The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-04-13
Grand OLD MAN
OF the STAGE
Anecdotes Of DenRan Thompson,
Of 1.-THE Old Homestead.
AN ACTOR FOR HALF A CENTURY

How He Greeted Senator GsIIinser.
His Fondress For Oysters and Settler
and Milk-PopuIar With Members of
His Company-Didn't Like to Talk of
Himself
One of those men who would rather
wear out than rust out, Denman
Thompson frequently declared that as
long as he was able to live he wanted
to live behind the fo0tlights. That is
why he continued on the stage long
after he had passed the age of three
score and ten years. An actor for
more than half century, he played
the rOfe of Joshua WhitcOmb in THE
Old Homestead for upward of thirty
years, and perhaps no other play held
such a warm place in the hearts of
theater going people.
Thompson had decided aversion to
thing in connection with himself, and
thus expressed himself on the subject:
my struggle in life, the hard knocks
and setbacks that have fallen to my
lot, have not been any greater than
those of thousands of business men
who have risen to far greater promi-
hence in life than |. The public Is
not interested to know the inside his
tory Of these lives. The public should
Judge man In any walk Of life by his
deeds and actions, by his true merit
not by what he says Of himself. This
sitting down and talking to man
about ones personal experiences al.
ways reminds me of redhot Metho-
dist who stands up In prayer meeting
and rehearses the trials and tribula-
tons which he has gone through to
reach the desired goal"
Greets Senator GalIinger.
While touring the state one summer
Senator and Mrs. Gallinger visited
Keene, N. H., and, learning that
Thompson was at his home in Swan
zey. the senator expressed a wish to
meet him off the stage. One morning
friend of Thompson drove the sena-
tor to Thompson's home Thompson
came out without coat or hat, hands
behind his book. The following con-
versation ensued:
Thompson-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
many times and always with the great.
est pleasure, but want to say 1t is
with still greater pleasure that am
permitted to greet you in your beauti-
| full home.
Thompson-Yas It's cheaper.
Thompson was beloved by the mem.
bers of his company, especially the lit.
tie tots that figure in the cast. During
one engagement he wanted to compli-
ment a little fairy on her work and
said.
you've done SO we'll I'd like to give
you a big kiss"
"Oh, Mr.. Thompson" answered the
fairy, Mortified, you mustn't, really,
Aunty doesn't believe In kissing"
"Neyer mind, dear" replied Thomp
son; "I'm not kissing aunty."
And the fairy got smack.
Two Failines.
"Uncle Josh has an inordinate love
for oysters In all shapes. He has beer
known to keep the stage waiting some
times while he finished his dozen
''raws' or hot stew.
Another of his failings was 'seltzel
and milk" He once said in this con
nection, life would have no charms
for me were It devoid of seltzer and
milk
One more incident illustrates how he
was the same man of the stage thai
he was on. He was stopping at q
large hotel and, wishing to know the
dinner hour said to the clerk, ''What
time does the dinner bell ring?" In
quiring for the bar, he said, Where II
the dram houseP" Wishing to leave
word before leaving for the theater
he said to the clerk, IF any one calls
tell them I'm at the playhouse"