The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1889-11-20
HIS FIRST PLAYHOUSE.

Some Extracts from Joseph JeYerson's
LongExpected Autobiography.
/ may almost say that was born in
theater. At all events my earliest rec
objections are entirely connected with
one; it was rickety old frame building
with broad gable, facing on wide
avenue, and situated in the city Of
Washington. The door from our back
entry opened upon the stage, and as
toddling little chap in short frock
was allowed full run of the place. So
s'behind the scenes" was my first play
house. And what playhouse it was,
filled with all sorts of material for the
exercise of my youthful imagination. At
the back was the bay of Naples, with its
conventional blue sky just family
clouded with the distant smoke of slum-
bering Vesuvius. Upon one side stood
long and stately rows of Corinthian
columns, a triumphal arch, and next to
that Roman palace. These marvels OF
ancient architecture were all leaning
up against the wall, not only in an I'M
comfortable position, but at dangerous
angle, looking as though they had been
toppled over during the last days of
Pompeii. Upon the other side, heaped
in compact mass, were many scenes OF
various countries-there a five-storied
brown-stone front with modern improve
ments, and here tiny matched cottage
of the eighteenth century, with 10 ely
little door in it just large enough for me
to go in and out of, slamming it after
me and pretending it was mine. Then
there was that dear little white paling
fence, exactly two feet high; no
legitimate theater of the old school
could possibly be complete without this
curiosity, and nobody ever saw such a
thing anywhere else. Then came the
throne-steps, with two Gothic arm-chairS
set thereon for the King and Queen, and
in front of these the old familiar green
bank from which stray babies are usually
stolen when left there by affectionate
but careless mothers. Upon the top OF
this were two fiat swans hitched in
double harness to a shell for travelling
fairy queens. A little further down
there stood low and dismal vault hav-
ing square, dark opening with some
mysterious letters painted over it, set
ting forth, as l learned in after years,
that it was the private Tomb of the
Capulets." Close to this was another
piece of real estate belonging to the
same family and known as outlets bal
cony." In dark corner stood robbers
cave with an opening through which
old Ali Baba used to lug the bags of gold
he had stolen from the Forty Thieves.
Through the narrow and secluded path
ways of ''behind the scenes" l have
often wandered out upon the open stage
and wondered at this grove of wings and
flats, and l could see that many ropes
were hanging from above to which were
fastened boats and baskets. tubs and
chandeliers. and those sure tokens of
bad weather, the thunder-drum and
rain-boX.
These were the kind of objects that
my childish eyes were wont to look
upon, and in this huge and dusty toy
shop made for children of larger
growth, ! got my first experience.
had seen many rehearsals, and some
times got peep at the play, having
been taken on lin arms" as a property
child in groups of happy peasantry.
Naturally. therefore, l was stage-struck
at an early age: and as l had a theater
stocked with scenery and properties, l
could indulge my passion at a small ex-
pense, especially as my stock company
were volunteers consisting of two little
boys and their sister, who used to play
with me on Saturdays. This was before
~. l,aI soft in, ND OF
period when combinations were un-
known.
OF course | was stage manager by the
right of possession, and had to compile
all of the plays. The plots were very
simple and made to conform with what
set pieces we could get at, or what prop
critics we could secure and hide during
the absence of the property man. If the
set cottage was handy l would come out
of the door as an old man (the age rep
resented by spinal affection) with a
daughter and a market-basket; old man
cross, daughter rebellious: old man
locks daughter in cottage, goes off tG
market shaking his fist (spine still
weak. The favored lover enters, clap:
his hands three times, daughter appear:
at window, kisses her hand; old mar
coughs outside, favored lover conceal:
himself; enter old man with market
basket full of gilded pasteboard goblets
accompanied by unfavored lover; the!
sit down and drink wine out of goblet'
till overcome. Favored lover steals Ike,
from old mans pocket, releases rebel
lious daughter; the sleepers awaken
general pursuit; favored lover and re
bellious daughter escape over bridge
old man and unfavored lover fall into tn
water. Curtain.
Then there were the private boxes t.
play hide-and-seek in, with mysteriou
hooks and ample curtains to creep into
and such chances to kiss the little CIR
in the dark. l am quite convinced tina
there is no such playground as deserte'
theater in the daytime. Jeffer
son, in Century.
How to Cook Dried Fruits.
If you will consider that dried fruit i
fresh fruit, with the water dried out O
it and more or less dirt gathered upol