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

StRefnatulaI
while the ghosts should remain silent That stroke
Of genius accomplished his, object. The man capa,
ble of that exploit in dramatic art could not faii
tn win the world. because he would at once ias'
climate lis imagination while touching its heart.
In 1861 Mr.. jefferson went to California ana
tbcnce 10 Australia, and in the latter country he
remained four years He has written fine de-
scriuton Of thc entrance to the harbor at Sydney.
His accounts Of - the skeleton dance" as he saw
IL performed by the blscl, natives Of that land; Of
his meeting with the haunted hermit in the woods
of the convict audience at Tasmania, for whom he
acted in The Ticket-of-Leave Man.; and Of the
entertainment furnished in Chinese theatre, are
compositions that would impart to any book the
interest of adventure and the zest Of novelty.
Such pictures as those have broad background.
They are not circumscribed within the proscenium
frame The man is seen ir those passages as well
as the actor: and he plays his part well. amid
picturesque surroundings of evil and peril. of
tragedy and of pathos. In Australia
Mr.. jefferson met Charles Kean and his wife
ELLEN Tree, of whom his sketches are boldly
drawn and his memories are pleasant. Mr.. and
Mrs Kean afterward made their farewell visit to
the United States, beginning, when they reached
New-Yorl from San Francisco, in April, 1868,
with Henry VIII, and, later, closing With The
Jealous Wife, In 1865 Mr.. Jefferson went
from Australia to South America, and passed some
time in Lima, where he much tropical luxury
and many beautiful ladies-an inspiriting spectacle
which is fittingly described by him in some Of the
most felictous OF his fervent words. In June
1865 he reached London, and presently ne came
forth, at the Adephi as Rip Van Wrinkle -hav-
ing lad the piece altered and rewritten by Mr.
Boucicault, who introduced the cOloquy of the
children, paraphrased the reconciliation scene be-
tween King Lear and Cordelia, and kept Gretchen
alive to be married to Derrick. Mr.. Bouccault.
however, had faith in the piece or the plan and
down to the last moment prophesied failure. The
actors success was unequivocal Friends surrounded
him, and in the gentle and genial record that he
now makes Of those suspicious days, some of the
brightest names of modern English literature spar
kle on his page Benjamin Webster, Paul Bedford,
John Ellington, John Brougham and Marie Wilton
were among the actors who were glad TO be his as
sociates. Robertson the dramatist his constant
cOmpanion-one of the most intellectual and one OF
the wittiest Of men. blanche, aged yet hearty and
genial land man had more in his nature Of the
true spirit of the comrade), speedily sought him.
Charles Reade and Anthony TrollOpe became his
cronies and poor Artemus Ward arrived and Joined
the party just Mr.. jefferson was leaving it
bright a spirit, as kind heart, and fine and
quaint humorist ever blessed this age-from
which he vanished too soon for the happiness OF
his friends and for the full fruition Of his fame.
Il WIZ much impressed, says the comedian, with
Wards genial manner : he was not In good health.
and advised him to be careful lest the kindness of
London should kill him That advice was not
needed. and the kindness of London speedily ended
his days.
Mr.. Jefferson came home in 1866 and passed ten
years in America-years of fame and fortune,
whereof the record is smooth prosperity. Its most
important personal incident was his second mar
Iiage, on December 20. 1867, at Chicago, to Miss
Sarah Warren. In July 1873 he made voyage
to Europe, with his wife and William Warren, the
comedian, and remained there till autumn. From
November J., 1875, to April 20, 1876, and from
Easter 1877 until midsummer he was again acting
in London, where he redoubled his former success.
In October 1877 he returned home, and since then
he has remained in America. The chronicle that
he has written glides lightly over these latter
years. only now and then touching on their golden
SUBMITS. The manifest wish OF the writer has
been to people his pages as much as possible with
the men and women Of his artistic circle and
knowledge who would be likely to interest the
reader. Robert Browning, Charles Kingsley, and
George Augustus Sala come into the picture, and
there is a pleasing story of Browning and Long
fellow walking arm in arm in London streets TIL
driven into cab by summer shower, when Long
fellow insisted on passing his umbrella through the
hole in the roof for the protection of the cab-dryer
Mr.. Jefferson lived for one summer in the Gregory
mansion, at Morningsde, Edinburgh, and he dwells
with natural delight on his recolections OF that
majestic city. lie had many talk, at odd times,
with the glittering farceur, Charles Mathews,
about dramatic art and some OF this Is recorded In
piquant anecdotes. BY many" says the amiable
annalist, "he was thought to be cold and selfish
| do not think he was So" There is kind word
for Charles Fechter, whose limitations of Fred
erck Lemaitre, in "Belphegor, the Mountebank,
live ia Mr. JenersOn's remembrance as wonderfully
graphic. There are glimpses Of James Wallack,
Walter Montgomery, Peter Richngs, +. A. Sothern,
Laura Keene James &. Burnett, John Gilbert,
Tyrone Power, Lester Wallack, John Mccullough,
John T. Raymond. Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams
John Drew 1.-THE elder, +. S. Chanfrau, Charlotte
Cushman, Mrs. Drake, and many others and the
record Incorporates two letters, now first published
from John Howard Payne, the author of Home.
Sweet Home"-a melody which is the natural ac-
compartment of Mr.. Jeffersons life. There is a
pretty picture of that ancient suppsr-roOm at No.
. Bulfnch Place, Boston-Mss Fishers kitchen
as it appeared when William Warren sat be-
hind the mound of lobsters at the head Of the
table. while the polished pcwters reflected the
cheerful light, and wit and raillery enlivened the
brilliant throng. and many face was wreathed
with smiles that now is dark and still forever.
In one chapter Mr.. jefferson sets forth his views
upon the art of acting, and seldom within so
brief a compass will many sensible reflections
be found so simply and tersely expressed. The
book closes with words Of gratitude for many
blessings. and with an emblematic picture of a
spirit resigned to whatever vcissitudes of fortune
may yet be decreed.
IL would be easy to indicate the literary de-
fects of Mr.. Jefferson's memoir. They do not
signify. Its virtues eclipse them and make them
to be forgotten. 1t is simple message to simple
minds 1t will find It's way TO thousands Of
readers to whom a paper by Addison or an essay
by Hume would have no meaning. IL will point
for them the moral of good life. II will impress
them with the spectacle of great actor, pro-
foundy and passionately true to the high art by