The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-11-23
& NEW STORY OF LIncoLN.


i NEW STORY OF LINCOLN. s.
low he Kept 100 Jeaerson,s Father
From Goang Into banAruPtcy.
Joseph Jefferson In the Century says:
;uripefieid being the capital OF Illinois,
1 was determined TO devote the entire
eaeou to tie entertainment OF the
members OF the Legislature. Having
made money for several weeks pre-
vious to our arrival here, the manager
resolved to hire lot and build tne-
atre. This sounds like large under
taking, and perhaps with their nmtseo
means II was rash step. fancy .na.
my father rather shrunk from TINS
bold enterprise, but the senior paI.no,
|(McKenziel was nude OF sterner stnH,
and HE energy being quite equal to
| his ambition the ground was OroAen
and the temple erected.
The building Of a theatre In those
DAYS did not require the amount Oh
i capital that it does now. Folding OPP
4 era chairs were unknown. Gas was an
\ | occult mystery, not yet sck noWledgeo
as fact by the unscientic worid IN tne
4 west. a second-class quality OF sperm
iii was the height OF any manager
iambition. The footlights OF the bet
theatres In the western country were
composed of lamps set in q sshoat,s
with the CONFERENCE.-The .Wnen.
idark stage was required, or the lamps
NEEDED trimming or rehlling, this me-
cbaulcal contrivance was made to Sink
under the stage. believe u the me,
atre, or ssdevil's WORKSHOP az u wae
IaometImes called, had been suddenly
Illuminated with the same material
now in use, its enemies wonid have
declared that the light was furnished
2 from the sold Boys" private gasom.
eter.
) The new theatre, when completed
was ninety feet deep and forty fee'
!. wide. No attempt was made at orna'
: noeutaiion. and as it was implanted
!, the simple line of architecture upon
: which ii was constructed gave 1t the
lappearance OF large dry goods boz
with . roof. / do not think my father
: or Mckenzie ever owned anything will
Z q roof until now, SO they were natu
J, EralIy proud Of their possession.
10 the midst of their rising fortunes
: a heavy blow fell upon them. A re
/ IIigious revival was in progress at th'
). time, and the fathers OF the churcI
= not only launched forth against US II
their sermons, but by some poiitlca
vancouver got the city TO pass new
law enjolning heavy license agair
our ssunhcly'' calling. l forget tn
= amount, but 1t was large enough 10 o
% prohibitory. Here was terrible con
lditfon of affairs-all our available fund
: Invested, the Legislature in session
. the town full OF people, and by heav.
:. license denied the privilege of opening
z the new theatre!
In the midst of their trouble youp
10 lawyer called on the managers. Ill
had heard of the injustice, and offered
= II they would place the matter In hi
y hands, to have the license taken of
declaring that he only desired TO Sc
!" fair play, and he would accept no re
!, whether he failed or succeeded Tn
Y case was brought up before the council
y The young lawyer began his harangue
= He handled the subject with tact, ski
land humor, tracing the history OF To
q drama from the time when Thesp
:. acted In q cart TO the stage of to-day
u He illustrated his speech with nun
Der of anecdotes and kept the counc
- In a roar of laughter; his good hume
. prevailed and the exorbitant tax We
2 taken off.
y This young lawyer was very pop'
Y. lar in Springfield and was honored an
y beloved by all who knew him, an
ie after the time of which write he hel
rather an important position In Il
I. government of the United States. e
y now lies buried near Springfield, und'
IL monument commemorative h
L greatness and his virtues-and b
name was Abraham Lincoln!