Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-14
HAS FAIR HEARERS,
an Jefferson ADDRESSES An
,rpIENCE OF RICHMOND LADIES.
rs SPEAKS AT THE WONAk'S CLUB.
n,c veteran Actor Makes "a WHY
end nriEht Talk on che Drama,
and Discusses Genius and Art
Presents Rip Van Wrinkle.

Presents Rip Van Wrinkle.
Other actors Of to-day are renowned
and possess in varying degrees the affec-
ZION Of the public. but Joseph Jefferson is
NOT only renowned. but universally be-
loved. The veteran actor was welcomed
t.ra with open arms yesterday. In the
afternoon the handsome parlors or the
Noman's club were crowded almost to
,,ccss hy the elite OF the social life OF
n, city. and at night an audience that
f..f., tested the capacity of the Academy
a,rhted 10 do him honor.
lie arrived IN the city early yesterday
Morning on a special car from Roanoke.
s,,enpanled by Mrs. jefferson and his
$40 sons Later I'm the day he drove to
,nc Jefferson and occupied suite OF
rooms on the dining-room floor, whore
~. was visited by numerous friends.
Aner luncheon he repaired to the wo-
mans club and was accorded a most
enthusiastic reception.
RECEPTION AT WOMANS CLUB.
rho advent OF Mr.. jefferson had been
looked forward to with the keenest anti
r-.aon ever since he graoiously accepted
,s invitation Of the Lecture Committee.
a. ,hc time the invitation was extended
o. MAS hardly hoped that he would be able
4, address the club. as well as fll his
otrrr ,xaciing engagements. and his
rf.fv acceptance came in the nature OF
r,nf surprise. IL was conceded on all
hands that the event was the most bril-
Tsrt and succc ssful in the history Of the
club
10 was only a few minutes after
o'clock when Mr.. jefferson arrived at
fte home Of the club. on Franklin street
l..V.en Toushee and Adams. He was
received with every demonstration Of en-
taps.asm. and was briefly introduced by
Vrs Archer Anderson. the president of
.fe club The subject Of his address. as
announced was 10 be "A Dramatic Dis.
Course" He ouered with a pleasant re-
ference 20 his visits to the city in years
zone ly. The difference was. he said.
nat r those days he came as an actor,
and now y appeared before his hearers
ir the disguise Of a gentleman.
Nlr jefferson spoke first Of the neces-
F,v for a complete preparation for the
actor No matter how talented the indi-
,5ual might be ne must be thoroughly
elr.nred i'm other directions, just as the
writer and the artist have first 10 pre-
rare their subjects before they can exc
cute them. Both the writer and the
artist. he said. possessed great adj
vantage over the actor. for whereas they
could rub out the blemishes and remedy
the mistakes before the work meets the
frt 0f the public, the actor cannot turn
back and whG ever he does Is done once
arl for on; he cannot tell the public
chat be will act q part over again for
them. because he can do # better but
8. judged by his work as it first appears.
GENIUS AND ART.
Mr jefferson then went on TO speak
a. The difference between genius ana art.
1any have genius. he said but wanting
srt are dumb The two must go together
90 form the great poet. painter, sculptor.
CT actor. Art he declared, is the hand
maiI q genius. Genius looks with scOrn
cn art Genius painted the vivid colors
o. The rainbow. art reproduced and fixed
thsm Genius. he said, often suffered
.f0m not paying proper attention 10 art,
ana De illustrated his contention BY
r1rahtr Of humorous and interesting per
E01al "reminiscences.
TRAGEDY AND COMEDY.
The relative power in the presentation
c. tragedy and comedy was the next sub
feet touched upon. Mr.. Jefferson al
lulei 10 the celebrated picture Of Gar
uck. ia which that actor appeared aH
leaning toward comedy. but looking at
tragedy. In answer to question as TO
which OF the two he thought required the
more power. MIR. jefferson said he had
found II possible TO act tragedy at all
times and under all conditions, but
comedy was really very serious bust
ness. The comedian must not appear to
know that he is funny. He cited the
grave-dggers scene from Hamlet in sup
port of this Comedy, he said was
much more difficult 10 present in an
enjoyable way than tragedy
Mr.. Jefferson then suggested that he
should answer questions that any one
present might desire TO put. The nrst
proposition was relative to the durability
Of Ibsen's dramas
Ibsen, said Mr.. Jefferson, is mate
riaiist Personally he did not object to
realism II Il is not offensive and does
not 20 too far. lie had never seen any
thing that was morbid or distressing
that had lived long. Many people, he
said. admired Wagners music, Others
Old not. He did not believe that Kind
Of writing would live long, and when the
masterpieces o. We gBer and other classic
writer's are forgotten. the simple
melody, "Home, Sweet Home" would
stAl be heard.
THE STARRING SYSTEM.
The next question propounded was
whether the starring system was good
or bad Mr.. Jefferson replied that the
system was the outgrowth of the Shakes
pearaan dramas which only required one
great actor, who might be surrounded
with others Of less Importance. without
destroying the effect Of the play. There
20 r.1a admit Qf several
great actors appearing at one time. II
such plays were written, he said, the
public would have great entertain
ment. but the fact would stll remain
that the actors would have to receive
adequate compensation. and the success
OF such a play would be exceedingly prob
lematic. taking into consideration the
great expense necessary for its presenta-
ton IL would be equally to the adj
vantage OF fae public II tradesmen offer-
ca their wares at one uniform price, and
combined TO give the best material ~
The same price they had asked for an
Inferior article but it would be decidedly
inpracticable.
Mr. Jefferson then went on TO speak
~ the quality of individuality possessed
hy the actor. The artist, the musician.
the sculptor only show the result Of
their work but II the actor fails he is
himself a failure.
ENTERTAINING AND ELEVATING.
What do you think OF the drama AZ
an educatOr2 Does n merely entertain.
a. entertain and elevate the public mind?"
Mr.. Jefferson laughed merrily as he
read this question, which had been hand
"a 10 him written upon an enve'ope. He
answered that the first mission Of the
drama n TO entertain. You do not 20 to
The theatre TO be preached 10. IRE moral
nLlN 1. hNnncrltlcal and nrafenda 10 do