The morning call., 1893-12-17
ROCK ME TO SLEEP.
Last Scene on a Closing
Night.
CHARLIE HARRIS PRAYER.
He Wanted to Hear Charlie
Gardner Sing.
A DEAThBED IN ROSES.
The First Actor to Pass Away Be-
meath the Roof of ST. Luke's
Hospital, Chicago.

A little group Of actors who are PLAYING
in the city sat in the grilroom of the Pal
ace Hotel few evenings ago partaking of
lunch before going TO the dresSng-rOOm.
The shades of night had begun TO fall and
the gas had just been lighted. shedding its
mellow rays around the room. AS was
natural, their conversation drfted TO their
profession. The names of several prom
inent actors now long since passed away
were mentioned and their careers COM
mented upon in kindly tones. Each had
story 20 tell OF some one once famous on
the stage who had risen from an obscure
position IN life TO one OF prominence. The
trials and struggles in placing the profess
sion in its proper light before the social
world wers discussed, and many humiIi-
ating experience was told as coming under
personal observation or from playing the
leading part in it, Presently one of the
party spoke up and said il there was still
time enough he had in mind a case with
which probably none present was familiar.
and which needed only recital TO show
that which an actor TealiZed-his profess
sion was contemptuously looked upon by
many.
Yes, there was plenty of time, all agreed,
and the speaker was urged to tell his
story.
1t proved TO be of Charlie Harris, the
comedian who for many years played
parts in one Or the other of A. Nj. Palmers
companies. and died in Chicago about
year ago. All present knew him, aud be-
hind the curtain at different times had
heard of his deathbed, but never the story
from an eyewitness. The speaker low
cred his voice, while his eyes were moist
as he said:
well. L was present at that deathbed,
and time will fail to erase from my men,
DRY the scenes That were presented in that
chamber. Ii is Just one year ago this
month that Charlie was laid at rest in
Calvary Cemetery. l was at the time
playing an engagement at the Chicago
Opera-house. Charley was with one Of
Palmer's companies at the Columbia. For
a year previous he had been consumptiye,
but was able 10 do his work with the same
grace as in his prime. Ii was on the COM
pany's closing night at the Columbia that
the announcement was made from the
stage that Mr.. Harris had been taken i'll
and would not be able TO appear. A muir
muir of regret ran through the audience.
HIS lines were read by an un0erStudy and
that night the company closed. The fol-
lowing morning they left for Milwaukee,
where they opened next night. leaving
Harris confined to his bed in the Palmer
House to the care of the profession. On
Sunday morning message was sent TO Mr..
Palmer, at New York. informing him that
Charlie was dying and within few hours
a reply was received 10 remove him TO the
best hospital in the city; TO see that he had
all that would tend TO add 10 his comfort
and charge all the expense to him.
wv. b. Crane, with his company, was
playing at Hooley's Theater, and to him
was assigned the work of removing Har-
ris. During the afternoon Mr.. Crane, ac-
companied by one of the members of bis
company, took carriage and drove out to
ST. Luke's Hospital to arrange for Harris
admission. They met the manager and
Informed him of their errand. You can
hardly imagine Mr.. Cranes surprise
when he was told tn at actors had never
been admitted into the institution. Re-
monstraton was Of no avail, and. deeply
feeling the insult offered their profession,
the two actors took their departure. They
proceeded at once to Hooley's Theater,
where they met Mr.. Hooley and to him
told their story. He received the news
with great surprise. and gave promise that
he would investigate the matter. which ne
assured the actors must IL some way be
connected with misunderstanding. That
evening, in company with Mr.. McVicker,
of McVicker's Theater he paid a visit to
st. Luke's ard brought back with him
permission to remove Harris to the nstitu-
ton. The following day the sick man was
carried from his cot, in the Palmer House,
TO carriage and conveyed to luxuriously
furnished ward in ST. Luke's.
The bright disposition Of the man was
fast dying out. For five days he lived In
his Der, each succeeding day showing
a marked decline over the previous one.
Every day he was visited by hUsts of
friends, bringing fruit and flowers. of the
latter of which he was very fond. 1t often
brought tears TO the eyes of those present
when a bouquet or basket of flowers was
placed upon his bed. He would gently
pick them up in his withered hands, and,
pressing them TO his lips, softly murmur,
Thanks
'Itwas on the fifth day after entering Che
hospital that he died. In the morning Mr..
Crane called and spent an hour in his
chamber. Little was said, Charlie pre-
ferring silence, and Mr.. Crane was about
to take his departure. BE had shaken the
hands OF the dying man. had hidden him
good-by and was advancing to the door
when feeble voice cried out:
BILLY, don't CO. l am lonely this after
noon"
MIR. Craze turned and saw a smile on
the countenance of the comedian. He