New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-16


and. subsequently. finding that this did no eood,
he opened stall there for the sale OF conee anu
other refreshments in the corner OF gambling
hell. lie calls 10 mind the way Of domestic life
and the everyday aspect Of houses. gardens
people and manners in Matamoras, and these he
describes with especial skill-deftly introducing
the portraiture Of dusky, black-eyed, volatile
Mexican girl. to whom he lost, temporarily, tne
lieht heart of youth, and whom he thinks that
he might have married had he not deemed IL
prudent to Journey northward toward cooler
CLINE. In New-Orleans, at about that time,
he first saw the then young low comeoiah
John E. Owens and he records the TACT that MS
first great ambition to excel as an actor was
awakened by the spectacle Of that rlvais success.
Poor Owens has had his career since then,-and
brilliant one IL was-and now ne sleeps IN
peace.
After that experience Mr.. Jefferson repaired to
Philadelphia, and during the next ten years'-lrom
ls4e to Is56,-he labored in that city and in
New.York. baltimore Richmond and other places,
sometimes as stock actor, sometimes as star
and sometimes as q manager. lie encountered
va rious difficulties He took few serious steps
and many comic ones. He was brought into con-
tact with some individuals that were eminent
and with some that were ludicrous. lie crossed
the Allegheny Mountains in mid-winter rom
Wheeling to Cumberland in cold stage-coach ana
almost persisted. He was a member of Burtons
company at the Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia
and was one of the chorus in that great actor
revival of "Antigone (which there is little
doubt that "the chorus" eXtinguished. lie was
the low comedian in Joseph Fosters Amphithe-
atre. where lie sang Captain Kidd" to fill up the
carpenter SCENES" and where he sported amid
the turbulent rhetorical pillows Of "Timour the
Tartar and The Terror of the Road" He acted
in New-York at the Franklin Theatre ana also
at the Chatham He managed theatres in Macon
and Savannah, where he brought out the oiitne
Sir William Don and one of the sprghtilest cpl
sedes of his memoir is the chapter in which ne oe-
scribes that tall, elegant, nonchaant adventure
Don was a Scotchman, born in S26, who mace ms
first appearance in America, in November, leoo'
at the Broadway Theatre, New-lork, and a1'er-
ward drifted aimlessly through the provincial
theatres He was married in 857 to Miss Emily
Sanders and he died at Tasmania. March H.
1862, and was buried at Hobartstown Mr.. JeHer-
son saw the dawn of promise in the career OIL Juia
Dean,-when that beautiful girl was acting wi'h
him. in the stock-snd afterwards he saw the noun
day splendor of her prosperity ana he nigh'
have recalled but that sad touches are seeni-
ingly excluded from his biography,-her MOURN
full decline In 1853 he was stage manager ot
the Baltimore Museum, for Henry O. Jarfe.'' anu
in 1854 he was manager of the Richmond lhea're'
for John T. Ford. Among the persons whom he
met and who deeply influenced him, were James
+. Murdoch. Henry Placide, Edwin Forrest, Edwin
Adams. and Agnes Robertson. But the actor VINO
most affected the youth of Joseph Jeiterson,-
whose influence sank deepest into his heart ana
has remained longest in his memory and upon his
stvle WAS his half brother, Charles Burke ana
certainly. as a serio-comic actor. it may well DE
doubted whether Charles Burke ever was sur
nassed That comedian was born March p, lS22'
In PHILADELPHIA and died in New-York. November
10 1884 Jeflersons mother, Cornella Frances
Thomas born in New-York, October l, 1885, the
daughter of French parents, was married III her
pirlhood to the Irish comedian Thomas Burke, VINO
died in s24: and she contracted her second mar
riage with Mr. JeffersOn's father, in 1876. MT.
jefferson writes at his best in the description OF
scenery. In the analysis of character, and IN the
statement of artistic principles. His porTaiture
of Murdoch, as a comedian, is particularly cie"'
and Ane His account of Julia Deans hit as
Lady Priory, is excellent and will often be cited
His portrayal of the reciprocal action OF burton
and Charles Burke. when they were associa'ed ih
the same piece, convey valuable 4seoh'
His anecdotes of Edwin Forrest present that
grim figure as yet again the lhvoluh-
tary cause of mirth. 1t often was 50. Mr.. Jeier-
SON however, draws a veil Of gentle charity over
those misused powers, that perverse WILL that
wasted life; and surely, at this distance OF ume'
no one will wish to remove It, Inc most
striking dramatic pOrtraiture In the pooN
seems to he that bestowed on CharieS
Burke. William Warren. George Hoiiahu'
Tom Gle.siug and Edwin Adams. These were
men who lived in Mr. Jefferson's arcctions ana
when he wrote about them he wrote from the heart.
The sketch of Blessing, whom everybody loved
that ever knew him, is in touching strain Of
tender remembrance.
Mr.. Jefferson visited England and France In
1886. but not to act. At that time be saw the
famous English comedians Compton, Blackstone
Robson. and Wright and that extraordinary acSor'
great alike in tragedy and comedy, 'he Vere"'i"
and marvellous Samuel Phelps In 1887 ne was
associated with Laura Keene at her theatre IN
New-York; and from that date onward his career
has been upon a high and sunt PATH visible to
the world. His first part at Laura heehes ihe-
atre was the part he is by chance playing now
Dr Panoloss. Then came Our American Cousin,
in which he gained a memorable success as Asa
Tr.ncbard and in which Edward A. Sothern laid
the basis Of that wonderful structure of within and
grotesoue humor which afferward became famous
as Lord Dundreary Sothern, Laura Kcene ana
William Rufus Blake, Of course, gained much OF
Mr. Jeircrson's attention at that time. ana ne mas
not omitted to describe them His account OF
Blake gives no adequate idea of the excellence
of that comedian In the next year he
went 70 the Winter Garden Theatre, and was as
sociated with the late Dion Bouccault. His char
aoters then were Newman Noggs Caleb Plummer.
and Salem Scudder-in Nicholas Nickeby, The
Cricket on the Hearth" and The Octoroon MI
Boucicault told him not to make Caleb Pummer
solemn character at the beginning-a deliverance
which Mr.. Jefferson seems TO have cherished as one
of colossal wisdom. He made brilliant hit IN
Salem Scudder, and it was then that he determined
finally to assume the position of star. Art has
always been my sweetheart" exclaims MIR. Jeher-
son, land have loved her for herself alone NO
observer can doubt this who has followed his
career. H. was in 1859 that he reverted to the
subject Of Rip Van Wrinkle as the right theme for
his dramatic purpose He had seen Charles Burke