Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-10-11
JOHN MILLER MURPHY Tells STORY OF
DRAMATIC EVENTS IN PIONEER OLYMPIA
and Lofty
Her Due Proper rtion
Have Figure in the WORLDS Eye-R
an Early Dispute enndtxJ
Copyright 1912, by Effenbee Publishing Coz

The only social amusements of the
early days in Olympia were dancing
parties, and these were of frequent oc-
currence, kind Providence having
placed at our disposal several scrapers
of cat-gut in the persons of Oliver
Shead and the Cornell Brothers. Happy
were our people, however, when Jack
Rag" appeared and became a perma-
nent acquisition by engaging in serssee
as waiter at our only hotel. What his
real name was nobody knew, but that
lie was a genius in his way, with quite
liking and .aptitude for histrionic
matters, was speedily developed. He
gave the first dramatic representation
in the town, to the great delight of the
people who thronged the hall (the din
ing room of the hotel) where a stage
with a drop curtain made from a bed
sheet, had been arranged, and upon
which he made his maiden bow to an
Olympia audience. 1t is true his rep
ertoire was not large, and that he play
d without support, but the people
we're not critical and his performance
was such a marked success that it was
repeated at frequent intervals, and al
ways to crowded hall and with enthusi-
astic encores. His performance was
with song, which afforded an explana-
tion Of the tableaux presented at ris-
ing OF the curtain. 1t was many years
afterward before the people were af-
forded an opportunity of witnessing a
theatrical performance by a visit of
the Robinson family, with really a
very clever actress in Miss Sue, who
at once became popular favorite.
The full east" consisted of the par
ents, son and daughter, and their rep
ertoire was necessarily limited to such
minor plays as Morning Call" Box
and Cox" and Loan of Lover"
Lulu Sweet" was another little
charming dramatist who always re
| ceiyed cordial welcome and still far
| ther back Fannie Morgan Phelps and
her sister Louise. Chas. Vivian Fro.
man and Yankee" Plummer made oc
casional flights to this uninvitins
field. more probably from the pleasant
and healthful climate than from amy
| great expectations of financial profit
When J. l.. Sawtelle held the boards
enc winter, late in the seventies, with
a capable company, during legisla
| tive session, 1t was quite evident that
the drama was making quite rapid
! progress, and it may be noted that sew
eral leading actresses made long, il
not worldwide names, who had spent
their school days in Olympia. Annie
| Pixley and to some degree her sister
Minnie, became famous while their
parents, from destitute circumstances
| became opulent in after life through
their daughters talent and acting
| One of the most famous bare-backed
riders in the world, Miss Linda Teal
was a small girl when her father kept
hotel here, and afterwards resided in a
building on Second street near the
former STANDARD Office Another young
girl, Miss Pauline Hall, undergoing a
thorough musical education for grand
opera, lived for time in infancy in
the same building on Second street.
May We not be able to paraphrase. in
some degree those ancient cities which
heaped posthumous honOrs on Homer
after he had passed from his scenes of
earthly activity? May we not find in
the development of genius in some of
our pioneers a paraphrase on the
stanZa in which it is claimed that
Seven Grecian cities strove for Homer
dead
Through which the living Homer
begged his daily bread"
Years afterwards, more pretentious
company, THE Chapman Family" ap-
pearcd, with mother and daughter in
the leading parts; Caroline" the
mother. always playing the youthful
parts, ana the daughter appearing in
masculine or the ''old woman" roles
Having more people, they gave such
exacting plays as RIP Van Wrinkle, -
'Rosina Meadows" and the like Their
route was, of course, limited to the ac-
cessible towns on the northern coast,
and it must be admitted that de-
velopment from Jack Rag" to what
speedily followed in two decades indi-
Gated very rapid improvement. The
erection of the Columbia Tor city,
hall in 1870. afforded an opportunity
for dramatic performances that was
the best in the territory. Seattle did
not have as suitable place for dra-