Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-20
NORTHUMBERLAND ACTOR.
How Denman Thompson Wei
coined a Distinguished Visitor.
HIS oUlCKNEss AT REPARTEf


Journey--Why Janitor Declined
His censrosisy--lils Great Love For
Animals
One summer Senator and Mrs. jacob
II. Gallinger OF New Hampshire visit
ed Keene. \. H., and, learning that
Denman Thompson. the veteran actor
Of .Old homestead fame. was ne his
home In swanzey and being great
admirer OF Mr.. Thompson and his
play, the senator expressed wish e
meet him off the stage and to see his
fine home An old friend OF MIR
Thompson offered to drive down
Therefore on one fine morning they
drove down 70 Mr.. Thompson's house
lie came cut without coat or hat.
hands behind his back, rs usual The
following conversation ensucd.
Dcnman- How d. do. Billg
Bill--How are you, Den? Mr.. Thomp
son. want to introduce Senator and
Mrs. Gallingcr.
Senator GaIlinger-Mr THOMPSON. !
have Witnessed your great production
the .Old Homestead" many times and
always with the greatest pleasure but
want to say ii Is with still greater
pleasure that am permitted TO greet
you In your own beautiful home in old
Swanzey.
Denman- Vas; it's cheaper.
Mr.. Thompson's quickness at repair.
tee Is well illustrated by an incident
which took place during run from
Detroit to one Of the smaller towns In
Michigan. Mr.. Thompson had hired
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
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
friend?" asked Uncle Josh.
measuring the trucks to see II this
car win 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 10 certain point, and
If you don't get me there II will be
no 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
terrific snowstorm that no one ven.
tured ont to the theater with the ok
ccption 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 tho
company was thoroughly honest and
always ready TO give fair deal
they would start the performance nj
the usual time.
This was TOO much for the audience.
who had listened nervousiy to the re-
marks so he shouted out: Say. cut II
out, will you? I am the janitor. and !
want to get home early
A few years ago Denman Thompson
was discussing with party Of friends
a 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. I stopped at a farm
house and asked to be allowed to give
the horse water. | got some cider
what did you think Of the auto
mobile races' asked my genial host.
"The best thing for me that ever
happened. replied the farmer.
what? | 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 half
way to the market. Couldn't get him
10 stir While | was trying to coax
him saw a strange thing lying in the
roadway--sort of rubber thing.
picked II up and accidentally squeezed
II. Ii let ont a turrible noise. just like
one of those machines, and that mule
started. me on the tailboard, and new
er stopped till IL got TO the ferry.
brought II home. and ! showed 1t to
Mandy. and we squeezed 1t and
squeezed II and squeezed II. and every
darn chicken ran to the coop, ever,
darn pig hid In the pen. every darn
cow ran TO the barn. the cat got be
hind the stove. the dog got 10 biz
house. and Mandy and me spent ths
quietest nighr we've had In many a
day. No. Stree. of all the labor SAY
Ing machines ever did hear Of. this
Is the best Z
An incident illustrating Mr.. Tbomp
sons love for animals took place one
summer at his home IN Swanzey. N. II