The Washington herald., 1913-10-05
HENRY DENMAN THOMPSON.


The passing from this sphere of Henry
Denman Thompson, April "A. 1911, re-
moves one who in his humble way did
much for the uplift of humanity, moved
the hearts Of thousands upon thousands
who were fortunate enough to see the
famous portrayal of the honest farm
life. leaving the play house feeling bet
ter for having seen the performance, and
thanking heaven that such a man was
in the world with his convincing person.
ality felt and appreciated. Joshua Whit
combe will be reverentially mentioned
with Hazel Kirk, Rip Van Wrinkle, and
other heart appealing dramas Of the
long-ago.
! l could hardly realize the sturdy,
/ bright-eyed, jovial, rosy-cheeked indi-
vidual that I was conversing with had
passed his seventy-eighth birthday, Oc-
tober IS, 1910. He looked Brighter and
cheerier than he did that day, October
/ l., 1876 in the lobby of the old Imper-
iaI Hotel adjoining the National Thea
ter, in Washington, D. c., where we
first had our long serious talk Time
had dealt lightly with him. His MEM
DRY needed only a suggestion as remin-
iscences were recalled. and the hour
that We had at our disposal was very
much longer than the sixty minutes al
lotted to it.
When I first met Denman he was per-
forming a ''burletta" as It was then
called We had several interviews that
week discussing ii pro and con: its
humor and pathos: frightening and cur
failing: emanations suggesting Them
selves were freely INDUCED in: notations
were much in evidence: the structure
being then formed that subsequently
produced THE Old Homestead
He had great faith in his "burletta-"
never realizing in those days what ths
future had in store for him. He long
ago determined to remain true to The
Old homestead as it was rechristened.
He said:
ut presents a true picture of farm
life; it illustrates the best in human ma
ture; 1t awakens the memories and stirs
the emotions OF men and women who
nave come from a farm. and il teaches a
wholesome lesson to the young The
play which l consider will live longest
is the one which portrays life in its
simplest and most natural conditions:
which plays upon the thread of human
sympathy, one that is built for the heart
and head rather than for the eve"
Mr.. Thompson had been so long identi-
fled with Uncle Joshua that the public
never associated him with any other role.
although he played many parts. run
ming the gamut of dramas. tragedy,
minstrelsy. even invading Uncle Toms
Cabin. His last week on the stage began
October q, 1910. and his final perform
ance was in Washington, D. c, On
Wednesday night President Taft visited
the theater
During the performance Mr. THOMPSON
called upon the President in his private
box and INDUCED in a pleasant chat.
while his understudy-the other Joshua.
Edward l.. Slater-continued the perforn-
ince, without the audience beinr au-,rS
u it.
Denman Thompson at one time resided
N Toronto. Canada Playing an engage
nent at the Royal Opera House some
elSht years after he had left the city he
'lslted persons to whom he was indebted
ind paid their claims in full, although
hey were outlawed by age The Toronto
wan gave space to a communication on
ne subject from Stranger calling at
ention to the integrity of Mr.. Thomp-
ION. and the valuable lesson it taught 10
many: IF those who sit in the front seats
II our churches were to do likewise, II
would be to their credit
MT thompson was always lucky, his
LAY being a money maker even in its
hciplency, continuing its drawing power
o the end; he roughly estimating the
ross receipts to have been easily ten
Millions of good American dollars. He
tten encountered strong counter attrac-
ions in the large cities. On one occasion
n Chicago, Modjeska and Boucicault
we're very much in evidence. Thompson
rawing- larger audiences than either.
He was full of anecdotes which he re-
lted with a good deal of gusto. One
light after curtain calls had been numer-
US he noticed that the house was very
estless and whenever they could get in
n the play they did so. He had Just
emoved his boots for the dance when
olored man in the gallery, whom ne had
oticed several times during the evening
s being unusually interested, arose and
'as about to say something when ha
as pulled back to his seat by his friends.
his only lasted about as long as he was
cling II when the man again jumped IN
nd beloved some unintelligible words.
nding with he is crazy anyhow, let the
ID man dance" so Thompson thought he
ould give few extra buck and wing
.eps, which not only caught the colored
ian and brought forth hearty applause
ut almost stopped the play. After quiet
ad been restored a voice from another
ortion of the house gave forth, "Ain't I
e candy, let her go again"
During the recital Mr.. Thompson suited
lie action to the word, and / must saw
lat there was a great amount Of elas-
city in his steps when we consider hlr