Evening journal., 1894-05-23
JoE JEFFERSON ON PREPARATION.
The Famous old Actor Makes Humor-
Gus After Diuner Speach.

The Famous old Actor Makes Humor-
Gus After Diuner speech.
We all love Joe jefferson with such a
strong personal affection that perhaps it
will not be out OF place to quote from his
characteristic and amusing speech at the
Authors club dinner last week. When
the Chairman presented him every other
man in the room jumped TO his feet and
cheered
There is nothing an actor eniovs so
much as good round Of applause Mr.
jefferson said in recognition. Then they
all applauded again. First. continued
the speaker, 80 far as / am concerned
at an occasion Of this kind, the applause
assures me am welcome (applaust) and
then IL gives me little time to think Of
what am going to say next
Mr.. Jefferson stopped TO smile, and
they applauded him some more.
DO you suppose" be continued, 'that
| am not prepared for this occasionsg Il
is the essential part OF my profession to
be prepared. Lack of preparation is the
most reprehenslble slight a player can
put on his audience.
III we are not prepared We canuot
retrace, retract. nor repair. The speech
once delivered cannot be recalled You
authors may correct and revise; the
painter can scratch out and paint over
but how would 1t seem In me TO pause
after a speech, on The stage, scratch my
chin, and say That inhectlo on was not
quite right, l will deliver that line
againg
II Will confess, between ourselves,
that did needlessly prepare for one
occasion. Mr.. Florence and bad been
playing together in comedy. aud when
the time approached for our final appear
ance together Mr.. Florence said, and Il
ssemsd reasonable TO me, that a. the
audience would doubtless call us out and
demand d speeches at the conclusion OF our
last performance, we should prepare
something. So we did. We rehearsed it
all very carefully. Mr.. Florence was to
be taken by surprise, aud, overcoming
his emotions, make farewell address, In
which he was to refer to me. Then was
to be taken by surprise, but, suppressing
my swelling feelings / was to answer
Mr. Florence and wind up the impromptu
scene"
Mr.. Jefferson paused, lifted his wine
glass put II back on the table, and
added:
But the audience did not call us out
after that performance Laughter I
But that WAS no excuse for mistake
Florence made afterward. he was play
ing In what we call the Nav England
circuit Hartford, New Haven. etc One
night he WAS called out after the per-
formsnce and said:
"' That Is msrk Of appreciation which
peculiarly touches me know many OF the
men before me; know them personally
played marbles with them under the
shadow OF the Hartford Baptist
Church, shared their boyhood Joys anC
sorrows, aud assure you that shal
never forget this last act OF kindness
which you people Of Hartford
Just then voice from the gallerl
interrupted him;
"'This is New Haven, Mr.. Florence
Laughter
Preparation is essential Once a man
ager was obliged to apologize TO an au.
dience for the non appearance OF tn
leading man. who had suddenly beel
called TO another city by the death 0
his mother.
1T happened that the manager thA
evening was suffering from tired feel
ing He was q trihe unsteady as 4
voice aud legs, but his dignity stood fri
on both feet. He said:
"'The leading man, gentlemen an
ladies, is-this Is the first time excus
has to be made this theatre. but-wel
any way, mans mother Is dead Neve
before occurred this theatre disappoin
audience, aud you see mans moth 1
dead Iregret that after thirty year,
experience manager, theatre, audience
which l mean to say mans mothe
dead; but shall never occur again. Re
chester Post-Express.