The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-25
LORD FAUNTLER0Y.
Tommy Russell Now One OF the
University Eleven.
lie Has Been a. Football Player for
Two Years.

greatest interest and its rugged players
are being glorifiso, 1t comes out that Tom
Russell, at one tine the dear little
Tommy or the long, fauntleroy curls'
who was rsved over by theatrical
audiences all over the country, Is one OF
the eleven OF the University OF tho City
of New York.
The contrast OF the ineffsble Little Lord
Fauntleroy and an athletic footbailist Is
in the nature OF a shock. but to some OF
the spectators OF the game, particularly
some among the aomiring girls ana
Young women the sensation was rather
thrill.
Young Russelps transformation INTO
football player seemed, at any rate 10
afford Justification for one OF the JOKES
which were sprung at mis- expense In
tine time OF his vogue as the little Loro'
A fearful little boy, garbed as the popu-
lar idol, but wearing very un-Fauntie-
roy face, was represented rs saying' when
asked what was the matter, 'Oh, mas
irving TO make one of those dam cherubs
out of me.
AT less than 1876 pounds Russell was
playing against heavier weights ana
wasn't missing any chances. But TINS
isn't written as an account of the game.
Ii il 10 let the world known what young
Russell is doing now that the fierce light
that beats upon the stage has ceased 10
glare upon him. He has been play ing for
two years; he began before he entered
the university, where he is now In his
sophomore year. But 1t is safe TO say
that not one in O thousand to whom his
name was q household word knew what
had become OF him, or dreamed that
the boy who so recently was Fauntleroy
perfection, could have developed into
footba athlete. Only mis- personal
friends knew OF 1t, for he doesn't tell OF
his achievements wherever he goes.As one
OF The foot ball team and one Of the ira ck
team, and q mem Der OF the University
Glee Club, he has gone about as plain
4. II. Russell, and thus escaped recogni.
tion.
Eight years ago this comingsChristmss,
as Tommy Russell, Little Lord Fauntle-
roy, ne filled a big thester Of New York,
and on the following day the regular
Wednesday matinee. people were turned
away at the door. The enthusiastic
Christmas day audience passed Christmas
gifts over the footlight to him. Kathryn
Kidder, whose emotions were within
limits when she played with Elsie Leslie,
left the stage . with real tears In her eyes
when she played with Tommy. The ten
der scenes of lovemaking with "Dearsst'
won hearts bv the hundred.
Somebody Yemem bered 1t and just
oncs said "Dearest" when young Russell,
no Is now IS, was on the football field.
1t was as il University heights were
whispering gallery. In an hour and for
all day Quarter Back Russell had to
hear the susurrus and echoes OF countless
"De arests" into which exhrberant col
lege boys put intonations that acted Ike
stretchers on the faces of ell auditors and
broadened them out In good-nstured
smiles.
DEAREST awakened all around mem
ories of the boy who, desiring to give
Edwin Booth Christmas present sent
him a tin soldier. His etage successes and
consequent newspaper notoriety did not
turn Tom RusseIl'e head nor spoil him,
nor arouse an itcn to continue in the
glamour.
"For a child to go on the stage and dc
wnat is given HIM to do is not any indi'
cation of budding genius" he said yes
terday; 81 did nothing to give promise
of ability as an actor. All that doesn't
amount to anything. I DO not talk about
1t or want to bring IL up. don't Intend
to follow the stage. have other plans
The Fsuntleroy furore lasted four years
from 1856 until 1890. "When that ended
/ rested.n Russell continued, "whict
means," he added drily, "thar didn, 4
have Job for six months Then / wen'
out with Prince and Pauper for little
while, but haven't done anything In The
way of acting since, except to appear
three times as Pygmalion in 'Pygmalior
and Galates,' three or four years ago, fol-
! the benefit OF the Actors Fund. i beRar
school then, and kept at 1t till two years
ago, when l got here"
He is pleased at having got on the foot
ball and track teams Of the university
and at having become member OF th'
Glee and Banjo Club, for his activity was
not ell absorbed in the studies. lie
might perhaps have been chosen as one o
| the baseball .eam had he not hurt his ankle
in the spring. Last year, on the football
team. he played left end. Although light
for an athlete, he has some of the nerve
that chsrscterizes his sister. Ann:'
| Russell and no is trim and sinewy. He
takes his light weight good -humoredly
and says that the only reason he Is o
any use at football is because he Is 81
thin and angular tnat II hurts to rur
against him. On the track team no wa
the hurdle man, and four medals won
show what he did there.
lie lives with n chum at the Zets Ps
| Club. The walls Of their room arr
covered with the beginning OF a collec
iion OF posters which Russell started las
summer. when, With his sister he mad
A..