The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20
TIM MURPHY HERE.
Popular Comedian Appears Glad to
Be Back.

Tim Murphy, the "T' with a dash
across the top as long as the limits of
the hotel register and as wide as the
letters are tall, is written on the regis
ter at the National hotel Every time
that name is signed and that dash, like
the tail of a comet, is flashed across a
register the hotel clerk has to get his
fingers inky putting another pen point
into the holder.
Murphy can sign that name 365 times
a year and each signature will be as
nearly like the other as would be posi-
bic with anything else than a rubber
stamp. There IS only one other man in
the country who has infringed upon the
Murphy copyright of signing his name
and that man is Eugene t. Ware.
After Murphy had registered he took
a stroll about town and then wandered
back TO the hotel. AT noon he was sit
tOonS and handing them out to who
ever wished them. A few strokes of the
pen, a COB of ink here and a splash
there and he had produced a cartoon of
an automobilist or golf player. per-
haps almost as well as Upper could do
it. The cartoons were like the oft talked
of hot cakes" and one member of the
company was kept busy blotting them
as they came wet and dripping from the
hands of the artist. Murphy could do
quick picture stunt in vaudeville if the
fates ever forced him out of the comedy
lire. But they won't.
lures. His eyes are blue and there are
eight wrinkles in his forehead. The
lines of his face are deep. Judge Frank
Doster watched him making pictures.
Doster and Murphy look much alike ex-
cept that the chief justice has the ad-
vantage in years. Murphy must be
about 40 years old. 1t was in 1885 that
he began his stage career and it was
not long till he was known the country
over as Maverick Brander' in "A Tex
as Steer
Murphy has been in Topeka many
times before. Once while he was play
ing "A Texas Steer he went to a To-
peka bank to cash draft. He expected
that he would have to be identified.
He showed the draft under the nose of
the cashier and expected the usual an
identified.
I suppose III have to be identi-" be-
gan Murphy.
Not at all. sir" said the cashier, and
he began counting out the money.
Glad to accommodate you, Mr. Muir
ply"
The cashier had seen Murphy's pic
lures and he had seen the copied sig
nature under them. There could be no
mistake The actor got his money
Murphy is frank When a reporter
stepped UP to Kim and asked if this was
Mr. Murphy, he said 1T is and was on
a throw and it stuck quivering in the
/ top of the writing table.
| 'HoWS business? was the somewhat
abrupt question
Good exclaimed Tim. He was seat
ed by this time, and gave his knee
good, hard slap Turning them away
everywhere. Never did such a business.
| No, ! don't know what I'll have next
year. A man in New York is building
a tbeater and wants me to come there
and put on "A Carpet f3agger,' "A Cap
itol Comedy, "A Bachelors Romance
and "Old innocence" 1 don't know
what Til do becaI1Se we are having s11cb
good business out west
I'VE We're all glad to hear of your can
turing New York. said the reporter.
referring to the time two years ago
when Murphy played The Carpet
! Dagger" in New York. and Alan Dale,
/ the American and Journal critic who is
the terror of the actors, said that Muir
ply was the only real actor playing in
New York
Were you; well I'm mighty glad. Do
you know" said Murphy and his
hat on the back of his head and he
was settled down for confidential chat
Il was mighty well pleased myself but
I was more pleased at the pleasure of the
western people. I got lots of kilograms.
They all said that the writer's knew it all
/ the time and was glad that New York
agreed with Them He chatted on telling
of the big crowds which greeted him in
the south
do you like footbalI?' was asked
DO I? Well I don't know You sec 1
have never seen a game" said Murphy
Il am going out this afternoon to see the
game here I am going to get just as ex-
cited as anyone. l intend to be first class
rooter."
He walked away to take part in short
I rehearsal at the theater before going to
! the game. Suddenly he stopped, turned
around and shouted:
Who'll I holer for?''
''Washburn. the players with the blue
and white swea ters,' was the reply.
blue and white sweaters. all right"