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Curiously enough； the conversation at the dinner ran upon men outliving their usefulness and reputations。 Several instances were cited where a man from the height of his fame gradually lived on and lived out his reputation。 Whereupon our diplomat； with his fatal facility for saying the wrong thing； broke in by remarking in a strident voice： 〃The most remarkable instance of a man dying at the right time for his reputation was Abraham Lincoln。〃 Then he went on to explain how he would have probably lost his place in history through the mistakes of his second term。 Nobody heard anything beyond the words 〃Abraham Lincoln。〃 Fortunately for the evening and the great embarrassment of Mr。 Booth； the tact of Mrs。 Astor changed the subject and saved the occasion。
Of all my actor friends none was more delightful either on the stage or in private life than Joseph Jefferson。 He early appealed to me because of his Rip Van Winkle。 I was always devoted to Washington Irving and to the Hudson River。 All the traditions which have given a romantic touch to different points on that river came from Irving's pen。 In the days of my youth the influence of Irving upon those who were fortunate enough to have been born upon the banks of the Hudson was very great in every way。
As I met Jefferson quite frequently； I recall two of his many charming stories。 He said he thought at one time that it would be a fine idea to play Rip Van Winkle at the village of Catskill； around which place was located the story of his hero。 His manager selected the supernumeraries from among the farmer boys of the neighborhood。 At the point of the play where Rip wakes up and finds the lively ghosts of the Hendrick Hudson crew playing bowls in the mountains； he says to each one of them； who all look and are dressed alike： 〃Are you his brother？〃
〃No；〃 answered the young farmer who impersonated one of the ghosts； 〃Mr。 Jefferson； I never saw one of these people before。〃 As ghosts are supposed to be silent； this interruption nearly broke up the performance。
During the Spanish…American War I came on the same train with Mr。 Jefferson from Washington。 The interest all over the country at that time was the remarkable victory of Admiral Dewey over the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila。 People wondered how Dewey could sink every Spanish ship and never be hit once himself。 Jefferson said in his quaint way： 〃Everybody； including the secretary of the navy and several admirals； asked me how that could have happened。 I told them the problem might be one which naval officers could not solve； but it was very simple for an actor。 The failure of the Spanish admiral was entirely due to his not having rehearsed。 Success is impossible without frequent rehearsaIs。〃
Returning for a moment to Washington Irving； one of the most interesting spots near New York is his old home； Wolfert's Roost； and also the old church at Tarrytown where he worshipped； and of which he was an officer for many years。 The ivy which partially covers the church was given to Mr。 Irving by Sir Walter Scott； from Abbotsford。 At the time when the most famous of British reviewers wrote； 〃Whoever read or reads an American book？〃 Sir Walter Scott announced the merit and coming fame of Washington Irving。 But； as Rip Van Winkle says； when he returns after twenty years to his native village； 〃how soon we are forgot。〃
There was a dinner given in New York to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Washington Irving's birth。 I was one of the speakers。 In an adjoining room was a company of young and very successful brokers； whose triumphs in the market were the envy of speculative America。 While I was speaking they came into the room。 When I had finished； the host at the brokers' dinner called me out and said： 〃We were much interested in your speech。 This Irving you talked about must be a remarkable man。 What is the dinner about？〃
I answered him that it was in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Washington Irving。
〃Well；〃 he said； pointing to an old gentleman who had sat beside me on the speakers' platform； 〃it is astonishing how vigorous he looks at that advanced age。〃
It was my good fortune to hear often and know personally Richard Mansfield。 He was very successful in many parts； but his presentation of Doctor Jekyll and Mr。 Hyde was wonderful。 At one time he came to me with a well…thought…out scheme for a national theatre in New York； which would be amply endowed and be the home of the highest art in the dramatic profession； and at the same time the finest school in the world。 He wanted me to draw together a committee of the leading financiers of the country and； if possible； to impress them so that they would subscribe the millions necessary for carrying out his ideas。 I was too busy a man to undertake so difficult a project。
One of the colored porters in the Wagner Palace Car service； who was always with me on my tours of inspection over the railroad； told me an amusing story of Mr。 Mansfield's devotion to his art。 He was acting as porter on Mansfield's car； when he was making a tour of the country。 This porter was an exceedingly intelligent man。 He appreciated Mansfield's achievements and played up to his humor in using him as a foil while always acting。 When they were in a station William never left the car； but remained on guard for the protection of its valuable contents。
After a play at Kansas City Mansfield came into the car very late and said： 〃William； where is my manager？〃
〃Gone to bed； sir； and so have the other members of the company；〃 answered William。
Then in his most impressive way Mansfield said： 〃William； they fear me。 By the way； were you down at the depot to…night when the audience from the suburbs were returning to take their trains home？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered William； though he had not been out of the car。
〃Did you hear any remarks made about my play？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Can you give me an instance？〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied William； 〃one gentleman remarked that he had been to the theatre all his life； but that your acting to…night was the most rotten thing he had ever heard or seen。〃
〃William；〃 shouted Mansfield； 〃get my Winchester and find that man。〃
So Mansfield and William went out among the crowds； and when William saw a big； aggressive…looking fellow who he thought would stand up and fight； he said： 〃There he is。〃
Mansfield immediately walked up to the man； covered him with his rifle； and shouted： 〃Hold up your hands； you wretch； and take back immediately the insulting remark you made about my play and acting and apologize。〃
The man said： 〃Why； Mr。 Mansfield； somebody has been lying to you about me。 Your performance to…night was the best thing I ever saw in my life。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mansfield； shouldering his rifle； and added in the most tragic tone： 〃William； lead the way back to the car。〃
Among the most interesting memories of old New Yorkers are the suppers which Mr。 Augustin Daly gave on the one hundredth performance of a play。 Like everything which Daly did； the entertainment was perfect。 A frequent and honored guest on these occasions was General Sherman； who was then retired from