The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-16
Fitz as an Actor
He and His Wife to Tour
in a Play Written for Them.

act play, which has been written espec-
tally Off them, they are to tour the Gun
try, starting in New York early this fall
This important and gratifying rews.
which means that everybody III the United
States. who wishes to. may see "Fitz'
and his charming wife, who was once so
popular as Rose Julian, both at their very
best, is the result of the following situa-
ton.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons wished her husband
to retire permanently from the ring.
The public preferred that its idol should
stay where he was.
Mr.. Fitzsimmons himself, while defer
entail to his wife's judgment. rather in
clined to share the public's view.
So the theatrical scheme was agreed
upon as a compromise. The fighter hero
will give his admirers a chance to watch
and applaud him for at least one season
will be contributed by Mrs. Fitzsimmons,
who is still young, beautiful and radiant
And all the amazing tricks and turns that
any one performance could be made to
include viii be supplied by the famous
Fitzsimmons menagerie. the pony leading.
The army of pugilists who have been
watching to see what the great Austral
ian would do on his retirement will now
be obliged to confess their envy and
despair
Everybody with a series of victories to
his credit may be welcomed on the stage
and live his destined hour as an actor.
But not everybody can have the cooper
alton Of so beautiful and gifted a woman
as Mrs. Rose Fitzsimmons. The wise
Of ho
company, PIG Williams know this quite
rs well as Mrs. Fitzsimmons knows that
she has the handsomest and most lovable
husband in the world. So it is under
stood well that with the Fitzsimmonses
once on the stage, dramatic stars the
country over will best beware.
The plans for the venture so far as
they have been decided upon were told
for the Sunday World a-day or so ago by
Mrs. Fitzsimmons in her summer home
at Bergen Beach. To this devoted wife, it
may as well be explained, the dramatic
horizon is outlined by the swing of Fits
good right arm, and the interest of the
new play begins and ends in the pugilists
honest freckled face.
I'm going on the stage again." she
said, while keeping one eye on the re-
markable maneuvres Of Robert, Jr., and
his playmates. for Bob's sake
4 realize that people don't want him
to drop out of sight, and that nobody
could enter theatrical life with greater
popularity than he has now. So I am
strongly in favor of his acting for time
But he does not want to go without me,
so I am bound to go, too, though I will
cnr,fa haf -
dren'-
. Four-year-old Robert, who never for a
moment forgets the prestige of the family
name or the obligation of living up to it,
was just then engaged in disciplining two
ysar-old Rose, who submitted cheerfully-
Even if they had all the nurses in the
world to look after them.
our scheme is only just decided upon,
You see. Mr.. Fitz has been hard at kork
training all summer and we've thought
Of nothing else but the 1ghts-and we
have not said a word about it TO anyone
yet Vaudeville? No. indeed; legitimate
We're to have a brand new play"
Everybody tells Mr.. Fitz that what the
public is interested in is himself and his
life, and what he has done to make him
self what he Island in his wife, too, a
little. though I don't believe it-and so
that is exactly the material THAI has been
chosen for the play. It will be rather
taking, I think-Bob Fitzsimmcn's life
acted by. himself!
The play is to be in three acts, rather
tong ones.
The first act is laid in Australia-Bob'
early home. He is to be a blacksmith and
hr
There are to be a few incidents to show
elis beginning as a fghter-as q matter of
fact, he whipped everybody out there
bare-handed'-
Say, boys" called out a youngster in
the yard Bob says leave that ball
alone" There was instant obedience. The
Bergen Beach children would no sooner
DEFY the absolute authority of this mas
terful four-year-old than the ordinary
boxer would think of challenging the
father-"And after awhile somebody
comes along and tells Bob about America
the wonderful great country where there
are so many lighters and so good q
chance for a new one-and Bob listens
eagerly and decides to go"
Anybody, by the way. who cares to
know how the hero will look in this first
act has only to glance at the sculptured
Fitzsimmons adorning the Dewey arch.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons has photograph of
this statue, Of which she is very proud.
II they only wouldn't make him look
50 old and bald" she sighed. For he
really does look young. doesn't he
Mrs. Fitzsimmons very properly thinks
that no photographer could have a more
quartet which she refers TO as Mr.. Fitz
and the children"
Where do / come I'M" The second act. |
The fighter meets the heroine and they
fan in love. Then there is scene show
ins him in mis- quarters. training for the
great battle with the champion. All this,
of course, is in America. And YOU viii
see how much happens In this act when
tell YOU that he both wins and loses the (
championship. That ought to be exciting,
don't you thnke"
We are TO have the pony In this act !
The enc that Mr.. Fitz is so fond of max /
ing shoes for. There Will be a wrestling 4
match between the fighter and the horse 1
Besides. We are 20 have as many of our 1
as we can train sufficiently 10 20 on the (
stage. An audience always likes that, /
and il viii help 10 make II lively.
The last act is simpler. THAT Is. the .
heroine-am alone waiting ta hear the 4
result Of the great fight that Fitz IS .
fighting TO regain the championship-with f.
Jefries, you know. OF course. 1 am hor- /
rihly anxious and ali that-and I assure .
you I shall be able TO act tha; realistic .
enough. suddenly a boy conas in with /
an Evening Norld-Fitz lasss-T fsin-