The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-16
PASSING OF ENGLAND'S
FAVORITE COMEDIAN
philadelphia Ledger

John Lawrence Toole, whose death In
england was recently announced. was a
comedian somewhat of the STYLE of the
late John S. Clarke. His popularity in
LONDON for over half century gave
MN Il position in the. regard OF Eng
ilsh audiences such as no other come
olan could boast. He has been called
the dean of the British stage. and was
justly entitled to the distinction.
A son or the city POSTMASTER an inn
Porlant parsonage on corpora ton occa-
sions, he was born in the city of Lon
don seVenty-four years ago. and while
Wine merchants clerk joined a his
IrIonIc cluo. as they were called in
England half century ago. His
powers of mimicry early DISTINGUISHES
MN among his fellow amateurs. and he
nIst appeared on the stage at the Pa
Vlnon London, while a mere youth He
mad been unannounced. but went for
ward at the solicitation of the actor
whose benefit night il was. In a few
minutes his remarkable limitations of
Wen Known actors took the audience
completely, and soon after he made his
regular appearance on the stage at
ipswich playing Sylvester Duggerwood
In a farce no longer known to the stage.
out In those days extremely popular.
n X
IL was in such parts as the Artful
Dodger, Caleb Plummer Bob Cracket.
Sergeant Buzfuz that Toole was re-
garded as inimitable in the land Of
Dickens. These parts also give some
loea or his range, which was consider
aDle Tor one known as a low comedian
He was the original of the eccentric
man on the houSeboat in walker
London, played in this country by
James L. Powers. and I'm the laughable
part OF Paul Pry, Toole was considered
NO 49,. IL
ago Toole made a tour of America but
american audiences in those DAVIS rated
aim too English his style of h1IInor
WAS not thoroughly appreciated here.
although in the same parts Clarke and
aeHersen gained fame and fortune.
= II
Tooie book of "Reminiscences was
published i'm 1855. and the entertaining
work went through many editions
most Unusual experience for a theatric-
al memoir. most of which have difficult
~ In safely surviving the original edi-
zion. But Toole was a good story
teller and the book was put into good
shape by the practical hand of Joseph
Hatton- Here are few of his anec-
dotes. The first one, refers to an Incl.
dent OF his. American tour A certain
genial citizen would take him home
and when he got there was another
man. The dialogue is between Toole
and Hatton
Don't mention the place; he might
not like it, begins Toole. land / should
be sorry TO hurt his feelings Besides
he was the editor of the leading news
paper in the district and had a rival
Journalist, of course. and if that rival
journalist got hold of the story wouldn't
his rival worry him? l remember that
American editor You must stay with
me. my dear Mr. Toole: you must: we
Will take no Denial he said. He seemed
jolly. nice sort OF fellow, and was so
tremendously pressing that 1 gave way
and went home with him; it was some
distance in the suburbs
AT home he was a different man EN-
tfrely. The wife was the boss She
was learned woman also; had quite a |
knowledge Of literature and poetry. She |
fired questions at me with regard to |
Thackeray and Dickens ano other ce-
lebrities. There were several children. |
They all stood around me and ques-
toned me, crosS-eXamined me-
After time they gave me cup OF |
tea-this was in the afternoon-instead |
of lunch or dinner,
II went 10 the theatre acted and |
went home with him at night
After g little more questioning from