The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-20

story That everybody has hcard-how onc'dny
he went To bank 10 get "A check cashcd. The
paying teller. not Knowing him. Of course re-
fused TO cash it. " II my dog Schneider was
here" said the actor tns reportcdl. he would
Mr.. Jefferson says that the tale is myth, He
i ngycr nad NY , sH1n ,eNpcr,rncg,, Hc did no!
but he considers such II piece of conduct to uc
beneath the dignity OF an artist.
QUESTION OFTEN ASKED.
The question is often asked: Why docs not
VAN WV S doSs 2 he not s1E Try ha
hand at n new comedy Il he deficient in YER
satilityt' Especially OF late have these matters
engaged the attention Of writers in the newspa-
persi and persons are beginning seriously to
inquire whether or not Mr.. Jefferson can act
il is simply impossible to toll: il is ono Of those
things that Nc. fcllah can find out. ;. TO use the
oppression OF Lord Dundreary. Neither Mr.
Jefferson himself nor any one else Is able to
assert that any new comedy in which this actor
nigh, sustain the Leading papi would achieve
In the first place, this plny is the growth OF
many yenrs. Washington Irving adapted the
adapted lrvings adaptation; Mr., Jefferson. dur
,ng the last eight years, has been, adapting
prob9hle that a new drama which shall be- its
eduql VIII leap IKE iul-armed Minerva from
the brain OF Jupiter sctbens Every thcairi-
Of first rate reproducing talent. and how
difficult 1t IL TO- obtain Il new play that Is Just
what Is wanted. In the next place. Mr.. Jefcr-
son has been extraordinarily successful with
Rip Van Wnkle;' and during his latest inn
have been, perhaps. larger and more appreci-
atve than ever before. People saw that impcr-
sonation with delight who had already seen II
several. and. IN some instances. II Is believed,
nnbe was g",lns tired "f n II NJ e sr '
rcnews It next winter. he will doubtless gather
agnin nightly crowd Us eager and ~ large.
In London he presented IT six months consccu-
lively with undated success. 1t is Overlooking
with human interest. and each of its touches Of
Nature must find ready response. And in
tho last place. l. requires itself large amount
OF versatility NJ actor. not extremely versatile.
could do what Mr.. Jefferson docs ~ Rip Van
Wrinkle. He depicts youth, age, innoccnce.
shr'wln'ss. Affection scnsbility. fear. h"wl-
dcrm"nt. DESPAIR the grades Of intONicatlun
from that of the first cup to that OF the last.
anu tlie drnnhrnness OF spiritual iptoNiea-
draughi that ilondr.ek Hudson offers him
al These rrpresen,aii9ns are given singly.
and in harmony with the scope OF the play.
Supios" THAT there WIS mo- drunkcnuess in the
plny, AMI thai Mr jon r-on appeared II, a farce
everybody would speak ot the two impersona-
ions az indieatN.ei versatility onthe part ol tho
three or four iarccs. each one OF them display.
INK SOME leading Characteristic Of lip Van
M.nk,e "ni aided 10y The Y,rcssori.si Of diifsr.
player would be recognized. But bocause his
versatility II exercised in ono play. rather than
II exists nevertheless. A man who has s,."n
Kir Van Ninkln' twenty times would natu-
rny like To- sce Mr.. Jefferson in another come
dy. ami SANS chat he would. But new genera
ton has crown up that wants t. -re RIM; and il
h siinplv dictub'rinl and selfish for Iir's Old
admirers Ia demand that his Young admirers
he time enn,l,.h for Mr.. Ti,rsbn tp throw i,in
overheard when the public has done SO.
now he CANE TO PLAY RIP
hearing Mr. jeii.r4on speak of how he nrst
came 10 play Rip Nnn Winklc." lie had seen
his father act the part Of Zip in the old stock
comedy ~ thai name. and He netting had I'M
pressed him deeply. Almost n far back ns he
can remember he lad a desire TO act it himself;
the part lid tha desire to assume it possess
him. This desire became an irr,sisthlo i'm
pulse-strong unacrouutabc. mysterious A
power outside 81 himself seemed TO b. impc-
ling him. " It was "a strange experience" he
s sens' oi ave. can scarcely recall without
The lat time that saw Rip Van Wrinkle"
enio,mcnts / then had was in ", observing he
Nsr. . great many chIiigap prc~eq,, and der
liiile hrais forward on their hands. nnd remain
absorbed throughout tho whole OF each act
the play llendrick ved,ler ten years old and
Rips daughter Meenie. six years old. are i'm
portant characters in 1t. Rips love for the little
scenes WHERE he s~ts HsndriK ~ read thn ,sre
ument that Derrick wishes Rip e sign, and that
whore he first comes upon the stage surrounded
by IN, hlughing children Of tho village OF Fall.
him out of the house and into the darkness and
coldness OF the night. he takes tnt affecting
leave OF Mecnie brushing the tears from his
eyes, embracing her. aud exclaming IN pitiful
tYuc-. NJ child. bless you. my childt' and
whore. after his twnniy years absence. becomes
she IL alive rcsp9nds pa,heti'aly In q low
voice. Mecnie H. alive, lis all right now. It's all
right ,-thcse scenes are ~ n sort a. take n
hrm hold upon his youthful hearers Rip l.
vmphAtcally the childrcns friend. The chill /
dr"n recognize him ~ such. and remember him /
as su'h ;nnd have often heard Mr. Jefferson
express his delight that this is So. To him II Is
one Of the pleasures Il his life. Il makes him
SINK" hands with himself
But the chidrcn's parents and grandparents !
mr." n I less affected III any one Will remember /
VINO has east his eye over tho audience during /
the performance and has seen grny haired mon /
and women. and their grown-u p children. wip-
lIg away NJ h1l tours tnqt .coursed down their
checks, RID Van Ninklc' is IN appeal 10 the /
hrart pat touches the heart. and when the heart /
i tnurhed the "ilet Is thr same in the stall and
IN lh' gndrry In childhood, middle life. ana /
n.l axe. The pathus Of u scene Ike that in
whlrh KIP snys io Meenie who is cnglng al |
ie'tlonWcly 10 his knee: Was you glad to have |
your iader back You are too good for drunk |
en-. kHy fellow Ike me. have robbed you. my |
urlr' nave taken all your things away-I gone |
ana drunk en- up my darling. That's what | /
done: That's what lipuor DDS u pathos that |
10 iet from moor 70 dome.
,,n trrprp.ox r,,, vs.,
-, a, '7'"' ihN NAN
m n. III