The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-03
JEFFERSON LOQUITUR.
A FEW EXTRACTS FROM ADVANCE
SHEETS OF HIS BOOK.
Tales of Macready and Booth-The
Delightful Old Comedian Chats
Charmingly About the Struggles of
His Early Life = The Journey Out
West
FROM The Century.

From the CenturU
may almost say that l was born in a
tneater. At all events, my earliest recol-
lections are entirely connected with one. 1t
"as rickety old frame building with a
bread gable facing on a wide avenue, and
situated in the city Of Washington. The
door from our back entry opened upon the
stage, and as a toddling little chap in
short frock l was allowed full run of the
place So behind the scenes, was nv first
playhouse.
As matter of course, being the son of
the manager, and almost living in the thea
ter, was always pressed into the dramatic
service whenever a small child was wanted.
About this time-I was years old-there
dawned upon the public new entertain
ment in the shape Of the Living Statues, :"
by Mr.. Fletcher. / was much taken with
these novel tableaux, and became so statue
struck that l could do nothing but strike
attitudes now posing before the green room
glass as Ajax Defying the Lightning" or
falling down in dark corners as the Owing
Gladiator"
FIRST APPEARANCE IN NEW YORK,
In referring to Ireland's "Rscords of the
New York Stage" find the following no.
tice OF my first appearance in that city:
Master Titus, whose songs and dances
were much applauded, took benefit on the
3Oth, when he appeared with Master Joseph
Jefferson in a celebrated combat, it being
TINS lads first appearance out OF the juye-
nile supernumerary ranks. This little fell
low was the grandson of the great come
dian of the same name, aud is the third
Joseph Jefferson known to our stage He
was born at Philadelphia, Feb. 90, 1892
remember this circumstance quite well
not the birth, but the combat. Young
Titus was attired as an American sailor, l
being dressed to represent Greek pirate.
was much smaller than my antagonist.
but as the fight was for his benefit. good
taste naturally suggested that he should
overcome and slay me-which he did-and
as the curtain came down | was fiat on nv
back, and the American sailor, waving a
star spangled banner over me, placed his
foot magnanimOusly on the chest of the
vanquished Greek. The fight was encored.
so L had to come to life again-quite a
twice. rather delighted in being the van
pushed foe; nothing could possibly be more
manly than a slain pirate
ON TO CHICAGO.
In the year 1888 the new town of Chicago
a thriving little place, and my uncle had
written to my father urging him to join in
the management of the new theater, which
was then being built there. As each fresh
venture presented itself my fathers hopeful
nature predicted immediate and successful
results
Springfield being the capital of Illinois it
was determined to devote one entire season
to the entertainment OF the members of the
eral weeks previous to our arrival here the
management resolved to hire a lot and
build q theater
The new theater, when completed, was
about ninety feet deep and forty feet wide.
No attempt was made at ornamentation.
and as 1t was Imprinted the simple line Of
architecture upon which it was constructed
gave It the appearance of large dry goods
box with roof.
In the midst Of their rising fortunes a
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 in their sermons. but by
some political maneuver got the city to
pass new law enjoining a heavy license
against our "unholy" calling; forget the
amount, but it was large enough to be pro-
hibitory Here was a terrible condition
of affairs-au cur available funds invested,
the Legislature IN session, the town full of
people, and by heavy license denied the
privilege Of opening the new theaterI
In the midst of their trouble a young
lawyer called on the managers. He ID
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, AID ne would ac-
cept no fee whether he failed or succeeded.
The case was brought I'D before the coun-
Gil. The young lawyer began his ha-
rangue. He handled the subject with tact,
skill ana humor, tracing the history of the
drama from the time when Thespis acted
in a cart to the stage of to-day. He illus
trated his speech with a number of anec-
dotes, aud kept the council in roar of
laughter; his good-humor prevailed and the
exorbitant 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 l write, he held rather an impor-
tant position in the government of the
Springfield under monument commemo-
rating his greatness and his virtues-and
his name was Abraham Lincoln.
We had for years been travelling about
the country and my father and mother con-
graduated themselves upon this present
permanent situation, as it afforded them
not only rest, but an opportunity of send
lug my eASOcl 1nu eclA W SCHOOL. Sadly
enough the last wish of this hopeful man
was shattered, for two weeks after our ar
rival he was stricken with yellow fever.
and died on Nov. "a, 1872 will not de-
scribe the effect of this awful blow on our
family, not desiring to cloud the narrative
of my life with the relation of domestic
sorrow. 1t is sufficient to say that by this
sad event we were deprived of dear friend
upon whom we depended for counsel and
support.
SIX DOLLARS A WEEK
My sister and myself were now engaged
at the theater to act such children's parts
as our size and talent warranted the mana
ger In casting us in; appearing in fancy
dances and comic duets, added TO which T
was to grind colors in the paint room
assistant artist. was called in the playbill
and make myself generally useful. for
which services we were to receive So a week.
AT the time Of which write there lived
in Mobile talented and beautiful lady bv
the name of Mime. LIE Vert. She was the
belle of the city ana courted by the first in
the land; her brillianoy and wit had placed
her In the center of rich setting of which
she was the shining jewel. Added to her
worth and elegance was a kind and benefit
cent nature, always seeking new objects to
beStow its bounty upon. She was, more
over, patroness of art aud literature:
nothing was too high for her understanding
or too lowly for her kind consideration. I
thinx oil who rap,a,,bor A..