The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-19

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| Western cities. Mr.. Jefferson had been play
| ING his celebrated character of "Trip Van
Wrinkle" four consecutive weeks--an unusu-
| allv long run for Western city-when the
public demanded to see him in some other OF
| the characters in which he has been almost
equally successful. In canvassing the roper
tory Of comedies, the manager suggested that
! the character Of CDR. Pangloss" should be
chosen. 'No," said Mr.. Jefferson, although
he has received many handsome compliments
for his portraiture of the greedy pedagogue;
| ''there is only one man in the country that
can play DIR Pangloss and that is William
Warren" Though jefferson the First was
gathered unto his fathers more than sixty
Years ago. his generous spirit still finds
home in the breast of his great grandson.
The life of the first Jefferson, though
roseate with the social and artistic
charms that frightened his whole career,
was not wanting in the darker episodes
that seem to be incidental the actors
vocation. He managed the Exeter
Theatre and the Plymouth Theatre in
Dublin for many years. but in spite of the
public satisfaction which he gave, he was not
ignorant of the ups and downs of theatrical
management The accomplishments of Mrs.
jefferson were not unfrequently subjected
to the trying vicissitudes of an itinerant COM
pany of actors, where she played, as occasion
demanded, juvenile lady parts or those of
decrepid old men. Mr.. Jefferson died in
1907, at a ripe old age, and at the home of
his daughter in Yorkshire, but he
owed the chief support of his
later days to the dramatic fund which
he, with Mr.. Hull-with wnom he divided
his reputation as father of the British stage
has established.
About twelve years before the death of the
first Jefferson, who founded the dramatic
family which we hope may extend down
savpral naratiOnS Of actors to lead and
share the progressive prosperity of the Arneri-
can stage, Jefferson the Second came to
America. He retained the paternal character
istics which are still SO notably prominent in
his grandson. He was better actor than his
father, developing fully the humorous
talent of the family. HE was then
| february, 1866 a YOUTH" we read in
Stage" ''but even then an artist Of small
and light figure, well formed, with singular
| physiognomy, nose perfectly Grccian, and
| blue eyes full of laughter, he had the faculty
of exciting mirth to as great a degree by
power of feature, although handsome, as any
ugly-featured low comedian ever seen." N.
p. Willis has remarked the striking resem-
blapce which the present Joseph Jefferson
| bears to his grandfather, and at the same age
the above description would answer for one
as we'll as the other. Besides the personal
| appearance, there are other curious points of
| resemblance. Jefferson the Second was great
in his delineation of old age; Jefferson the
Fourth has achieved his greatest artistic sue
cess in his presentment of old Rip Van Win
kle after his twenty years sleep. Jefferson
the Second was a greater actor than his
father; and there are still living those
whose fond recollections of him make
him the greatest of all comedians Jefferson
the Fourth is greater actor than was his
father, and the present generation of theatre
goers will scarcely admit another comedian to
claim an equality in rank and ability. 1t is q
curious fact that the autograph of the second
jefferson was prototype of the fourth JEFF
fersons autograph, both being graceful sue
cession of parallel curve lines, from which it
is difficult to make out the name; and that
the latter had never seen a specimen of the
formers penmanship until many years after
his own signature had become stereotyped in
form.
The second Jefferson had prosperous ca
reer of thirty-six years in this country. He
was the companion and friend of the elder
William Warren. He died in 1882, while
playing an engagement at his sons theatre in
Harrisburg He had virtually retired from
the stage some time before, his farewell bene-
fit in Philadelphia (after which he spent most
OF his time in rest) having been one of the
saddest episodes in bright professional life.
Ten years after his death, an old friend an d
admirer (Chief Justice Gibson, of the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania), paid an elo-
quent tribute to his memory by marking his
grave with handsome slab and an appro-
pirate epitaph. Wemyss has left us the fol-
lowing portrait Joseph Jefferson was
an actor formed in Natures merrieSt mood
"a genuine son of Momus. There was
q vein of rich humor running through all
he did, which forced you to laugh despite
of yourself He discarded grimace as un-
worthy of him, although no actor ever pos
sessed greater command over the muscles of
his own face or the faces of his audience,
compelling you to laugh or cry at his plea
sure. His excellent personation of old men
acquired for him before he had reached the
meridian of life the title of Old jefferson
The astonishment of strangers at seeing a
good-leoking young man pointed out on the
street as Old Jefferson, whom they had seen
the night previous at the theatre totter-
ing apparently on the verge of existence,
was the greatest compliment that could
be paid to the talent of the actor. His
versatility was astonishing-light comedy, old
men, pantomime, low comedy and occasion
ally juvenile tragedy. Educated in the very
best school for acquiring knowledge in his
profession, his father having been an actor
OF no mean repute at Drury Lane Theatre
during the reign of Garrick Jefferson was an
adept in all the trickery of the stage, which,
when it suited his purpose, he could turn to
excellent account. In his social
relations he was what a gentleman should
be-a kind husband, an atfectionate father,
a warm friend, and a truly honest man."
The second Jefferson left son and q
daughter Miss Jefferson made her debut as
'Rosina," in TIE Spanish Barber Though
her first appearance is recorded as having
Inn Fna1. r.