The sun., 1905-05-17


knew that he was very i'll, none expected
his death. He had been attended by DR..
William Tod Helmuth Of New York city
and DIR. Terry Of Patchogue during the last
week Of his illness, and until last Friday
he seemed in fair way toward recovery.
Funeral services for the family and intimate
friends will be held at the house here on
Thursday noon,
Kirke La Shelle was ii years old and
was born in Wyoming. Ill. After he had
secured a common school education in his
native town he was thrown upon his own
resources and became a printers devil
In the newspaper Office there. 1t didn't
take him long to become full fiedged
printer, and by tho time he was 81 years
old he had become foreman Of the COM
posing room Of the Chicago Daily NeWs.
Then he asked for and got a job as . re-
porter. In four years he was city editor.
Then he became managing editor, and then
principal editorial writer Of the Chicago
Mail From the Nail he went to the Poet
as dramatic critic. This was the last regu-
lar newspaper work that he did although
later he wrote occasional articles for tn Q
papers and magazines,
It was as dramatic critic and anna teur
playwright in Chicago that MIR, La Shelle
met Miss Maize Nodine, whom he married
ten or twelve years ago when he entered
the theatre business as business manager
for 4. $. Willard, who was then on his first
tour Of America, The following season he
decided to start out for himself. With
George 1.ederer he engaged In the pro
duction of comedy, Charles Dickson being
the star.
The venture was not a success, and a
year later Mr.. La Shelle handled the Robin
Hood company for the Bostonians. He
did SO well with that company that the
following year he managed all of the Bos-
toni ans interests.
With the money he made out of the
Bostonians and with Arthur +. Clark,
another Chicago man; as a partner, La
Shelle launched Frank Daniels as a star
in The Wizard of the Nile When the
COST of the production, railroad fare. print
ing bills and minor expenses had been
paid and La Shelle found himself at the
opening town the total Of his capital was
just S34. but the Wizard made good and
in two seasons founded the fortune of its
producers. Clark soon retired and for
Daniels, producing The Idols Eye The
Ii was In The Ameer' that he did his
first work as a librettist. writing the book
OF the opera jointly with Fred Ranken.
Later with Composer julian .rhs EbTards bya
ic wIO'c tiic CoLht oPC'e AhS
Chic" and in 1887 with the late Fred Ham
lin he produced Augustus Thomas's famous
play. Arizona They made independent
fortunes out Of this play. which had been
refused by half dozen managers before
they took it.
La Shelle also had considerable to do
with starring j. II. Stoddart in Tho Bonnie
Briar Bush" and three years ago he pro-
duced The Earl Of Pawtucket,' another
play by Augustus Thomas which number
Of experienced managers had refused on
various grounds. The play made Iawrance
D'Orsay one Of the most successful stars
In the country.
Late in the same year Checkers came
out under Ia Shelle's management and
new star, Thomas W. Ross. proved his
worth. With Owen Wster. the author of
the book, Mr.. la Shelle dramatized -The
Virginian.' , -,
The manager was in indifferent health
when he took up the details OF producing
The Education OF Mr.. Pipp' last winter.
Physicians told him that he must ease up
a bit, but he would not give up work until
THE Heir to the Hoorah' was running at
the Hudson Theatre. Then he moved to
Bellport and began to enjoy his recreation
by doing laborer's work.
While rolling tennis court he injured
his leg and soon aflerward he was seriously
scalded while mendng hot water pipe.
A complication Of ailments finally de-
veloped into phebitis, which caused his
death. He leaves widow and two children,
a daughter s years old and a son Of 4.