Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-08

FRANCIS WILSON. house is delight ful symposium of architectural after thoughts, while inside it is a veritable mu- scum containing a lavish profusion of pre- cious relics gathered by the actor from many lands In his 'den" I found the Lion Tanner looking over little stack of the lat est books which had just arrived from the publishers.
 The bookcases in the 'den" grcar under accumulations of the finest editions of works in English, French and German, for their versatile owner has mastered other languages besides his own. A broad stained glass window mellows the light, and a ca pacious window seat is smothered beneath a confusion of books and works of art rep resenting the educational life of the actor
 One passenger at least never fails to alight from the midnight train at New Rochelle, for Mir. Wilson returns to his "den" every night immediately after the performance when he is playing in New York. Here, in his quiet and scholarly re- treat, while his neighbors sleep. the actor has coffee served with two lumps." and then, drawing the student lamp nearer, drops back through the centuries to enjoy the companionship of his favorite Plato or of his beloved Horace oftentimes till dawn.
 Socially, however, MT. Wilson is bon vivant and a 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 are peculiar energy and boylike enthu- siasm that are contagious. At home he is indeed a Merry Monarch, though he does not reign alone, for in the living rooms the arrangement of the furniture, bric-a-brac and dainties betoken wifely and mother ly presence.
 With so luxurious a home MT. Wilson must be wealthy. His wealth is, in fact, represented by six figures, while it is un- derstood that he is reaping about $S0,0O0 annually. And he is wealthy because he is a thorough business man.
 We left the house together, Mir Wilson having volunteered to accompany me short distance down the road. He had set slouch 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 a dig nifed St. Bernard. His dogs and his horses, by the way, are all thoroughbreds and ev- cry year he sends to the county fair more Cnan one Splenulu specimen OI CdlUle, not to mention fowls and fruit, from his own "Orchard."
 "Here,' he continued as he saluted neighboring farmer fraternally-"here spend the five months intervening between my seasons, as we'll as every hour during the season which can spare from the theater.
 How did come to choose this spot? It 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&hich had long entertained of living in the coun- try, resolved to build my nest within half an hour of the city, and accordingly after long search I selected this site. And be- sides, the children, you know'-here he paused to allow his little daughter Frances to overtake us-''the children, you know, down there in the city began to look pale"
 He said this with peculiarly earnest ex- pression, and remembered that when we went into the children's playroom before leaving the house the father had fingered