The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-23
JEFFERS0N'S TALK AT YALE
ENTERTATNS THE STUDENTS WITH
REMARKS ON THE DRAMA.

Enthusiastic Reception Accorded the
Veteran Actor-ReIates oliver Wendell
Holmes Druggist story-says He Never
Heard of Aeschuylus-Interesti Talk
on the Merits of Stage Work.
About 1900 students crowded into
College street chapel yesterday after
noon to hear Joseph Jefferson talk on
the Drama" A few graduates and
ladies were present.
-Four rows Of chairs placed on the
platform were occupied by '9S men,
who composed reception committee,
headed by President Bingham of the
Yale union. The aisles, Railways and
galleries were packed to their utmost
and standing room was at premium.
The appearance Of President Dwight
was the signal for an outburst of deaf
ening applause. He escorted Mr.. JEFF
ferson to the platform and then after
few felicitious remarks introduced
! the man who has entertained myriads
and has won for himself name and
fame on both sides of the ocean. Scarce
ly had his name been, mentioned when
thunderous noise was made by the
students. They yelled, clapped their
hands, stamped their feet and for about
five minutes the place was perfect
Bedlam. 1t finally subsided and Mr..
Jefferson thanked the men for the
hearty welcome.
| He said If an actor was accorded such
reception and greeted with such vo-
ciferous applause as ne had been, he
was sure many of them would be in
spired to greater efforts His remarks
throughout were in a happy vein and
very witty, and each one was taken
up by the students and applauded.
Among other things he told of visit
to the home of Oliver Wendell Holmes.
He said that Mr.. Holmes was certainly
an "autocrat of the breakfast table,
and on this occasion told the following
story, as being an actual fact:
"A small church near Mr.. Holmes
residence had, in different ways, lost
nearly all Of their hymnals The con-
gregation was too poor to purchase any
more and an enterprising druggist Of
| ASlCA " LII lllSu LllG IGQulTeu HuIQQGT
OF hymnals if he could have space for
ads The people consented, thinking
that the first and last pages would be
the only ones used. Instead Of this he
sandwiched in advertisements among
the verses, and one went as follows:
"Hark, hear the angels sing,
Beecham's pills are, just the thing.
Sure and safe, gentle and mild,
| fnr.o Iy,l@ g.. IL ~ = .
| Mr.. Jefferson said he came there to
talk talk" and not to ramble around
on lot of subjects of which he knew
nothing. He spoke Of the art Of acting
as being one of the hardest of profess
sional lives, and the people are able to
criticise an actor much more than any
one in the other arts.
He said: A sculptor can thoroughly
examine his clay model before it is
crystalized into marble; painter can
put on the finishing touches to his pic
ture before it is given over to the criti-
cal eye Of the public, and an author can
rewrite his book or parts Of it, but an
actor begins, continues and completes
his work before the public. His was
a reproductive, rather than produc-
tive art. He can't step to the foot
| llSlLtS ctllo say IL yO0 WILL t1ilOW LIE "
say or do that over again it will be
much better 1t must stand as 1t Is
and the people must judge Of it. An
actor must needs be on the lookout
every second that everything is pre-
cisely as it should be-"
Mr. Jefferson's talk was interspersed
with many interesting anecdotes hap
pening in his long professional career.
y o1>o eJ{, ~
paper, on which were written questions
bearing on the Drama" In answer to
a question as to whether a subsidized
theater would ever be established in
America, he expressed himself as being
Of the opinion that such could never
be done, because every principal city
in the United States would claim that
it should be located there.
The students were very much sur
prised when Mr.. Jefferson admitted
that he did not know who Aeschylus
was, and consequently could not
answer the question as to the effect Of
the works of Aeschylus or modern
drama.
Another question as to whether he
was Of the opinion that the dramatiza-
ton Of such novels as Under the Red
Robe" and 1.-THE Prisoner Of Zenda"
were of advantage was answered in thei
affirmative.
When asked whether the legitimate
drama would ever be superseded by
vaudeville, Mr. Jefferson said that he
did not think so; that there was GER
tain class of people who are entertain
, ed and amused by vaudeville, and an
other class who desire legitimate, and
each wanted to exist, but legitimate
i, would be the more popular.
He closed by saying that it was al
ways a pleasure to come to New Ha-
,, ven and that he hoped many more
times he would have an opportunity Of
addressing Yale students. Applause
followed and the long Yale cheer was
given.