the work g
was doing, which, TO him, seemed like
a succession Of insults 10 Mr.. Cleveland,
that he even asked Mr.. Florence to put
IN a substitute. OF course, the star only
laughed at his childishness.
At last came the news that Buffalo
itself, Mr.. Cleveland's own city, had
gone against him. That seemed TO
settle it, for Mr.. Cleveland got up and
hastily left the box when he heard IT,
and the party followed him. There is
no doubt but that when Mr.. Cleveland
left tho box he believed himself TO be
defeated.
But be wasn't!
THE NEXT MEETING.
Two years aiterward Mr. Florence
was playing an engagement In Wash
iugton. The play was the same, The
Mighty Dollar" Stirling was still ''lu-
yenile" and stage manager. The frst
time be had seen Cleveland was in Buff
falo when be read the unwelcome re-
turns. As he looked over the house
this night again he saw the then Presi-
dent in the stage box. at the end OF
the act Mr.. Florence told him that the
President would probably come back on
the stage, and If he did so to show him
the ''property ROOM" where there was
some wine on ice waiting his arrival.
In one scene Stirling had to make a
headlong exit through the "tormentor
entrance" at the prompt side. He was
supposed to be kicked out OF the room,
and went through the door, landing on
his hands back Of the wing. Nobody
is ever allowed in the ''tormentor" en-
trance except the stage manager, and SO
Stirling always had clear field for bis
acrobatic performance, and never
thought OF looking out for obstacles, Is