Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-27


fnl symposium OF architectural after
thoughts, while inside 1t is yertabe mu-
scum containing lavish profusion Of pre-
clous relics gathered by the actor from many
lands. In his den ! found the Lion
Tanner looking over u little stack OF the lat
est books which had just arrived from the
publishers
The bookcases in the "den" groan under
Recommendations of the finest editions or
works in English. French end German, for
their versatile owner has mastered other
lanuuapes besides his own. a. broad stained
nIass window mciiowS the light and a ca
racious window scat is smothered beneath
a confusion of books and works OF art rep
regenting the educational life of the actor.
One PASSENGER Mt least never fails to
aliQhG from tie midnight train at New
Rochelle, for Mr.. Wilson returns to his
,.den'' every night Immediately after the
performance when he is playing in Nav
York. Here, in his quiet and scholarly re-
treat, while his neighbors sleep, the actor
has colfec served with Two Jumps" and
then. drawing the student lamp nearer,
drops back through the centuries to enjoy
the companonship of his favorite Plato or
of his beloved Horace oftentmes till dawn.
Socially, however, Mr.. Wilson is q bon
yiyant and good story teller. A letter to
him from Edwin Booth especially praises
his stage work for its entire freedom from
effort" and the friends of the clever come
dian know that he Is as equally free from
, effort of The stage" In all he does there
nre a peculiar energy and boylike enthu-
sasm that are contagious. At home he is
indeed Merry Monarch, though he does
not reign alone, for in the living rooms the
arrangement Of the furniture, bric-a-brac
and dainties betoken a wifely and mother
ly presence.
With so luxurious home Mr.. Wilson
must be wealthy. His wealth is, in fact,
represented by six figures, while it is I'M
derstood that he is reaping about $4,000
annually. And he is wealthy because he is
thorough business man.
We left the house together, Mr.. Wilson
having volunteered to accompany me a
short distance down the road He had set
SLOUGH hat carelessly on his head, and
this. together with his jaunty suit of steel
corduroy, made him picturesque figure.
YES, if every actor would live in or near
New York, he would save money, enjoy
better health and have more time to spend
with his family"
He said this as he paused to caress dig
by the way, are all thoroughbreds, and ev
cry year he sends to the county fair more
than one splendid specimen of CATTLE not
to mention fow;s and fruit, from his own
Orchard"
Here" he continued as he saluted
neighboring farmer ernally-"here 1
spend the five months intervening between
my seasons, as well rs every hour during the
season which can spare from the theater.
How did come to choose this spot? 1t
was this way: New York is the Mecca of
the theatrical profession. Every actor from
the super Up to the star spends most of his
time in the metropolis. Approaching this
fact in connection with the ambition which
i had long entertained of living in the coun-
try, Iresolved to build my nest within half
an hour of the city, and accordingly after
= long search selected this site. And be-
sides, the children, you know"--here he
paused to allow his little daughter Frances
to oyertake us-"the children. you know,
down there in the city began to look pale"
He said this with peculiarly earnest ex-
precision, and | remembered that when we
went into the children's playroom before
leaving the house the father had fingered