Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-31
JOE JEFFERSON.
Incidents Of His Childhood Told by
Himself.

JOE JEFFERSON.
Incidents Of His Childhood Told by
Himself.
The Century for November has an autobi-
ography Of Joseph Jefferson. After telling of
his birthplace in the city of Washington and
the adjoining theater, at which his father was
manager, he says:
As a matter Of course, being the son of the
manager and almost living in the theater,
was always pressed into the dramatic service
whenever a small child was wanted. Even be-
fore can remember was taken on to do duty
in long clothes, in fact, such was the histrionic
ambition Of my mother that believe il lilly
Slowboy had existed in those days l should
have been confded to her tender mercies at
the risk Of colliding my head with the tea
kettle.
The first dim recollection have of public
appearance comes before me a startled child
in white tunic beautifully striped with gold
bands and In the grasp and on the shoulders
OF an lnfuriated tragedian crossing a shaky
bridge amid the deafening report of guns and
pistols and In blaze of fire and smoke. To
me the situation seemed perilous, and in order
to render my position more secure i seized
kolla by the hair Of his head. Let Co." he
cried; but was obeying the first law of nature,
not Rolla, so frightened my grasp upon his
tragic top-knot. The battle was short but de-
cisive, for in the next moment had pulled off
his feather-duster head-dress, wig and all,
thereby unintentionally scalping the enemy;
and as he was past the prime of life, the noble
Peruvian stood baldheaded in the middle of
the bridge before an admiring audience. This
story has the flavor OF an old anecdote, but
am credibly informed that was
THE ORIGINAL scALPER
To 60 from white to black, Jim Crow" In
the person Of 7. d. Rice, now burst upon the
town. The legitimate drama has at all times
been subject to startling innovations. and
surely here was great blow. The success of
this the first and certainly the best knight of
the burnt cork was quite marvellous. He drew
more money than any star of the season. 1t is
reported that his first hit in Washington was
repeated in ell the great cities OF the country,
and his advent m Europe even surpassed his
career here. In London be acted in two
theaters nightly, the same people in many in
stances following him from one theater to the
other. OF course this fantastic figure had a
great influence upon me and
DANCED jim CROW
from the garnet to the cellar. The comedian
saw my imitation of him and insisted that I
should appear for his benefit. So that on that
occasion was duly BACKED up and dressed in
a complete miniature likeness of the original
He put me in bag, which almost smo;hered
shoulders. No word OF this proceeding had
been mentioned in the bills, SO that, figura-
lively speaking, the public were as much in
the dark as was. After dancing and singing
the hrst verse he began the second, the fol-
lowing being the two lines which introduced
me:
o ladies and gentlemen, I'd have you for to know
That I've got little darby here thst jumps Jim Crow
and, turning the bag upside down, he emptied
me out head first before the eyes OF the aston
lsh9d allnlRnra mat has haa,
curious one; it is as vividly before me now as
any recollection of my past life. Rice was con-
siderably over six feet high, was but four
years old, and as We stood there, dressed ex-
actly alike, the audience reared with laughter
Rice and now sang alternate verses and the
excitement increased; showers of pennies, six
pences and shiiiings were tossed from the pit
aud thrown from the galleries upon the stage.
took no notice OF this, but suddenly the clear
ringing sound OF dollar caught my ear and as
the bright coin was rolling from the stage into
the orchestra darted forward and secured the
prize. Holding it triumphantiy between my
finger and thumb grinned at the leader Of the
orchestra as much as to say,
''So YOU DON'T"
This not only brought down the house, but
many half-dollars and dollars besides. At the
fall of the curtain S24 were picked M and
given into my delighted hands. For years
afterwards was given to understand that this
Il
fear that often borrowed small sums on the
strength Of my prospective wealth.
The recollection Of his father who died of
yellow fever in Mobile in 1912 while the family
was travelling through the south and west, are
highly amusing. When they were maxine
their way overland to Chicago bv canal holg;
and primitive wagon, he says: "Often have
seen my father trudging along ahead of the
wagon, smoking his pipe, and have no doubt
thinking Of the large fortune he was going to
make in the next town, now and then looking
back with his light blue eyes, giving my nother
a cheerful nod, which plainly said; I'm ali
right. This is splendid; nothing could be
finer" II 1t rained he was glad il was not
showing; If it showed, he was thankful it was
not raining. This contented nature was his |
only inheritance; but IL was better than a for
tune made in Galena or anywhere else, for !
nothing could rob him of il. Upon reachino
Chicago new theater had been fitted up for |
their company, and the decorations were de- |
cidedly Of the Wild western order, for this trip
was made
WAY BACK IN THE yoarra.
Mr.. Jefferson says:
My father. being scenic artist himself, was
naturally disposed to be critical, and when the |
painter asked his opinion of the dome, he re-
Piled:
swell. since you ask me. don't you think
that your angels are little stia in their atti-
mo, sir; not for angels. When I deal with
NEUROLOGICAL subjects never put my figures
In natural attitudes; IL would be inharmonious
natural anes. would be ont Of keeping With |
the rest of the work"
70 which my father replied that II was ouite
likely that such wonld be the case. ssBut why
have you made Eandel and Beethoven frown Al |
jecsa." '~~
mo, no." said the painter. "But they are
musicians, JON, know, and grsat musicisps
always quarrel, sh2 Ha, har'
..xes. aid my fathsri "but - Handel died
~ 1870 ~ s.1 was born don't sac how