The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-04

funny again. 1t makes me feel very
lonely. There is something very touch
ing about being the only
But there were no tears in Willie's
eyes. He seemed to bear up nicely. And
the splendid Initiative faculties that
actors, and others, possess will not
leave him long in undisputed possession
He can laugh and laugh and be a com
edian, but there'n be others. But Willie
is no fool. He has very decided views.
He pronounced himself very emphati-
cally on the subject of those beautiful
French farces which deal with illicit
loves and clandestine Holsters and
sirenic 'millinerS''-and the rest of the
equivalent paraphernalia.
Said he: THE critics all seem to
think that Gus Thomas in ON the
Quiet has proved that it is possible to
be funny and respectable at the same
time [ want to say right here that
wouldn't be seen in one of those French
farces. There were just one or two lines
in ON the Quiet that might have been
considered risky. Mr.. Thomas went
over them and we did our best to make
or two lines were not very much when
you come to think of-er-er-"
Two or three acts 1 ventured.
Thanks" said Willie. Yes. When
I first read on the Quiet and came to
the scene in which the music hall ar
lists appear 1 said to myself, Now In
up against it But 1 wasn't. They
turnedlout to be quite harmless. 1 fiat
plays, because 1 served my apprentice
ship with Augustin Daily, who was an
artist in that respect. used to see him
loP pieces off farces, and L learned the
call boy at Days theater."
I knew that. but didn't like to men
ton it. Actors. as a rule. hate to re-
call humble beginnings. They prefer
to convey the impression that they were
born great, with a sort of psychic in
SEPARATION. Willie went up a peg in my
estimation because he deliberately al
luded to the simple days when he was
nothing but a laughing call boy
Il owe lot to DAILY" he continued.
TT was a fine school. I used to have
charge of the properties at Days the
alter, and I was able to study the man.
The other day 1 came across an old
bank book that was made out in my
name. DAILY needed a handbook in one
of the plays that he produced, and he
was bound to have the real thing. so he
made n e go to a bank and deposit 81,
just to get the handbook. 1t is still in
existence, and I shall treasure it as one
of the souvenirs of my old days. Then
/ used to have to cut off the postage
stamps from Days letters, so that L
could paste them on the missiveS used
on the stage. He was a great man
ager. 1 went to London with him and
played the girl in the induction of
The Tanning of the Shrew.' I left him
BECAUSE couldn't get the parts
wanted. As soon as anybody made a
hit in Daly's company ne found himself
cast in the next play for the part of a
servant. That happened to Mr.. Bond,
and it happened to many others. OF
course, it was discipline, but it was
rather trying. Daily said to me, Willie,
you are too old for boys parts and too
young for mem So left and gave an
imitation of DAILY in The City Direc-
tory He came to see it twice and went
up in the gallery. I did a. mean thing.
/ stole his hat. I knew 1 couldn't buy
one like it. Nobody could, because there
was nothing like it on sale. I offered
to buy it from his man, but the man
refused. So 1 stole it.
Willie laughed. and I felt that he had
spoken truly when he asserted his dis
inclination for the emotional He might
have shed a tear about Days hat, but
he didn't. He might have alluded to it
as the serio-comic on the roof garden
refers to Benny's vacant sock, but he
didn't. 1 rather fancy that we shall
keep our Willie with US and that he
will continue to commit the sin of
laughter production. 1 hope so.
Davenport seemed to have forgotten
the picture of the she-wolf nourishing
Romulus and Remus. His book was
bullying with sketches of the he-comed-
ian who feeds the American public on
laughter Mr.. Willie Collier deposited
US gently in the street. and we went