The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-02-24
NOTEDVETERANA ACTOR
How Denman Thompson Wei
coined a Distinguished Visitor.
HIS QUlCKNESS AT REPARTEE
Neat Illustration of |; on a Railway
Journey-Why a Janitor Declined
His Gencrosity-His Great Love For
Animals.

Journey-Why a Janitor Declined
His Generosity-His Great Love For
Animals.
One summer Senator and Mrs. Jacob
II. Gallinger of New Hampshire visit
ed Keene, n. H.. and, learning that
Denman Thompson, the veteran actor
of "Old Homestead" fame. was at his
| home in Swanzey and being a great
admirer of Mr. Thompson and his
play. the senator expressed a wish to
meet him off the stage and to see his
fine home. An old friend of Mr..
Thompson offered TO drive down.
Therefore on one fine morning they
drove down to Mr.. Thompson's house.
He came out without coat or hat,
hands behind his back, as usual. The
following conversation ensued:
Denman-How d. do. Bill?
Bill--How are you. Den? Mr.. Thomp-
son, want to Introduce Senator and
Mrs Gallinger
Senator Gallinger- Mr.. Thompson,
have witnessed your great production.
the "Old Homestead" many times and
always with the greatest pleasure. but
| want to say IL is with still greater
pleasure that | am permitted to greet
you in your own beautiful home in old
Swanzey
Denman-Yas; it's cheaper
Mr. Thompson's quickness at repair
tee is well illustrated by an incident
which took place during a run from
Detroit to one of the smaller towns In
Michigan Mr.. Thompson had hired
a sleeper TO get him to the company's
destination. and while making a stop
at one of the intermediate stations
Uncle Josh left the car and. going into
some raw oysters On coming out he
noticed one of the railroad employees
underneath the sleeper measuring the
distance between the wheels
"What are you doing there my
friend?" asked Uncle Josh.
measuring the trucks to see IL this
car will run O. X on the side branch
that you have got to travel over"
That's all right. but I've hired this
car to get me to certain point. and
IL you don't get me there it will be
mo pay That's what you might call
measure for measure"
The following incident occurred
when Mr.. Thompson was playing one
night stands through the middle west
The night the performance was to be
given in certain town there was such
a terrific snowstorm that no one ven
tured ont TO the theater with the ex-
ception of one man
UndauntpG by "one man audience"
Thompson. stepping before the curtain,
told the lone listener that they intend
ed to give the performance from be-
ginning to end. as though the hall were
packed: that they had advertised to
| play that night and that. to prove the
company was thoroughly honest and
always ready TO give a fair DEAL"
they would start the performance at
the usual time.
This was too much for the audience,
who had listened nervously to the re-
marks. so he shouted out: Say. cut it
out, will you? am the janitor. and !
want to get home early"
A few years ago Denman Thompson
was discussing with n party of friends
certain automobile race.
'They hadn't any right" said one of
| the party. Ito deprice the farmers of
the highway which they are paying
taxes for
In reply the actor told this story:
"a few DAYS after the race" he said,