Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-03-04
NO7EDVETERANACTOR
How Denman Thompson Wei
coined a Distinguished Visitor.
HIS oUICKNESS AT REPARTEE

Nedt iluStTdtion OF u or railway
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 great
admirer of Mr.. Thompson and his
play, the senator expressed 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, l 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
I want to say it is with still greater
pleasure that I am permitted to greet
you in your own beautiful home in old
Swanzey.
Denman-Yas; it's cheaper.
Mr.. Thompson's quickness at repar-
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 8
destination, and while making a stop
at one of the intermediate stations
Uncle Josh left the car and, going into
the depot, satisfied his craving fol
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
friendT 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 a certain point. and
If you dom. get me there 1t 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 q certain town there was such
a terrific sEowstorm that no one ven
tured out to the theater with the ex
ception of one man.
Undaunted by zone 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 tC
play that night and that. to prove the
company was thoroughly honest art
always ready TO give AFFAIR deal
they would start the Performance N
the usual time.
This was too much for the audience
who had listened nervously to the re
marks. so he shouted out: Say. cut II
out, will you? am the janitor. and
want TO get home early"
A few years ago Denman Thompson
was discussing with party of friends
q certain automobile race.
"They hadn't any right" said one OF
the party. ito deprive 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
II happened to be driving over part OF
the same course. ] stopped at a farm
house and asked to be allowed to give
the horse water. l got some cider.
""What did you think of the auto
mobile race?' asked my senial host.
"'The best thing for me that evel
happened replied the farmer.
"'WhatT | exclaimed. I thought
all you farmers were against it.
"'Not me- said the farmer. You
see, got balky mule that draws my
stuff into market every morning. Yes
terday morning that mule baked hall
way to the market. Couldn't get hin
to stir. While l was trying to coaS
him saw a strange thing lying in the
roadway-sort of q rubber thing.
picked It up and accidentally squeezed
1t. 1t let out a turrible noise. just like
one of those machines, and that null
started, me on the tailboard, and new
er stopped till it got to the ferry.
brought 1t home, and 1 showed 1t tC
Mandy, and we squeezed it an6
squeezed it and squeezed 1t. and every
darn chicken ran to the coop, every
darn pig hid in the pen. every darr
COW ran to the barn, the cat got be
hind the stove, the dog got in his
house. and Mandy and me spent the
quietest night we've had in many 6
day. No, Stree, of all the labor saw
ing machines l ever did hear of, thi:
is the best"
An incident illustrating Mr.. Thomp
sons love for animals took place one
summer at his home in Swanzey, N. H
BE was alone in the house when some
neighbor called, and as the friend
came up the walk to the house Nh
Thompson's dog ran out. barking g
the supposed intruder.
why do you keep such surly gu
mal?' asked the friend.
"Man must have something to loves
replied Mfr. Thompson. when alone
Z can give expression to my thoughts
in the presence of that dog. and
sometimes find myself in tears when
alone with him. He is my friend. as