The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
DramatiSt a Unique Figure
in Recent Campaign.
PAGE IN THE LOWER HOUSE
At Age of Eleven, Augustus Thomas
Takes Part in Debate on the
ssFOrce Bill, and Has Many Lead
ing Statesmen in Audience-Be-
comes Labor Leader at Eighteen.

Witching Hour" was unique figure IN
the recent political campaign. Although
he has been making occasional speeches
since he was a young man. his distinction
IS as a playwright and not as a politician.
The individuality Of Thomas stands out
Just as boldly in his political addresses as
It does in his plays. As sn orator he
carefully avoids the tactics OF the spell
binder He has too keen a sense Of hu-
NOR, 100 fine and appreciative good taste.
ever TO become a haranguer. He taias
rather than declaims. and his voice is so
excellent In quality and he uses II 50 In
telligently that even his lowest tones
carry effectively.
He makes his points count, just as he
makes his lines stand out In Alabama"
The Earl OF Pawtucket." and The
Witching Hour" II is just as easy for
Thomas to make speeches himself as 10
make them for an actor 70 speak. This IS
plain TO any person that ever heard him.
The playwright Is not only a political
teacher who has studied the subject ar
land in a most profound way. but he has
the graceful gift Of expression that he
gives 10 the characters in his plays.
Orator from Early Youth.
The thousands who have enjoyed Thom-
as plays wonder when they read OF him
as one OF the great political orators Of
this country. but as a matter OF fact
Thomas has been an orator from his
early youth. Beginning as a lad OF eleven
years, ne was a page IN the House OF
Representatives IN Washington for four
years and was speaker Of the pages con-
gress In this way he early learned
complete knowledge or parliamentary law
and the arts Of an orator. Early one
morning when the House pages and the
Senate pages were 20 have a debate upon
the force bili' young Thomas was sup
porting the Democratic end OF the debate
when James c. Blaine. who was then the
Speaker. happened into the hall He was
surprised and delighted with this youth
from Missouri Mr.. Blaine was fond %
telling fellow-members about this page.
and the next time that young Thomas
made q speech he had IN his audience not
only Mr.. Blaine. but Senator Cox. Proc
tor Knott, Robert G. Ingersoli. Henry
WattersOn, Roscoe Conkling. Benjamin
Butler. and other Intellectual giants OF
that period who were then members OF
Congress.
Labor Leader at Eighteen.
After he returned 70 HIS native city. St
Louis. he became a railroad brakeman
and was a member % the Grand Lodge Of
Missouri Of the Knights OF Labor. As the
officers OF the order knew but little OF
parliamentary law, Thomas was frequent
ly helping them out OF complications.
Finally the labor leaders said. Why not
put this boy IN the chair?'' and thus al
eighteen years OF age Thomas was the
youngest master workman in the world
Thomas went out on a strike when the
Missouri Pacific shops were burned IN
ST. Louis IN 1879 and became a reporter on
a 81. Louis paper. He became known az
one OF the few Political correspondents
who illustrated his own articles. he was
afterward lamous as a cartoonlst. II
Thomas should tire OF playwritlns he
could easily make a handsome living by
painCng pictures. he has also earned a
livelihood as the leading tenor in a church
choir IN the Episcopal Cathedral in 81.
Louis. While stil serving as a reporter
he wrote "Editha's Burglar.' which Is
still being played. The other day he
spoke at Columbia. No. which IS known
as the Athens Of that State because the
university IS located there.
Given IL. d. Degree.
The president OF the university in intro
ducing Thomas reminded him OF fact
that he had forgotten. "Editha's Bur
glar.'' President Hill stated. was first pro-
dUced IN that town and Mr.. Thomas him
self played the leading role. The intro
duction ot Mr.. Thomas to the audience
in that educational center probably form
ed the most touching moment Of his life
He was informed that at the next com
mencement a degree Of learned doctor OF
laws would be conferred upon him as
similar degree was recently conferred ID
on Mark Twain. and Mr.. Thomas was an
nounced as the most distinguished son
that Missouri has ever had, with the ex-
ception OF Samuel L. Clemens.
While playing IN ''Editha's Burglar
Thomas wrote one Of his greatest PLAYS.
Alabama" 1t has probably earned more
money than any other American play
and has been produced all over the world
z. s. Willard, who produced Alabama"
IN London. in answering 10 a curtain call
stated that Alabama" had done as
much 20 wipe out sectional lines IN the
United States as Harriet Beecher. Stoves
Uncle Toms Cabin had done to create
them.
Dramatic Successes.
With the success OF Alabama" Mr..
Thomas started IN to dramatize other
States and Territories OF the Union
Quickly following he created IN Miz-
zoura," Colorado" Kentucky "Ari-
zona." and others.
The great London success OF the last
year was Mr.. Thomas play, The Earl OF
Pawtucket." His most recent success
which is even greater than any OF his
other productions is The Witching
Hour" It deals with telepathy. The
principal company played a whole year in
New York. John Mason plays the leading
role. Two other companies are running
in the West II has met great favor IN
Berlin and Will soon be produced in Lon
don by Forbes Robertson. Thomas has
also made novel OF THE witchfng
Hour"
Augustus Thomas lives In one OF the
show places Of Westchester County. -.
Y He ma rTied the great granddaughter
OF Admiral Bainbridge. a gifted woman.
who has aided him in his literary work
Inv -,