The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-01-12
NEW news or YESTERDAY
Light That ThaCkeray Placed in
His Window.
1t Was Signal for james w. WaIIack,
the Actor, to Drop in After the
Theater, When Both Were
in New York.
BY E. J. EDWARDS.

In the same year-1S53-that Will
liam Makepeace Thackeray came to
the United States on his first lecture
tour, James w. Wallack settled in this
country and took control of the first
theater known as Wallack's in New
York city. This noted actor and the.
atrical manager had for one of his
great admirers the novelist Thacke,
ray. While Wallack was a favorite in
London he and Thackeray became so
well acquainted that the latter felt
privileged at any time to visit the
actor in his dressing room, where
Thackeray always received a cordial
welcome.
Some time after Thackeray had
landed in America for the first time he
called on James w. Wallack at the
latters theater There Lester Wal
lack, who was stage manager for his
father, was introduced by his parent
to Thackeray.
For a few minutes 1 took an instant
dislike to the man." said Lester Wal
lack years after. 81 thought he was
about the most supercilious appearing
man whom l had ever seen. But all
OF that first impression soon passed
away and | speedily found myself in
intimate companionship with the nov
elist. In turn, Thackeray seemed to
take to me, and was delighted when
he discovered that my lodgings were
only a few doors distant from his.
Every night that l am home he
said enthusiastically L will put a
lighted candle in the window of my
sitting room. When you see it there
on your way home from the theater
you are to come in. That will be my
signal to you that | shall be glad to
see you every evening | am not away
at a lecture or a dinner-that you are
wanted within
Perhaps two or three times week
l would discover the signal in the
window, and whenever entered
Thackeray's sitting room he would
bound from his seat and literally en-
brace me. There were always two or
NAAt " OtHOl II iCllOo Vi udChGEaY pres
ent, and we had good cigars. Thack-
cray was great lover of a good cigar.
Now, curiously enough, during all
those sessions, which were prolong-
ed some times until three o'clock in
the morning-for Thackeray was the
greatest night owl l ever saw-his
guests had to do all the entertaining,
Thackeray would lie curled up on the
sofa, from the end of which his long
legs hung over, and call upon one Of
us for a story, another for a song, still
another for song and dance. re-
member one night singing a duet with
George William Curtis. and the tears
rolled down Thackerays cheeks as he
listened to our sentimental ballad.
But try as we would, we were never
able to persuade him to sing a song
or tell story or do a dance. He en-.
tertained us with good cheer, and we
were bound to entertain him with
song and story and dance.
"h", those were rollicking nights
with Thackeray. He seemed to me like
a magnificent overgrown boy. And
after his departure for his home
in England, as | passed the lodgings
every night l looked yearningly at
the window, still hoping that l might
see there the familiar light beckon-
ing me to enter into his jovial com
pany."
Copyright 1911, by e. ]. Edwards. All
RightS RpSarNpd