Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-10-09

=: ic-- 80 dramatic o"erinG c: .ao
evening reached its final curtain. and
the preparations for the patriotic num-
Der began. They were simple enough
a wood setting, the company grouped
In conventional attire on the stage.
''Those who had ~swallowtail coats
wore them" said Jefferson later In
life, land those who were not blessed
with that graceful garment did the
best they could" In the center Of the
conventional half circle stood the
Goddess Of Liberty" on a small dais,
one of the female members Of the
troupe in ordinary evening dress, with
a p%asteboard Roman helmet on her
head and her figure draped with q
United States ensign.
Jefferson stood by the side Of this
imposing woman, and as the curtain
arose a great roar OF applause went
up from the crowd Of patriots assem-
bled in pit, balcony, gallery and boxes,
and at that a Of sound the boys
heart leaped to his throat, his brain
swan, and his tongue seemed sudden
" transformed into a huge, thick piece
Of solid mucilage. He had stage fright
IN its worst form. but as the orchestra
struck up the first notes of the anthem
he managed to bring back q measure
Of his self control and advanced bold
" to the footlights. In q trembling
voice out came the words, "Oh, say can
you see"- and his mind was a blank.
Red flames seemed to start in torrents
across his vision, bis brain ached, and
his body trembled, but he could re-
member no more.
Graspins the situation, the orchestra
leader stopped the musicians and be-
ran the anthem over again, but It wa
q 20 avail. Once moresJeRersUn -
sayed 70 sing, but no additional words
could he recall, and % he stood there
shaking in every limb, bathed in p9.
spiratiOn, bewjldered and gasping,
| there came to his ears the sound that
had never greeted him before nor ever
vas to greet him again-a hiss, loud.
eibilant, shrill and penetrating. Some
Of the audience began to laugh, others
took up the chorus Of the hiss. Il love
my country" said Jefferson In speak
ing about his feelings at that moment,
"but Mt that hour l cursed our national
anthem from the bottom Of my heart"
The Goddess OF Liberty turned to-
l o,nv~v him u1trvhtlvv nnA hA hnuV I'd hnp
gentle voice murlmur, Poor fellow!"
1t sounded like the noise Of a cannon
In his Ears and added to his confusion.
The kissing increased, and sarcastic
epithets were hurled above the bedlam.
The orchestra played v and over
again the introduction Of the anthem,
old Muller, the leader, calling out, "Go
on, 60 en-" But It was no use. The
Kissing had done its work, and, with
presence Of mind enough to bow, JET.
ferson retreated hastily to the wings.
where he threw himself into the arms
Of his mother, and together they sob.
bed out their misery W the incident
and the failure.
1t was weeks before jefferson recov-
cred from the blow the jeering had in.
tlictcd upon him and years before he
could think of st. Louis without d
shmidcr, yet, though condcmning hiss
ing for SO slight an o~ffense, never d
word did he utter ut any time in his
life against the city or its citizens that
had used him SO unkindly. The warmth
of the reception rendered him on his
temperance In st. Louis, thirty-twC
years later. more than compensated
him for that early fiasco, rs he per
sonally declared at the time, and SUB
s%cquently he came to love the city that
had given him such a cold douche and
set down in its records his only mark
ell failure Of any kind.-St. Louis
Globe Democrat.
Iacf Tuocdoy uac Mr. n y Mooro'S