The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-11-20
JOE JEFFERSON LooUIrUR.


sssh NV tsy ssAns . ""F sStbt ~
theatre. Al all events, my earliest rccol-
lections are cntirel. connected will, one.
IL was N rickcty old frame building with ~
broad gable facing on n wide avenue, and
situated i'm the city of Washington. The
door from our hack entry opened upon the
stage, and AS ~ toslslling little chap i'm "a
short fros'k ! was allowed full rum of the
place. so "behind the scenes" was my
first playhouse.
A. a matter Of course. being the son of
the manager. and almost living i'm the
heater. was always pressed into the
service whenever "a small child
WINS wanted.
About this time i was three years old
there dawneh upon the public ~ new en-
tertainment in the shape of the 'Living
Statues," by "a Mr.. Fletcher. l was much
came so statuc-strnck that i could do
nothing but strike attitudes, now posing
Before the green. room glass as Ajax De-
dark corners as the dying Giadia'or:"
In referring tn ~lrelanu,s Records 81
,is New i0rk ATT stag, nnn sn n ,hn ,a~ ci,x:
Master Titus, Who's, songs and dances WEI.
much .pr,anasd: '.3s a l.nsn' "n The .,; mn,
son in a celebrated combat, il !,eing this lads
n nrs' r aHesa'f Hi. ii,,i m isi si,%>S was ,ia srs%'is"n
al the great comedian "f the same name, and Is
lie ~as born %a al iIilaasiii,i. February 20. issa.
remember this circumstance quite
Young Titus a." was s n.aireI a. an American
sailor, being dressed tn represent "A
Greek pirate. was much smaller than
my antagonist, hut as the fight was Tor his
benefit. good taste naturally suggested
that he should overcome and slay me
which ic did..and as the curtain came
down l was Hat IN my back, and the
American sailor, waving ~ s~tar-spangled
banner over me-. placed his foot magnani-
moIsly on the chest Of the vanquishetl
Greek. The fight was encored, SO I had
tn come To life a common
thing with stage pirates and die twice.
.-asl,..e xls.1isRlats.sl in lA.iprar f1as. vn has
foe; nothing could possibly bc more
manly than "A slain pirate.
In tire year 1S.es the new town of Chicago
had just turned from AN Indian village in-
had written to my father urging him to
join in the management OF the new thea
tire. whici, WAS then being built there. A.
each fresh venture presented itself my
ate and successful results.
Springfield being the capital of Illinois
il was determined to devote one entire
hers of the Legislature. Having mads.
money for several weeks previous to our
arrival here the management resolved to
hire ~ lot and build "a theatre.
The new theatre. when completed. was
about ninety feet deep and forty feet wide.
No attempt was made at Recommendation.
and az il was implanted the simple line of
architecture upon which il was construct
ed gave IL the apIeiranc" of large dry
goods box with "A roof.
In the midst of their rising fortunes "a
heavy blow fell upon them. a religious
III. Fathers IL Tie church not only
launched forti, against us in their sermons,
biit 10y some political vancouver got the
city q" pass - now law enjoining :. heavy
license. against our 'unholy" calling; l
forget the amount. hut IL was larg.
enough, to tc prohibitory. Here. was "a
terrible condition of affairs all our avail
bile funds invested, the Legislature in
session. the town full of people. and iy "a
ing the new thcater!
In the midst of their trouble "a young
liear,l of the injustice, and offered. il they
would place the matter i'm his hands, Ia
have the license taken of. declaring that
Inc only desired Ia see fair play. and lc
would accept no fee whether hc failed ar
succeeded. The ease was brought mp bs.-
FOR. o.. rouncil: lhs young lawyer is-
ject with tact. skill and hunor. tracing
the history of the drama from the time
Of to-day. He illustrated his speech with
"a number at anecdotes and kept the
council i'm "a roar of laughter. His good
was taken oil.
This young lawyer was very popular in
Springfield and was honoresl and beloved
by all who knew him, and, after the time
of which ] write. he held rather am innpor-
tant position in the Government OF the
United States. He now lies buried near
Springfield under "a monument connmeino-
rating his greatness and his virtues and
his lame was Abraham Lincoln.
We had for years been travelling about
the country aud my father and mother
congratulated themselves upon this pres
s.nt permanent situation, as IL afforded
them not only rest, hit am opportunity of
sending my sister and myself to school.
sadly enough the last wish of thish hope
full man was shattered, for two weeks
after our arrival he WAS stricken with yell
low fever. and died on the oath of Novcm-
her. 1s42. I will not describe the effect of
this awfu blow ON our family, not desir-
ing Ia cloud the. narrative of my life will
the relation of domestic sorrow. Ii is
sufficient To say that by this sad event we
were peprived of n dear friend upon whom
we depended for counsel and uppor
My sister and myself were now Engages
at the theater To act such childrs,n's parts
as our size and talent warranted the man.
aRer i'm casting us In appearing i'm fancy
dances and comic duets. added To which
I was to grind colors i'm the paintroom-
assistant artist, I was called in the play
billiard make myself generally useful.
for which services W. were each to re-
ceive % per week.
Al the time of which I write there lived
i'm Mobile 10 talented and beautiful lady
by the name of Madame lie Vert. She
was the belle of the city and courted ID!
the first in the land; her b~rilliancy ana
wit had placed her In the center of "a rici
setting of which she was the shining
Jewel. Added To her worth and eleganc,
was "a kind and beneilcent nature. always
seeking new objects to bestow it's bount,
upon. She was. moreover, "A pttrofless ~
...xu ,tltp.r xcas t.A, hitrl