ILLNESS OF MR J. L. TOOLE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XXIII, 3 December 1898, Page 723

ILLNESS OF MR J. L. TOOLE

London corresi>ondent writes: — The ruling passion is strong with an actor even in sickness. Poor old Toole, half blind, whole rheumatic, and mentally approaching senility, has been spending the autumn at Margate. He will never tread the boards again, but refuses to recognise the fact, and talks cheerily of coming triumphs. To be noticed by the crowd forms bis chief joy. "They miss old Johnny, they miss me,' he cries cheerily. One of his chief delights is in the early noon to be wheeled in his bath chair, taking with him his daily paper and ‘Punch’ along the front or on to the jetty extension, where he gets out and walks about. He is usually dressed in a light grey suit, with the regulation straw hat and coloured tie, and he wears spectacles to shade the sun from his delicate and ailing eyes. In all his perambulations Mr Toole is invariably accompanied by his nephew, and his faithful valet is never far away. Whilst sitting at the end of the extension one afternoon and looking out on the sea. the nephew remarked. ‘Uncle, there are lots of porpoises playing all about in the water.’ whereupon the punning uncle at once added, "Yes. I suppose they came a-purpose!’ His friend. Mr John Billington, has spent a good part of the season with him. and has been most attentive. Sir Henry Irving ran down twice during his sojourn, staying at the Cliftonville, but when in Margate always dined with his old friend at the White Hart.