The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-05
STORIES OF ACTOR TOOLE.
THE ENGLISH COMEDIAN A NOTED
PRACTICAL JOKER.
His "Reminiscences" Printed IA Years
Ago, Contained Many Accounts OF Hs
Franks Found Here q Persistent .i,a
From whom He Had Trouble Escaping,

From whom He Had Trouble Escaping,
John Lawrence Toole, whose death in
England has just been announced, was a
comedian somewhat Of the style Of the late
John 8. Clarke. His popularity In London
for moro than half a century gave him
q position In the regard OF the English audi
ences such as no other comedian could
boast. He has been called the dean OF
the British stage, and was justly entitled TO
the distinction.
Toole,s book OF "Reminiscences" was
published In 1888, and the entertaining
work went through many editions, SAYS
a writer in the Philadelphia Public Ledoer.
Toole was q good story teller, and the book
was puS into good shape by the practical
hand of Joseph Hatton. Here are a few
OF his anecdotes. The first one refers to
an incident of his American tour. A Ger.
tain genial citizen insisted upon taking him
home, and when he got him there became
another man. The dialogue is between
Toole and Hatton.
Don't mention the place; he might mob
like it, begins Toole, -and l should DO
sorry to hurt his feelings. Besides, he
was the editor Of the leading newspaper
in the district, and had a rival Journalist.
Of course, and II that rival journalist GOT
hold Of the story, wouldn't his rival worry
him! I remember that American editor.
You must stay with me-, my lear Mr.. Toole;
you must; we will take no denial he said,
He seemed q jolly, nice sort of fellow, and
wa so tremendously pressing that gave
way and went home with him; it was some
distance in the suburbs.
AT home ne was q different man en-.
tirely. The wife was the boss She was
a learned woma n also; had quite a knowl-
edge Of literature and poetry. She fired
questions at me with regard to Thackeray
and Dickens and other celebrities. There
were several children.
After a time they gave me a cup Of
tea-this was In the aft~ernoon-instead Of
lunch or dinner.
Il went to the theatre. acted and went
home with him that night.
After q little more questioning from
his wife, without any signs of refreshment,
she asked me II, before going to bed, I
would have q cup Of tea or a glass Of water.
We never take alcohol in this house
On saying good night the wife informed
me that they breakfasted at half past i,
at which time it was clear l was expected
to be up; 80 Just as i was thoroughly
l was aroused and had to turn out,
Il had breakfast and then hoped to
90 to a hotel n get a little rest. But
the wife said, Now, So-and-So, tax Mr..
Toole out and show him all the public
buildings Of -. And he did take me
out. Once or twice I tried to slip away
from him in private rooms and corners and
get a wink OF sleep; but he was the most
persistent host 1 ever had. At last In the
midst of our tour Of the public buildingsI
gave him the clip and fairly ran away
Another time Toole and Brough were at
sums % i've old 7 trampiiRe creatures in the
play "Dearer Than Life"
.The work Of developing the negative
said Toole in his "Reminiscences, was a
longer business than it is now; so while
the artist was at work Brough and l in our
rags-it was a warm day in June-waiked
out into Grosvenor Square and called at
the house Of q certain would be swell who
prided himself on his money, and was a
great snob, so everybody said. The door
was opened by q gorgeous footman,
master int' we asked.
disdainful stare at our rags. and thoughtsi
no doubt, Of the policeman ,'round the
mot in! Tell him his two brothers from
the w%orkhouse called to see him.
THAT turnkey, / expect, would look down
on his master w afterward.'
Here is a practical joke in which Sothern
and Toole both figured in their character
istic manner.
"A friend Of mine and myself, " said Toolej
had engaged to meet Sothern on a little
city, one Of those odd old places that always
interest me and which l wanted to show
Sothern. Sothern was late. We were only
going to have O chop or steak and a glass ot
wine, 80 We did not order anything, bug
thought we would wait until Sothern camej
n.ah -. rui~-l -,J pn,raolf uara n ~ ra rtaf
by a cantankerous looking old gentleman in
dress coat, with q high collar and a pair OF
tortoise shell eyeglasses, who was not eating
q chop, but devouring it, going at 1t as II "
had done him an injury. 1t was not the
thing at all, I know, but on the impulse OF
ance, l stepped up to him at a critical mo.
ment Of his luncheon, slapped him familiarly
on the shoulder, and said:
@'Hello, George, my lear fellow, how are
.The old gentleman leaped from his seat
and asked me what I meant; how | dared to
salute him in that way. Iapologized in the
most graceful manner possible, said he re;
minded me of an old friend, hoped he would
not think anything OF it, quite a mistake|
and In due time ! overcame his evident oe'
sire to strangle me.
We adjourned to another part OF tfe
room, and by and by Sothern came in, !
nudged my friend, feeling that my oppor'
tunity. o.. revenge had arrived .,.
"0dd looking fellow / said to him, ne
old gentleman who has just commenced
upon a second chop. I've a good mind 10
step over, slap him on the shor'dor, eau
him George and say it's years sinte We
seen him. He's such all odd looking FISH
"'Ill do it, said Sothern.
mo replied, perhaps he would Sho"
you
mot at all; he'd never know me- ans
swered Sothern. -
what a strange looking old chap ne
lei ! don't think you had better DO ~
! said.
sBut nothing would restrain Sothern
when N an idea had taken possession
Of him. Just az the old gentleman was
conveying a dainty morael to his capacious
mouth he was aaluted by Sothern with a
hearty smack on the back, and an excIa'
nation Of:
.'Hullo, George! Why it must be years
since Nv seen you
"The stranger could scarcely speak TOT
passion.
How dare you, you %ruf7e7" he exc
claimed.
'Whereupon sothern, in his pleasan'es'
manner, began to make his excuses,
Don't tell me, sir; you did 1t on pnr'
posel I know 1t. / have had my cnCP
here for twenty years, and such a ,thlhs
never occurred before. Landlord, what 10
the meaning Of IL? will not put up WIN