The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-20
JOE 'efFERsoN's Use.

WE 'efFERsoN's NsE.
rese@.d,an reu1 ysooa..
s.dlns. - Play.
=, ~ Amos ~ b ~ was born in
ashsafS At s|) events my earliest
recoliecs'on9krs entirely connected
WIN orr L was = rickety old frame
9S!hg with broad gable, facing on
W1de avenue, and Situated in the
aty 81 Washington. The door from
vur back entry opened upon the stage,
ana as toddling little chap in short
1rock was allowed full run of the
place. So behind the scenes" was nv
first playhouse. And what playhouse
II was, filled with all sorts of material
for the exercise of my youthful inn
agination. At the back was the bay
Of Naples, with it's conventional blue
sky just family clouded with the dis
tant smoke of slumbering Vesuvius.
Upon one side stood long and stately
rows of Corinthian columns, a trf-
umphal arch, and next to that
Roman palace. These marvels of
ancient architecture were all lean
ing up against the wall, not only
in an uncomfortable position, but
at a dangerous angle, looking as
though they had been toppled over
during the last days of Pompeii. Upon
the other side, heaped in a compact
mass, were many scenes of various
countries-there a five story brown
stone front with modern improve
ments, and here tiny matched cot
tage of the Eighteenth century, with
lovely little door in it just large
enough for me to go in and out Of,
slammingit after me and pretending
it was mine. Then there was that dear
little white paling fence, exactly two
feet high; no legitimate theatre 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 armchairs 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 shell for travelling fairy
queens.
A little farther down there stood
low and dismal vault having square,
dark opening with some mysterious
letters painted over it, setting forth, as
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 balcony" In a
dark corner stood robbers cave with
an opening through which old Ali
Bahia used to lug the bags of gold
he had stolen from the Forty
Thieves. Through the narrow and
secluded pathway Of "behind the
scenes" | have often wandered out
upon the open stage and wondered at
this grove of wings and flats, and /
could see that many ropes were hang
ing from above to which were fastened
boats and baskets tubs and chande-
Tiers, 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 a larger
growth, l got my first experience l
had seen many rehearsals and some
times got peep at the play, having
been taken on ''in arms" as property
child in groups of happy peasantry.
Naturally, therefore, l was stage
struck at an early age; and, as had a
theatre stocked with scenery and prop
critics, could indulge my passion at
small expense, especially as my
stock company were volunteers con
sisting of two little boys and their sis
ter, who used Is to play with me on Sat-
urdays. This was before the star sys-
tenn had set in, and at period when
combinations were unknown.
OF course | was stage manager by
right OF possession, and had to compile
all of the plays. The plots We're very
simple and made to conform with
what set pieces we could get at, or
what properties we could secure and
hide during the absence of the prop
erty man. If the set cottage was
handy would come out of the door
as an old man the age represented by
spinal affection) with daughter and
market basket; old man cross,
daughter rebellious; old man locks
daughter in cottage, goes off to
market shaking his fist (spine
still weak. The favored lover
enters, claps his hands three
times, daughter appears at win
dow, kisses her hand old man coughs
outside, favored lover conceals him
self; enter old man with market bas
ket full of gilded pasteboard goblets,
accompanied by unfavored lover; they
sit down and drink wine out of COB
lets till overcome Favored lover
steals key from old mans pocket, re.
leases rebellious daughter; the sleep
ers awaken, general pursuit; favored
lover and rebellious daughter escape
over bridge, old man and unfavored
lover fall into the water Curtain.
Then there were the private boxes
to play hide-and-seek in, with mysteri
GUS hooks and ample curtains to CREEP
into, and such chances to kiss the lit
tie girl in the dark. I am quite con
WINGED that there is no such play
ground as a deserted theatre in the
daytime.-Century.
Europeans In Brazil.
Certain observations of DR.. Alfredo il
Luy. of Rio de Janeiro. are not encour
aging to intending immigrants from
co,,s,o 70 tivolv cool lotitu6oc Cuch in