The Portland daily press., 1897-09-15

H. dlh SlFlppeu Oh every duJ uuCG. i
am surrounded with no scenery which
would be In keeping with the character
l. am assuming, no company except the
stock company, (turning to the stock
holders who were seated on the stage be-
hind him), (applause), but 1 shall have
nothing to say against them behind my
back. am here simply disguised. as a
gentleman, and in that oond ition de-
prived of all fine language and thrown
entirely upon my own resources. In
this embarrassed condition l stand be-
fore you in the character of simple gem
tleman, who is very nervous and upde-
termined In his mind as to whether he
will sink or swim. (Applause.)
And now before 1 refer further to N.Y.
self, let me make some few remarks re.
garding the statistics of this beautiful
temple in which we are assembled In
the first place 1 congratulate you upon
having among you citizens who have
been so liberal ns to have subscribed
for this magnificent edif1ce and to have
carried 1t to so successful completion. I
have passed through this building today
and there is one great quality it possesses
that l cannot refrain FROM mentioning
hele tonight. Of its architecture have
no need to speak as to how beautiful 1t is.
There is no seat IN the house but what
has a full view of the stage, and that is
most important. But there is something
of far greater Importance than any of
these, from its foundation up to the roof
it is a fire proof building. And in the
future when your children and families
are absent from you at the theatre, YOU
will feel that they will be returned to you
with the same safety in which they left
you, and that, in my opinion, is worth
all the architecture that was ever lavished
upon any theatre in the, world (Pro-
longed applause.) You would appreciate
the beauty of this structure if could
call to your mind how it appears ip COM
parison with other theatres in which I
have acted. In the West and South have
acted sometimes in a dining room, or it
may be sometimes in a barn, and instead
of the beautiful electric lights separating
us from what we used to call the rude
! public, half dozen tallow candles an
swered the purpose In the city of Spring
field, Illinois, in $780, my father built d
theatre which in architecture resembled
something like a dry goods box, with
a gabled roof, possibly a little larger.
After the theatre had been built there
was license prohibitory passed that it
was impossible to open it. So that my
father and his company was stranded as
it were in Illinois, five or six hundred
miles away from railroad and unable
to open a theatre in consequence of the
high license that was fixed upon it. Dur
ing this dilemma young lawyer came
| forward and told my father that if he
would place the case in his hands he
would see the city fathers and be begged
to assure my father that he could get the
license not only reduced, but, perhaps,
taken off altogether. He said he asked no
fee for his services, but acted simply for
the pleasure of seeing justice done. The
meeting was called and he talked to tho
city fathers, and by his wit and humor
so carried them that the license was taken
off and we opened the theatre. That
young lawyer afterwards held very high
position in the United States, and in
Springfield they have a monument re-
cording the virtues of Abraham Lincoln.
| And now in connection with the city of
Portland, you will be surprised 1 think,
when 1 tell you L acted here 40 years
ago. 1t is quite likely that have played
before not only the fathers and mothers,
but the grandfathers and grandmothers
of many who are assembled here tonight.
And 1 might further say that it is not
the first time you have honored me for the
| first honor I ever received at public en-
tertainment was in this city A dinner was
given to me here, and the chairman at
that dinner was no less person than one
whom you all hold in most affectionate
remembrance, the Hon. James G. Blaine.
(Applause.) l feel that have taxed your
patience already too much. Let me terhi-
nate by saying that 1 most heartily and
thoroughly appreciate the honor that has
been done to me here tonight. And I am
very glad to know that l am to appear
here before you during the season in
character, (applause) and 1 only hope
that 1 shall acquit myself on that occa>
sion not quite so clumsily as l have on
this But [ can say that when 1 do re-
turn I shall ask no warmer or pleasant
er greeting than to be welcomed by the
SINE agreeable and cheerful faces to
whom l now bid most affectionats
a1ieU.
AS he concluded tremendous applause
followed, and Mr.. Jefferson retired to
Mr. Wright's box to watch the play.
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