Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-07
CHARLES bROOKF|ElD.
THOROUGH BOHEMIAN
Striking Features IN LIE II
English Actor, Who DIED
Recently,
Special Correspondents g 1As Star.

Special Correspondents q IA Star.
LONDON, October g. f01S.
Charles Brookfield. who died this weak,
came into prominence when he was ap-
pointed censor OF plays. The most
curious thing about that curious appoint
mept was that Mr.. Brookieid was NOT
interested in the stage. He stated ttsis
openly to his friends, and 1t was. ia
deed. q joke among them to ask him
what plays he had witnessed recentIy.
He had repeatedly said he never went 10
the theater IL he could possibly help II.
A striking instance of this dislike WAS
seen In the fact that when he was nm
actor he very often did not know any
thing about the play, apart from his own
part. He was a good actor up to .
point, and several times made a great
feature of a very small part
He was a thorough Bohemian, with all
the talents that are most valued amoIig
that class. No decent man except a
detective ever knew SO many crooks and
shysters as Mr.. Brookfleld did. He had
a passion for seeing life' In Pie.ce
Egan's sense, and a curiously cynical
yet sympathetic understanding OF the
manner Of their lives.
Basis of His Belief.
His methods seemed to be, Granted
the man is a professional rogue. yet f7st
think of the troubles, dangers and frut-
less labors courageously pursued Of bis
hard life Brookieid's curiosity wss
as endless as his good humor. ana he
was the sort OF person who. IL his watch
was stolen, would be sure to set IL bai.k
again with an apology.
One of the services Brookfield triad 10
lr tn NH Ind yxyaC n n
ers' Protection Society," It arose c"t
of the letter received from the Mutrl
Communications Society for the Protea-
ton OF Trade demanding him to pay trs-
he happened to know that the boxes or
cigarettes supplied by that tobaccontnt
contained twenty-four instead OF twenty
five cigarettes, he at once founded the
Mutual Communications Society for tie
Protection Of Customers, and painted tp
the name over his address In the Tempe
ordered official notepaper. and. under typ
name Of George Washington. secretars.
wrote to the other secretary saying ~
would pay the tobacconists account .st
his own convenience; that this was witt
out prejudice; that should their ciienu
elect to take proceedings in the neanuH1
counter-action would be brought to r.
cover Ave pounds. being the value OF
thousand cigarettes which he hao par
for and had not received owing to thd
custom of selling as quais
ter-of- hundred boxes boxes containing
only twenty -four cigarettes. He receives
an apology.
Disposes of Another Account.
Again he received an account OF SID
shiliings from a Mr.. Fryer. chemista
through the same society. In the mama
of George Washington he wrote backi
saving, I'VE have paid Flyers account
and hold the receipt" Then came a politA
request that the society would show tho
receipt. George Washington repliedS
Fryer Account: Dear Sir.-We arc sorry
to have to refuse to show your ciient'f
receipted bill except In the county court,
for the following reasons: Cd To show
the importance OF keeping receipts. O. TO-
show the carelessness of West End trades
men, and CD to show the fallibtiity Of the
Society for the Protection OF Trade