Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-08
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
His Connection With a Theater Built in
Springfield BY Joe Jefferson's Father

From the autobiography of Joseph JEFF
ferson begun in the November Century
the following is taken: springfield being
the capital of Illinois. it was determined
to devote the entire season to the enter
tainment of the members of the legislature
Having made money several weeks previ-
Gus to our arrival here. the management
resolved to hire a lot and build a theatre.
This sounds like a large undertaking. and
perhaps with their means it was a rash
step. | fancy that my father rather shrunk
from this bold enterprise. but the senior
partner (Mckenzie) was made of sterner
stuff, and, his energy being quite equal to
his ambition, the ground was broken and
the temple erected.
The building of theater in those days
did not require the amount of capital that
it does now Folding opera-chairs were
unknown. Gas was an occult mystery not
yet acknowledged as a fact by the unscien-
tifc world in the west; a second-cIass
quantity Of sperm oil was the height or
any managers ambition. The fOotlights
of the best theaters in the western coun-
tries were composed of lamps set in a float
with the counter weights. When a dark
stage was required or the lamps needed
trimming or rehlling this mechanical con-
trivance was made to sink under the stage.
| believe if the theater, or devils work
shop, as it was sometimes called, had sud
denly been Illuminated with the same ma
terial now in use its enemies would have
declared that the light was furnished from
the old boys private gasOmeter.
The new theater, when completed was
aboutninety feet deep. and forty feet wide
No attempt was made at Ornamentftion;
and as it was implanted the simple line
of architecture upon which it was con-
structed gave it the appearance of large
dry-goods box with a roof. do not think
my father or Mckenzie ever owned any
thing with a roo4 until now, so they We're
naturally proud of their possession.
I'm the midst of their rising fortunes
heavy blow fell upon them. A religious
revival was in progress at the time. and
the fathers of the church not only launched
forth against us lii their sermons, but by
some political maneuVer got the city to
pass a new law enjoining a heavy license
against our 'unholy' calling; forgot the
amount. but it was large enough to be pro-
hibitOry. Here was a terrible condition of
affairs-all our available funds invested,
the Legislature in session. the town full of
people, and by a heavy license denied the
privilege of opening the new theater.
In the midst of their trouble young
lawyer called on the managers. He had
heard of the injustice, and offered, if they
would place the matter in his hands, to
have the license taken off, declaring that
he only desired to see fair play, and he
would accept no fee whether he failed or
succeeded. The case was brought up be
fore the council. The Young lawyer began
his harangue. He handled the subject with
tact, skill and humor, tracing the history
of the drama from the time when Thespis
acted IN a cart to the stage of to-day. He
illustrated his speech with a number of
anecdotes. and kept the council in a roar
of laughter; his good-humor prevailed
and the exhorbitant tax was taken off
This young lawyer was very popular in
Springfield, and was honored and beloved
by all who knew him. and after the time
of which | write, he held rather an i'm
portant position in the government of the
United States. He now lies buried near
Springfield, under monument commem-
Grating his greatness and his virtues
and his name was Abraham Lincoln"