The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-25
ROBSON IN POLITICS.
Noted Actor Recalls Days When He
Was a Senate Page.
lAtIanta JouTnaL.l


Stuart Robson $ personal representative.
William Ray l-ond Sill, was in Atlanta
yesterday, and in the course of conversa-
ton with a Journal representative said:
Mr.. Robson has been so long identified
with the stage that few people know he
once had political ambitions. That was
back IN the late 4Os and ne was abOy
OF tender years These ambitions were
furthered by four of the creates men
the south has ever prOduced-Henry Clay,
John &. Calhoun Jefferson DAVIS and
Robert TOOmbS. 1t was through these
men that Mr. Robson became d page in
the house of representative, and later,
through this same influence, he was
transferred to the senate.
MIR. ROUsOn WAS recalling those days
as We sat in conversation at the St.
Charles, New Orleans, one afternoon last
week, continued Mr. Sill and this
briefly was the story he told:
j was a boy OF II, living with my
parents IN Baltimore. At nat time l was
undetermined whether to become a great
statesman or great actor. Arthur Pue
German, a playmate, wanted me to be-
come a statesman, while three other play
mates, Edwin and John Wilkes Booth,
and John Sleeper Clark, wanted me to
become an actor. After much dehBesa-
ton of my bOyish mind I decided to go
with German TO Washington and en-
bark upon political career as a page in
congress. 1 mad little influence. German
a great deal. lie was speedily appointed,
but l hung around for days, my pros
poets OF obtaining the position growing
fainter and fainter. 1t seemed that the
fact I came from the s0uth-Maryland-
was operating against me, and such men
as Daniel Webster, Charles sumner and
William II. Seward we're determined that
no more southern boys should be made
pages. Then IL was that Tocmbs Of
Georgia came TO my rescue. He learned
that my ancestors were all Georgians.
and that settled it in his mind. He called
Clay and Calhoun and Davis to his aid
and together they went 70 the doorkeeper
I can remember that covering official.
he was big man, with q mighty voice.
" This boy people came from Georgia,
sir he Numbered, and we demand his
appointment as a page, sir. IF he does
not get in, you set out, sir. Remember
that, and five minutes later ] was made
a page Of the house and was later traAs-
ferred TO the senate. It Is surprising
that great men should have made so
| much significance of a trivial matter,
such as the appointment OF a page at 81
day, but IL certainly angered Webster
and Seward, and they never forgave
Toombs I have always thought
" Jefferson Davis was always kind and
/ considerable, and with Henry Clay and
| Stephen A Douglas. was idOlized by US
| boys. ] recall well the scene in the SEN
ate when Davis arose and announced the
/ withdrawal of Alabama from the Union.
| That was years after l had lost my pOliti-
| cal ambitions and had gone on the stage,
/ but 1 cnanced to be in the senate at the
/ time II was the most dramatic scene I
/ ever witnessed Davis was from his
/ waist up, the handsomest man I ever
/ saw. but bis legs were short Seated he
| appeared to be d man of great height.
On the day IN question, / saw him arise