Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-11-21
HIS FIRST PLAYHOUSE.
Some Extracts from Joseph Jefferson
LOng-ExPected Autobiography.

Some Extracts from Joseph JeffersOn's
Long-Expected Autobiography.
/ may almost say that was born in a
theater. At all events my earliest rec
objections are entirely connected with
one; it was rickety old frame building
with broad gable, facing on wide
avenue, and situated in the city OF
Washington. The door from our back
entry opened upon the stage, and as
toddling little chap in a short frock
was allowed full run of the place. So
E'behind the scenes" was my first play
house. And what playhouse it was,
filled with all sorts of material for the
exercise of my youthful Imagination. At
the back was the bay of Naples, with its
conventional blue sky just family
clouded with the distant smoke of slum-
bering Vesuvius. Upon one side stood
long and stately rows of Corlnthlan
columns, a triumphal arch, and next to
that Roman palace. These marvels OF
ancient architecture were all leaning
UP against the wall, not only in an I'M
comfortable position, but at 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 fve-storied
brown-stone front with modern improve
ments, and here a tiny matched cottage
of the eighteenth century, with lovely
little door in it Just large enough for me
to go in and out of, slamming it after
me and pretending it was mine. Then
there was that dear little white paling
fence, exactly two feet high; no
legitimate theater 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 arm-chairs
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 fat swans hitched in
double harness to a shell for travelling
fairy queens. A little further down
there stood low and dismal vault hav-
ing square, dark opening with some
mysterious letters painted over it, set
ting 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 ''Juliet's bal
cony" In dark corner stood a robbers
cave with an opening through which
old Ali Baba used to lug the bags of gold
he had stolen from the Forty Thieves.
Through the narrow and secluded path
ways of behind the scenes" l have
often wandered out upon the open stage
fats, and 1 could see that many ropes
were hanging from above to which were
fastened boats and baskets, tubs and
chandeliers, and those sure tokens of
bad weather, the thunder-drum and
rain-box.
These were the kind of objects that
my childish eyes were won't to look
upon, and in this huge and dusty toy
shop made for children of q larger
growth, got my first experience.
had seen many rehearsals, and some-
times got a peep at the play, having
been taken on lin arms" as a property
child in groups of happy peasantry.
Naturally, therefore, l was stage-struck
at an early age; and as l had theater
stocked with scenery and properties,
could indulge my passion at small eX-
pense, especially as my stock company
were volunteers consisting of two little
boys and their sister, who used to play
with me on Saturdays. This was before
the star system had set in, and at a
period when combinations were I'M
known.
Of course I was stage manager by the
right of possession, and had to compile
all of the plays. The plots were very
simple and made to conform with what
set pieces we could get at, or what prop
critics we could secure and hide during
the absence of the property man. If the
set cottage was handy would come out
of the door as an old man (the age rep
resented by a spinal affection) with a
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 window, kisses her hand; old man
coughs outside, favored lover conceals
himself; enter old man with market
basket full of gilded pasteboard goblets,
accompanied by unfavored lover; they
sit down and drink wine out of goblets
till overcome. Favored lover steals key
from old mans pocket, releases rebel
lious daughter; the sleepers awaken,
general pursuit; favored lover and re-
belliOus daughter escape over bridge,
old man and unfavored lover fall into tho
water. Curtain.
Then there were the private boxes to
play hide-aud-seek in, with mysterious
hooks and ample curtains to creep into.
and such chances to kiss the little girl
in the dark. am quite convinced that
there is no such playground as deserted
theater in the daytime.-JOseph Jeffer-
son, in Century.
VEGETABLE SHELLS.