The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-03
DRANK RIPS HEALTH
ELKS OF ST. PAUL GAVE A ROYAL
WELCOME TO JOSEPH
JEFFERSON.
VETERAN AMERICAN ACTOR
ADDRESSED ST. PAUL LODGE
BRIEFLY BUT WITTILY AT THE
SOCIAL SESSION.
1T WAS FLORENcE's LODGE,
AS Well as His, and the Elks Did
Honor to Both in the
Spirit.

Gentlemen, I don't know that have
ever been the recipient of greater
round of applause than that"
Joseph Jefferson, the illustrious actor
and greatest living exponent Of the his
trionic art in this country spoke these
words last night in the lodge room of
the st. Paul Elks. 1t was at one of
those social sessions. Not man there
will ever forget the notable event
When the veteran actor entered the
lodge room, escorted by the committee
appointed to invite him to attend, every
Elk-and there We're at least a hundred
there-rose to his feet and cheered and
applauded him to the echo. For fully
four or five minutes the demonstration
continued. The brothers mounted
chairs, waved their handkerchief and
clapped their hands in the enthusiasm
of their greeting to the great artist and
the great man.
When, at last, the brother Elks
paused for breath, Lou Wilkes. the mas
ter of ceremonies, stepped forward and
grasping the hand of Mr.. Jefferson,
said:
Brothers, I take extreme pleasure in
introducing to you Joseph Jefferson
Another storm of applause interrupted
Mr. Wilkes here. When it ceased, the
master of ceremonies proceeded with
his well-known felicity to say that in
presenting Mr. jefferson he enjoyed the
privilege of introducing not only man
pre-eminent in his art, but one who
stood for everything that was high
minded and good in this world.
AS Mr.. Wilkes stepped back and Mr..
Jefferson took the center of the stage,
another prolonged demonstration greet
ed the distinguished artist. Mr. Jeffer-
son responded most happily, saying:
Gentlemen, l don't know that [ have
ever been the recipient Of greater
round of applause than that. You
know there is nothing more encourag-
ing to an actor than applause. Your
honorable presiding officer has told you
how good 1 am Qaughter). Now [
really don't know how good l am, and
you really don't know how embarrass-
ing my situation is Qaughter). l really
think that l ought to do something
scandalous. Something to incur public
odium in order to relieve me of this
embarrassment. Naughter)
My position is also embarrassing,
because l am so lily prepared to make
q speech. You know that we actors
must be prepared before we address
an audience The dramatic profession,
l.
word rehearsal Rehearsals are very
important to us, because We can't rub
out our efforts. The painter can paint
his picture over again, the author can
erase his lines and write others, the
sculptor and musician can improve
their first conceptions, but not the
actor. His work is being observed
while it is in progress. After l have
PLAYED scene, | cannot step forward
and say, Ladies and gentlemen, can
do that much better If you will let
me try it over AGAIN. Qaughter) The
drama will not halt for alteration.
so, as 1 told you, 1 am lily pre-
pared Only a few moments ago was
I Informed that 1 had been invited to
meet you. l was assured I would not
be called upon for speech, and then
I knew that 1 would be. Gaughter)
And that reminds me of a remin-
iscence of my late colleague, William
j. Florence. (Applause) The last
season we appeared together Mr..
Florence suggested that inasmuch as
we would in all probability be called
upon to speak, it would be wise for
us to prepare our remarks, If called
out together. So we arranged our lit
tie extemporaneous wit for the occa-
sion Qaughter), in order that we
might memo1ize our dialogue and i'm
part an air of freshness and spon-
taneity to the occasion. We were very
nervous and anxious, as we had pre-
pared admirable speeches. daughter)
The last curtain came down and-we
We're not called out at all. prolonged
laughter) So you see the Importance
of being prepared"
In conclusion, Mr.. Jefferson thanked
the brothers for their greeting. Mr..
Jefferson remained for about half an
hour, and as he departed, he was the
| recipient of an affectionate farewell
The social session began at $50 after
an hours business session, presided
over by Exalted Ruler F. H. Rice Dur
ing the evening, before the arrival and
after the departure of Mr.. Jefferson,
there was no dearth of entertainment,
musical, literary and otherwise The
Twin City Mandolin, Banjo and Guitar
club contributed popular music.
Messrs. Tenney and Wolf sang comicaI
songs, Col Fred Wilson. the veteran
Elk of New York Lodge No. l, now on
his way to the Klondike, recited two
original poems, W. j. Tompkins played
trombone and XylophOne solo, Bar
mum and Ledegar executed a comic
tumbling act. J. C. Shields juggled with
such homogeneous utensils as plates and
G. and W. F., and Mr.. McCafferty
| sang triOs, and Harry Delafield presid-
ed at the piano.
Oar Reese offered the II o'clock toast
A delegation from the st. Paul lodge,
with their wives and ladies, will go to
Saltwater next Tuesday night to attend
the minstrel entertainment to be given
there by Saltwater Lodge No. 179