The Washington herald., 1913-09-14
OLD TIME PLAYER FOLKS
By HENRY A. JOHNSTON

| thought that the regular stage was the
proper place for him and unto Nc
! Cullough did he go and thusly to him
spalse: you know, Mr.. Mccullough, that
] am a well-known amateur. I am very
proud OF my performances. have q
letter here from Judge Arthur Macarthur
and another from Gen. William T. SHEER
man. They want TO see me in your COM
pany and ] think i am entitled TO be
there" well, my boy" replied Nc
CulIough, you know I am playing to
good houses my prices are large 01.6C
were the high priced seats). 81 have
quite large company, among them sew
erai young man and women placed there
at the earnest solicitation of dear friends,
am afraid some of them will never
make their mark ION the stage. There Ia
Eddy Sothern, son OF my old friend.
L. H. and Jimmy Voorhees,, son OF the
Senator, who Is also a great friend of
mine. They both think they have talent
time will tell-and that time IS many
moons away" Could John see EDDY
now he would think the moons had come
and with them, Hamlet" Macbeth, -
truchio,' Benedict" Jacques ''The
Musketeers,'' "Richelieu," &C.. being
much in evidence and interpreted with
Sothern's well-known ability they have
brought fame and incidently affluence to
Eddy
The beginning of the end did not come
suddenly, covering a period long drawn
out. Frequently some act OF his did
not accord with reason, being overlooked
by his friends from the general esteem
in which he was held. ! called on him
enc morning, at the Riggs House, found
him dressed. roaming around the room,
sac linz -,
swer to my query as to engagements. he
said. mo one was expected" We talked
on shop" the immense amount OF work
he was performing, the strain he was
under. and the capacity" for II was al
ways there. l suggested he find some
means of letting up on ii and resting
physically and mentally, which he
thought was good advice. He pushed
button, bell boy responded. cooling
juices ordered. After a few minutes
he again pushed button. admonished
and reminded him that the first order
had not been com-at-a-ble as yet. Never
mind, he knew what he was doing. Just
then George Douglas, who at that time
was doing dramatic reviews. came in.
Second boy appeared and order given
for three. instead of two fbations. First
boy arrives, deposits cheer" receives
coin Of the realm. departs Again John
puSHSs pulNon anu InlTu boy answers,
with like results. Second boy appears
and deposits order, before first supply
was consumed, he also receiving coin.
this time in paper form with a on II.
Once more John goes for the button and
Its pushing properties are again tested.
as number three enters with more OF
the same. Tip" also for the uniformed
Mercury-for did he not bring Nectar
to the Gods" Each time John ordered,
without any consultation with the friends
who were to do the consuming act.
The table by this time. was well filled,
and . second place of deposit was in de-
mand. John approached the over
worked" button for the fourth time, when
We demonstrated and positively refused
to allow him to continue the farce. Meet
ing him on the street one day, he wanted
TO know why / had not come to see him,
as he desired me to have tickets for the
performances. l suggested did not need
"a ticket" He replied, IT know. not for
yourself: thought some OF your friends
might like it." How kind and thought
fu! OF him Meeting Harry Ford one
night after a performance. he began to
severely berate him for not coming to
his dressing-room and bidding him
''good-by and good wishes" Later on.
the governor again met Ford while he
was playing an engagement at the
Opera House in Peoria, Ill, at which
time he was very pleasant. and talked
over the old bygone days with their many
joyful times and associations. His con-
versation was somewhat rambling, and
often pointless; the next moment bright,
vivacious, and sensible. Then as sud
denly fading away, leaving only a