New-York tribune., 1878-12-17
JEFFERSON AS RIP VAN WINKLE.
II sav that Mr. Jefferson Teappeared last

A. say t1dU MT. JtIltTSUH ItdppColCu 'o''
night IA Rtp Van WiHkie To imply thai oeantliui
work OF dramatic sct before the public in pro
fcundy earnest spirit and that greeted with deep
de ight aud unaffected cOrdiay by large andenthusi-
as ic assemblagc The Fifth Avenue Theatre Indeed
was reloent OF public enjoyment 50 that to observe
Mr.. JenersOn's audience became nearly as great
pleasure as observe the himself, Beauty in art
and sincerity in its mDstratOn naturally awaken the
symDatbetic response OF kIndness and sweetness eo-
bned WITH the poetic instinct IN human nature. Even
the hOmeliest Dickens Is handsome on her
wedd ng-lay. In like manner all human creatures be-
come pleasantly trdnshgured when their hearts are
touched by the presence OF what they love 1t IS the
distinctive and cunquerng Of Mr.. Jefer-ons mp
Van W,Lle that 1t touches the heart The SUBJECT al
course. the highest that couo be CHOSEN pH' il
happens to he subject that combines many OF the great
elements and all the extremes, OF human iej ana the
actor treats II the highest spirit in which II is possible
for any subject be treated III dramatic art. These
trutus-at once explaining and justfying the whole
hearted response which the public always makes to
his dcng-glance the basis of Mr. Jeferso = v'cori-
Gus career Nature has given to bim a temperament
that humanity, poetry and spirituality combine 10 rem
der delightfully."- magnetic; and either sagaclous choice
or nappy chance has favored him with an apt and
ample medium for the uterance OF his spirit ana the
exercise of his faculties The character OF Atp va"
Wikte has been upon the stage for nearly fifty years
BOYLE Brrnard,-fOllowng Washington Irvlng's charm
ing legcnd-put the part into drama, for the LONDON
Adelphi Theatre. 1882. and, In the next year,
wrote another version of the same piece, for
Hackett, which was acted at the London Hay
market Yates the first Rip Van W''tFie, and
after him came amongst others, Hackett Burke aud
Chanfrau Burke, who the half-brOther OF Jefer-
son. and whom judiciOds old playgoeTs rememheras
gentle genius aud most subtle and delicate artist
acted in an alteration of Hacketrs piece; and This in
turn was used by Jefferson when he first tool up the
character more than twenty years ago. Mono of his
predecessors though did much with the part as
was accomplished by him. even before he called IN the
skill Of Dion Boucicault, 10 amend, ewrlte, and greatly
improve old drama The difference was not in the
transparency-though that, now, is entirely changed
from what It be in the old days the difference
was in the light by which tho transparency was
llumined There will be- there have beeD many Rip
Van Wiukes there but Jefferson For him was re-
served to depart altogether from the character as 1t
exists the pages of Irving ideaze the entire sub
ject elevate prOsalc type OF gOOd-natured nio-
lence into ideal emblem of pOetca ireeuOm 70 con-
sruct trausate In the world OF fact tue Arcadan
yagabOnd world OF dreams In the presence. ac-
cOydingly of his wonderful embodiment Of this d!ol
gentle, drifting human ereature-tO whom trees and
brooks and flowers are familiar companions, to ~hom
spirits appear and for the mysterious voices of
the lonely midnight forest have a meaning and
a charm-the observer feels that Poetry Is no
longer restricted to canvas, and MARBLE and rapt
revere over the printed page, hut walks forth
crystazed in a human FORM spangled with the fresh
Of the diamond deWs oi3nonmg, mysterious
with hints OF woodland secrets lovely with the simple
iy Joy of rustic freedom and fragrant with ne m
cense Of the pines. TIC see JefcrsOns Rip Van Nmkfe
understanding what the ideal IS that he euhodies land
those who do understand il much to be pued on
the Of what they lose like breathing the sweet
air of forest grove in early Autumn, in which birds
twitter. and through which brawlng brook runs
The character to be sure, ought not to please
the little peepng mOralist, who walks up 10 It
with temperance tract in his pocket, and
nice tiny tape-measure in his hand. to test and
square everything by the tenets Of some con-
yeDtIOnal sunday-schOOl. Jcferson's ideal OF Rip
Van Wake ia not set forward to charm by what the
character says, or-to any considerable e1tent-by
what the character does; there is little or 10 text 10
this piece and certainly proceedings Of Rip not
extraordinary; but it is made to exert most delicious
and entirely irrestibe charm, by what IT as. Al the
children dogs. all the good, honest people who
glnmer forth as denzens Of Rips native village Of
Falling Waters, the lovers Of Rip IGt WjHkIe and
all the men and women OF to-day who comprehend
Jeersons personaOD take that ideal at once into their
affections THIS fact ought TO be a key to the whole
meaning conception. In Mr. Jefcrsons art there
Is never even the slightest tiuge Of tue commonplace
the coarse, the artificial. II has lecoUe
so entirely spontaneous, too, that his perform
ance seems to disclose itself before u3 Ike
the fow OF like the clustering Of sunset clouds
The art, however, would not account Tor the chrrm
That must sought in the personality; in the human
nature that errs only through Of goodness, IN the
suushiny temperament that radiates drollcry and
fort in the heart which almost breaEs with
triton; OF its consciouslyeseryed pun
ishment; the simple courageous frankncss Of the
woodland wanderer; in the orOrn wisfu numor OF the
man among the ghosts IN the sOJect pueous, feeble
yet infinitely venerable age, which falters out IL SAD
moral OF the utter emptiness OF life without love There
abdes the soul OF this great work, which wllle 1t Nils
the imagination also captiyaes the heart. No words
can more than hint at this inherent and ndeIuable
magic. It's results disclose its presence; for,
long ago beautifully said by Alexander Smi:l:
Love gives itself; aud, If not gwen,
No genius, beauty, worth nor wit,
No gold OF earth. gem OF heaven
Is rich enough to purchase it,"
The performance last night was as vigorous and ear
nest as ever and in the comparatively small Fifth Ave
nue Theatre it stood forth bold relief The surround
ings also were found be suitable and excellent
II was comfort to handsome gretchen, aud Con
stance Hamblin acts with wOman's heart wen
wOman's righteous and natural anger; and she eK-
presses both with brilliant force and effect. owen Faw
best representative OF Coees that has been
here The point is to make the pait offensive with
out becoming a personal offence tins Mr. Fawcett sue
ceeds doing by dint OF taste and numor-those sOve
reign guides of the mind! The little children Charles
Burnett and Maggie Gonzalez, eyinced distinct aud
sual talent without the usual tedousuess and parrot
like tone OF the prodigy The lad the Of j. {. Bur
nett the esteemed and lamented comedian and
wish him no better success than he will win in being
worthy OF his fathers namo. He has decided aptitude
for the stage, and he made creditable beginning III
this instance. Miss May CRAZY proved also fortunate
selection for Meenie She Is very pretty girl, meli
gent swcet-yOced, modest In manner, by means de
fceDt i'm spirit and though aural and proper
trepidation, she defed old Derrick with quite lovely
asperity and recognized old Rip with pas
sionately hlal tenderness. Her shrinking from the
strange old betokened night instinct
IN Rri, and her general deneauor that Of
young person only apt but willing TO learu, and free
from the conceit which usually encumbers and enbdr-
rasses youth. Mr. E. j. Buckley presented the returned