MISS TOOLE'S DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6437, 5 January 1889, Page 3

MISS TOOLE'S DEATH.

A BEREAVED COMEDIAN. It 1b barely two yeara ago since poor old Mr Toole, who is one of the kindliest, most genial and most domestic creatures in the dramatic profession, was completely crushed by the sudden death of his only Eon, Frank, a promising young fellow of three-and-twenty . He would, indeed, have, given way altogether, but for the minis-' trationa of his sole remaining child,. Florence, who waa untiring in her efforts, to cheer and comfort both bereaved parents. Ever since, Miss. Toole has ac- ! companied her father everywhere, and thia> [ autumn started with him on his usual Provincial tour. Sad to say, at Edinburgh, some ten days ago, poor Miss Toole caught typhoid fever, and in' a few hours she, too, was dead. Words, I fear, cannot express the sad state of the unhappy comedian, who has spent his whole time trying to amuse and distract other people. Fortunately, he and Mra Toole are not without consolers. Mr Justin Huntly M'Carthy, who was. engaged to Mhs Toole, is with them, and will doubtless do his best to fill a son's place. MISS TOOLE. Florence Tbole was a bright charming self-reliant and highly gifted girl. She had an uncommon capacity for learning all sorts of languages, European and Asiatic, was an omnivorous reader, an expert horoe woman, and no mean artist. She had endless Bcbemes, philanthropic and artistic in her head, which were to be put in operation when she felt she could leave " father," and Mr M'Carthy had promised to help her with them. Countless poor families of the shabby-genteel theatrical class blessed the name of Florence Toole, and mourn the loss of their mainstay. Mr Toole himself is very charitable, but even his well-lined pockets were scarcely equal to his daughter's multifarious philanthropies. Besides Mies Toole objected to " bothering father." She preferred working to provide herself with money, and earned a good deal by writing children's books and doing artistic needlework.