The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-09
Exp riences of the Great Actor in Charles
ton EOrtv Aen.


From the Atlanta Constitution.
Joseph JEFF rson passed through Al
lanta Thursday on MS way to Louisi-
ana fer a pleasure rip and was, OF
course. captured by the reporters for
the Constitution In the cJurse Of Mr.
jefferson talk. he gave a Ettle sketch
Of h.s Southern experiences in the 50's
Il always Ike to come 20 AtllnIl,"
he said. You know. one OF my children
was born in Georgia. Tl8', was before
your time, my boy. Yes. that was bacH
in the SOS, before the war You see,
Johnny Ellsler and myself were down
this way playing, tOrming Il WIS,
and were not having much luck. We
had been with a stock company at
Charleston, and when il closed down
We struck out on our own line We
tried Savannah. Macon and Augusta.
in Georgia. l painted some of the
scenery and John looked after the front
of the house and did "a turn or Two on
the stage. w did no. find il a profit
aDle venture and went back TO SaVan-
nah. While there we got in cOrrospon-
denCe wl,h Sir William Don. an En-
glish baronet, who had come over TO
this country with excellent letters and
a desire t. play. To tell the truth. Sir
William was not a rema rkable player
except at The tables. HIS money went
in gaming lie came ito Savannah from
Charleston. | met MIN one day walk
ing up Bull street, and. although ! had
never seen him, | felt mat Ii was Don.
After he passed l turned to watch him
and l found shat h had turned 10
watch me. We then approached, and
! inquired II he were not Sir William
Don. H. replied that his name was
Don, and asked whether / were Jcfigr-
son or Ell-ler We made an arrange
men; with him and sent over for his
J. l.af hll h.
for his bill.
Don had been IN a poker game ON
the ship coming down and was finan-
cially embarras sed during his stay i'm
Charleston. Ellsler and 1 played Sir
William" At the old savannah theateg.
and such a brilliant audience ! had
never before seen. Indeed, have never
seen one since which impressed me
more than that one d.d. The reason.
probably, was that the receipts al the
office were great beyond any thing I'm
our experience. The ladies i'm tn au-
dience that night wore the old rose
cut diamonds, which spanked. and 10
Elsler and me they seemed TO b. a
big as apples. The grand danes wrra
out, and tine arsStocratic old gentlemen.
in their stiff neckwear, nodded IN lprily
fashion from box 10 lboX. Yes. sir. tuat
audience was a picture and the receipts
put Ellsler Don and myself on our
financial feet. We Played Sir William
two or three engagements in S3Nan-
nah, and with great success. for h. pr
S-nted his fettrrs Of Introduction, and
all the grand people of the city sought
him and went to see him play. Tina;
was the first real big success which We
had ever met"
The John Ellsler referred 10 by Mr..
jefferson is the father of Effie Ellsler.
He is sill alive and out on the road.
with his daughter. Mr.. jefferson wa
accompanied by one Of his sons and
some grandchildren and ladies. Thy
were going down TO his PLANTATION in
Louis. ana. where The comedian VIII IN
Joy q few weeks hunting and fishing.
He was travelling in a compartment
car and was tick ted through from New
York to New Orleans.