The sun., 1916-12-17
KIT CLARKB'S
FAMOUS COMPANIONS
Horace Greeley Wanted "Good
Load Of Worms; Miner
Poker Fiend.
w. J. FLORENCE RECALLED
~ KIT CLARKE.

~ KIT CLARKE.
Eschylus, founder Of tho acting
drama. and his eminent pupil. Sophoclcs,
were enthusiastic anglers, as the writings
Of both conspi 'uously reveal. and among
their modern disciples there have beer
many equally jealous lovers of the pas
time.
Joseph Jefferson. whose RIP Var
Winkic al the perfection OF artistic
Characterization, was a steadfast devotee
OF rod and line and understood how to
handle the tools in q inny combat with
great dexterity, and he gave to his sons
a liberal education In the same classical
requirements.
Harry Miner. the well known theatri.
cal manager. was a dyed In the wool
angler. as were Charley Hoyt and his as
sociate. Charley Thomis.
Miner was a double distilled. copper
fastened poker fend. and when at the
camp OF the Fin and Feather Club would
leave the supper table. seat himself al
the poker table. and in n few moments
the chips were stacked UP gracefully. the
cards were ready and Harry would lear
back and exclaim: Come on. you
wolves. the pie Is ready"
William J. Florence. the noted actor
John Hecksher and myself once spent a
propitious week at the Middle Dam OF
the Rangeley Lakes In Maine. and II any
ccurate record Of the trout We caught ID
ever made the great numbers and great
size will amaze to-day's visitors to that
beautiful land OF fish and waters and
while tailed deer.
This was in 1867. and Il was durine
this outing that Florence composed the
rules and ritual OF a new secret society
founded upon Free Masonry. which wa
Instituted by him q few years later and
Is now known as the Mobiles of the
Mystic Shrine.
II would be difncult to find among mon
one more unselfsh. free hearted. am!abls
and lovable than Billy Florence. and
the other day when I stood hat In hand
before his imposing monument in Green
wood Cemetery sincere tears fell in men,
DRY OF one of natures noblest men.
Sim Inventor of Fish Poker.
Col. William E. Sim. manager Of the
Park and Montauk theatres. brooklyn,
was extremely fond OF fishing and fero-
ciously partial toward the exhilarat:ng
game OF poker. and in order that he
might enjoy both without sacrificing time
he invented fish poker.
This game endured Just forty minutes,
during which all fish caught represented
the -four high cards. the cod being held
as aces. the paddock az kings. the cum
ne-s as queens and the founders a
Jacks.
During n game where FIVE players
were fishing n pokerizing at tho same
time two hands held fourteen aces
tcods) certainly big enough hands TO
satisfy thu y,nSt hovdapol "a $500
Among the many good anglers and
good men with whom I spent many fish.
ing expeditions / recall Eugene Temp
kins and Ike Rich. both owners Of
theatres In Boston: Arthur Il. Chase.
manager for Edwin Booth Billy Scan
Ian OF "~Peek-a-Boo" fame: Robert Hell
Ter. the great magician; Charley Par.
sloc. Ned Harrigan. Billy" Emerson.
sheridan Shook. Carl Rosa. husband OF
the amous vocalist; Henry Abbey and
Bob" Burdette. the celebrated funny
man Of the burlington Harkeye. who
quit newspapers and beer and emigratsd
to California. entered the ministry and
devoted his life TO religion.
Joseph X. Murphy. the irish comedian.
II was often asserted was OF a penurious
nature. but I know that he was ever
ready to spend his money literally when
on angling bent.
Gus Pitou. J. X. Emmett. Fred Bry-
ton. John W. Norton. manager for Mary
Anderson: John Mccullough, and last
but not least Edwin l.. Davenport. prob
ably the most versatile and creates,
actor the American stage has ever pos
sessed.
Edwin Forrest was a genius. Edwin
Booth was a ine and scholarly actor.
hut In tho perfect sense of beauty which
nnIne thA a~NtH o..
ceeded both.
on an August day IN 1877 We sat TO-
gether IN a boat on the Connecticut
River rear Springfield. Mass. ard met
poor success. and upon parting we
agreed to meet during tho following
month and try the Susquchanna below
Falmouth. but his days were numbered
and ne died two weeks later, September
:, 1871.
Ffshed with Horace Greeley.
Not a few Of the moulders Of public
opinion through the columns OF the New
York newspapers have I known as fisher
comrades. among them having been Or.
William &. Prime. author OF "I Go a
Fishing; Joe Howard, who issued a
proclamation calling for 100, 900 volun-
teers during our war and to which he
signed the name OF President Lincoln.
For this little wi,ticlsm no spent n
year In Fort Lafayette. and when l paid
him n visit he asked me to beg the COM
mandant for permission to sit on the
wall and catch fish.
The official granted this favor and Joe
spent many happy hours in his diver
sion. but always with AN armed bluecoat
a few feet distant.
Chester s.. Lord. once Of THE SvN, wa
"a most puthusia StiN Hy roSfer np1 yIar