The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-09
ACTORS FRIENDSHIP.
Displayed After The Death Of One
Who Went To the Dogs"
A SorrowtuI Gathering in Bare Tenement
ROOM He Had Inhabited.

When this old Shakcspearean actor
that I'm telling you about died there
was a peculiar, maybe a somewhat pa
thetic scene in the poor room around
his bier" said an old theatrical man
| who lives i'm the memories OF the palmy
days, 10 a Washington Star reporter
Never mind about his name. He had
been notable In the support OF the besE
OF the American tragedians for a great
many years. Ike WAS never a big figure
in the eyes OF the public. for he never
had the luck to get anybody to star
/ him. but by such men as Edwin Forest.
! hrsS OF al, then John Mccullough, Ed
| Win Booth, Lawrence Barrett and 9th
/ ers he was regarded as a valuable man
| in the Interpretation OF second heav-
| les in the Shakesperean plays.
We'll. along In the early eighties,
| when he was still able 90 command high
salaries and attach himself 10 The sup
port of the highest men ia the profess
sion, drink Collared him. II got him ter
ribly. i never saw a man get clutchci
by IL with such suddenncss and vio-
| lence. He had not begun 20 drink until
late In life, but men OF that sort are the
4.
table ACTOR and scholarly. dlgnihed man
went square to the dogs inside OF two
years At the end of that time he could
not only get no enga cement but he had
lost many Of his friends. He had spent
all OF his savings. which amounted TO
several thousand dollars and ne had
lost his home over ia one OF the Oranges
OF Now Jersey. His wife left him ana
went 10 her people in England. He
aIf fta IA 50 IN
overcoat. without place 10 sleep In
the middle of winter. Time and again
his old friends picked him out Of the
ditch. got him into hospitals and sani
tariums clothed him. took an Interest
in him, carried him off 10 their own
homes 10 be surrounded by cheering in
nuences-only to have him break out
worse than ever. His friends reluctant
ly gave him up. one by one. Then he
landei on Blackweqrs Island.
after that he was given quite up
n got to b. an old story his trips To
the reformatory institution i'm the East
river II was concluded by all hands
that Blackwelps. after ALL was about
the safest and best place for him. In
general kind Of way 7 always knew
that after the old man had got way
down he had gone 20 live with poor
but extremely kindly Irish family in a
tenement house down Cherry Hill wa>. |
In fact. had happened along that waS |
once or twice just by way Of curiosity
YOU understand to see how tho poor old /
fellow lived. II was very clean set Of |
four rooms-'but. poverty everywhere I
where the Irish family livsl. and the /
+,lA ha+l H. r. hei4-
he wasn't over on the island.
one morning, along toward 10 /
O'Clock in the middle of winter. the
news got To me somehow that the old
actor he'd died in the tenement room
the night before Immediately upon his
release from a thirty day term on the
island. He had been pretty kind TO me
when he was up in the world, and.
while wasn't particularly rich, !
didn't purpose that he should be buried
In Potters Field - I took a cab and
went down Cherry Hill way.
Il walked up the stairs and knocked
on the front door of the Irish family's
set OF rooms. Fanny Davenport opened
the door and let me I'm.
Why. began. with some surprise
how did you know
+" Il was with him when he died last
evening, and remained until had 10
rush of 90 the theatre replied the
woman. quietly. I had the
undertaken here last night. our poor
friend ~ already prepared Cor burial. !
He was good to me. We shall take him
Ia Greenwood
she couldn't say any more. and 1t
wasn't necessary anyhow. had |
hardly taken of my hat and gloves be-
'ore there Was quiet tap on the door
opened il. Augustin DAILY stood re-
'ealed. Reside him was Father Ducey
We had all really come from differ
mt drections under initiatives. We
alked quietly FOR a bit when
tf hct T.,
loor. | opened il and let Emma Abbott
n. There have been few swecter- souled
women i'm the world than Emma Abb
,ott.
He was good 90 me. she said quiet
Y. After l had learned something
bout singing he taught me what |
NOW about acting. He was very pa
lent with me. l just heard
We'll. We were complete as a party
hen We went into the room where
he old maii-he who had been prince
D generosity. king in courtesy.-Iay
leeping. ald Father Ducey-the still
tllIahle, haanAnl4-4lt .4-lllit. I4ti--t-+-
cad the service OF the Roman Catholic
hurch. He said a few words He. too.
ad known our friend i'm his better as
'ell as in his fallen days.
DAILY s'epped forward theu. and
'ith bowed head be told OF NrAt a
oNl man ne na' known mis- Door Old
IAN who Law dead before,ue TO be.
'aly felt pretty bad as he SPOKE. and '
o couldn't 40 pn.
Then Emma Abbott who had been
tting In 2 dark corner of the lituc
are room. advanced 90 the foot of the
lsket. she sang Angels Ever Bright
al FAIR M accompaniment. OF
lure. You recall The sweetness of her
jlcee NrW, ns "a matter az fact
either DAILY, Duc,y or mvsclf. was an
notional man-far from it But tho
ndoiuess. and th- insuirntion OF that r
'nE as the pure-soulcd little woman
the stage sang IL wore almost un-
,ara bile
Then We took Wir moor OH friends
idy aWav--out TO Greenwood I've r
ways thought that was queer meet L
x We all had. coming from different |
rections in THAI poor. bare tenement
ON"
BUlleH N rs HOWE. .