The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

looking forward to this trip back home;
know that for eight years. I've been
in the world, that it grows the finest
friends, and the most genial spirit;
know that when we arrived here a
week ago and came through the won
derfully rebuilt blocks with some of
the scars still showing, felt the
water in my eyes. and I know that
when we were ushered into these
apartments filed with flowers sent by
friends-I know that 1 let the tears
go. and-Tilme. she cried. too"
Il did not" said she, unwrapping
wonderful box of candy, round and
large as a carwheel. Il did no such
thing
"Yes. you did, too; anybody would
have done the same thing"
We'll" said She there were tears
in my eyes. I'll admit, but they were
happy tears"
"of course they were" said Phil,
magnanimously. $50 were mine"
1T was in 1891 that PIAl Branson came
to this city from St Louis. Things
were in a bad way in the Branson
household which Phil had left behind.
His father was i'll and no longer a pro-
wider for the family, and it was "up
to Phil" to do something and do it
quick. So he came to San Francisco,
and he says he wore a green coat which
once had been black. BILLY" Kreling
was approached and Phil went to work
at the Tivoli. They just picked me
up" is Phirs way of putting it. Pretty
was lifted, and with it my fathers
spirits rose. the family was provided
for and the Bransons were happy again.
San Francisco did it. Is it any wonder
1 love this city, and that when Dilling-
ham gave us the opportunity to come
out here again after an eight year alb
sence we were as tickled as school
children"
And that's how it is that Tillie salin-
ger is playing a minor role in The
Prima Donna" with FRITZ Schef, in
which company Phil Branson has
character part.
"You see," said Mrs. Branson, we
have been separated for five years. only
playing together in the summers with
the Aborn opera company. This en-
gagement offered the possibility of be-
ing together again and of visiting San
Francisco once more"
When are we coming back for
good?7 repeated Phil after my ques-
tion- Just as soon IS we have money
enough saved up and can sell our lots
in the Bronx For eight years we
have paid storage on our household
goods-wedding presents they are-in
this city. Providence interfered in our
favor a few months before the fire,
and we had the things moved across
the bay for some reason or other,
can't tell just why. Anyhow, they were
not destroyed by the fire, and here
they'll remain until some time in the
future. when we'll come back again
and do that fireside stunt with the slip
pers and newspapers"
1T was in 1888 that one high tenor
approached Billy" Kreling, Tivoli
owner. and told him little secret.
''why. sure, said Kreling. enthusiastic
cally. GO right ahead"
But how about the job?" inquired
Phil. Can I rely on it if I take on
this contractY"
You can stay here just as long as
you want to-" said Kreling.
Phil was breaking the news about
his engagement to Tillie. Perhaps the
wedding should be kept from the pub
lie, he thought, as a hero is not sup
posed ever to be married except in the
last act and a prima donna must
under no circumstances be impeded by
a husband That's the traditional no
ton, but kind hearted Kreling har-
bored no such foolish ideas. A man,
even tenor, he believed had a right
to be married, and a prima donna
should not be denied the privilege of
darning socks if she wanted to, after
the play was over
$50 then we set about to select a
few of our most intimate friends and
relatives" Phil went on, "for we pro-
posed to have the ceremony a very
quiet one, but the list grew and grew,
until it began to look like a city di-
rectory Then we concluded to run
away and be married and tell our
friends about it after it was all over,
but that didn't seem fair either. The
result was that we hired Saratoga hall,
and there were-how many guests were
there that night, Tillie?"
Tillie, for the best reason in the
world, didn't remember either.
We'll, the hall was crowded, any
way" Phil went on, glowing at the
bride who studiously avoided his ban
tering gaze. George Lask staged the
spectacle" he said over Mrs Bransons
protest, 'and was best man; Fanny
Liddisrd, who was then the soubrette
at the Tiyoli, and Titles sister, Helen
were the bridesmaids, and dear old
Adolph Bauer and the whole Tivoli
orchestra were there to make the music