The Sunday globe., 1901-05-26
AN old CALIFORNIAN.
Tells Some of His Experiences in
the Golden State.

When | look back through the vista
of the past and reflect what good timeo
we once had on the Pacific Coast, 1t
makes me wish / were boy again, IL
only for one night" said Col. Jack
Benson, an old time miner, of Califor'
MIA. "Those were golden days in ev-
cry sense, not only the shining metal,
but everything else was as glittering
to a young man as the precious dust
and nuggets we sought to find. The
comforts of eastern home life we're not
expected in a new country. We had
to endure the privations Of pioneers,
and enjoyed the conditions as we
found them, making the best of life We
could My father with his family
moved from Maryland to California
and located on a ranch. When on the
farm, as q boy, learned to swing the
AK, drive the pick, and guide the plow,
as miner, woodman, cowboy and farm
er, I grew up with the county. After
the discovery Of gold we soon had an
immense population, composed of all
kinds of races, and nationalities repre-
senting all stations and conditions Of
life, from the most refined and intelll-
gent gentleman to the toughest brig
and that ever disgraced a village.
When [ reached mature manhood l
went to live in San Francisco, to en-
gage in mine speculation. There / was
thrown with good people. | had a
great weakness for amusements, being
alone in the world. l usually spent my
evenings at the theatre. Speaking or
theatres reminds me of Charles Thorn,
the actor, when he lost his theatre and
money by fire. He sought to regain
his loss in California. At that time
Tom Mcclure was called the amuse'
ment King of the Pacific Coast. Thorn
opened the Metropolitan Theatre in
opposition to Mcclure. He organized
a stock company composed OF the FOL
! lowing persons: j. B. Booth, brother
of Wilkes Booth; Agnes Perry, who
afterwards married Booth; Ed Ponce
| forte, Julia Dean Haine, James Stark
and wife, James Buchanan and daugh
ter, Jim Wheatley, Thayer Thompson
and Sally Hinkly, who made a fortune
on the stage Thorn had a daughter
by the name Of Emily who was a
bright young woman. She took ben
eft at the Metropolitan Theatre one
night, appearing in the character OF
Aura Floyd" creating a great sensa
ton. It was kept on the stage for
three months to crowded houses
| Grant tho rich stonoouttor of San
Francisco, bought thousand dollars
worth of tickets, General Negley sew
enteen hundred dollars worth, a young
man by the name Of Logan took two
thousand dollars worth, and each man
tore up the tickets, in order to swell
the receipts for Emily Thorn's benefit
From that night she took a start as 8
star. She came east, and while In
Chicago she met John Chamberlain
the famous hotel caterer and turfman
and married him. Mrs. Chamberlain
and Agnes Perry Booth are the only
two of the old Frisco stock company
living. I was at the Capitol the otheI
day. and heard the name Of Thorn.
replied that I knew an actor many
years ago by the name Of Charles r
Thorn. Why said the young man
you are coming close to my home. HI
was my grandfather The old actot
died some years ago. Tom Mcclure
came east, and died in poverty. Yes
concluded the old miner and amuse
ment lover, sadly, at will not be Ions
before ! shall soon cross the divide
to meet those | knew in those COLDER
days in California, where the wicked
cease from trouble and the weary are
at rest"