The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-14
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
JOSEPH JEFFERsON's DRAMATIC
DISCOURSE
f:efore the Woman's Cuba Representa-
tive and Crowded Audience.
Guests of The Club.

| tors worldwide reputation PROFESSIONALLY
and his known personal charm. AZ ny
time in its history have the CluD quar-
| ters been so taxed to hold the audience
and at no time has the audience been so
thoroughly and delightfully."- representatives
Long before 2:l5 every chair in the par
lors was taken. and at o'clock. when
was the opening hour, people were crowd
ed three deep on every step OF the STAR
way leading to the second hoor. The nan
was so closely filled that passage through
it was impossible. and the little rear room
and porch in the rear Of the pafloIs were
also filed. Not more than two-th.rds OF
! tnc audience were able 10 even catch q
! glimpse OF the speaker during Inc u.s.
| HIS APPEARANCE.
At about $50 lie entered the house. to-
| Cether with Mrs. Archer Anderson, iItsl-
| dent OF the club. and Mrs. J.. III. LOWS
| Vicc-pTesidtnt. Applause, q COURSE an
| bounced his arrival. ana shorty alt.i -
| wards he entered the rear parlor ana
took his stand near the ros rum. us
| genial face which has "a suggestion 81 lhc
| child in the expression OF the eyes, Whith
| VIII always belong 20 u. is framed ia hair
| somewhat nearer White than when lie ihat
| visited this city, but otherwise Time Ehs
| dealt lightly indeed with the winning
presence WHICH Ills name lNiIAAfn NFf
| The members OF the lecture committee
Mrs Archer Anderson. Miss Jane NJ
rutherford. Mrs J. Arthur LEROY ana
| Mrs. Il. William fcmbcriou. together win
Mrs. J.. l.. Lewis. occupied seats OF special
prominence. Mrs. Anderson guests were
I Miss Isabel Pegram. Of Providence, u. J..
| Miss Mason Miss sally Archer Andef-
son. Miss Helena Trench LEROY Mrs.
| Sheppard Mrs. Thomas II. Carter, Miss
| Stafford. Of New York and Mrs William
| T. Robins. Mrs Lcfroys guests were
| Miss Helen Montague ana MI. John H..
Montague. Jr. Mrs. Lewis guests were
| Judges Lewis and Keith. and Mrs.. Penn
/ bertons guests were Mr.. r. William Penn
| bcrton. and Rev. and Mrs. j. CALVIN stew
art.
Mrs. Archer Anderson made q brief. but
| charming Introduction commenting upon
the pleasure with which the Club greeted
| Mr. jefferson. and the fact that intrOduc-
| ton was supcrlir Gus.
Mr. jefferson then advanced and took
his stand I'M front OF the rostrum. amid
applause which rang through the house
for three minutes and made II imDossi-
hle for him 20 proceed. He spoke entirely
without notes. IN his own inimitable way,
and was applauded NJ short Intervals
throughout when wtucisms given with
his delightful laugh. told with the audi
encc.
MR.. JEFFERsON's TALK.
BY way Of introduction. and with tho
total lack of furmality. which Is so thor
oughly characteristic OF him. he made
ailusiOn 10 his former appearance IN Rich
mond In his professional Capacity' as
Dr. Pangloss. RIP Van Winkle etc.'
but now" said he with smile that app
pealed TO everybody. Il have the pleasure
of meeting you, disguised as gentle
mani" (Applause).
He then divided his discourse into two
parts-the first dealing with the relative
merits OF genius and art; the second de-
voting itself 10 comment upon the COM
parative difficulty ia presenting Tragedy
and comedy. I'm the first he took occa-
sion 10 empEatlcally express his BELIEF iu
art as being of more merit ultimately.
Genius. said he, paints the cOlors, art re-
produces and perpetuates them Isi~
sOmifying genius. Mr.. Genius, sara me-
looks with contempt upon art, ana thci
he proceeded TO show how foolish and
Irrational that IS. lie showed how impcr-
tant preparation Is 10 the actor, ana then,
ia Il witty aside. told OF a rehearsal DY
| himself and company WIN when ne Wa
associated. OF scene Which was TO uc
| given In case OF an encore.
1--WE made up lots OF witty things,
| said he, 'and had everything rcady-Dut
nobody called us Out-that shows the need
| of preparation" CApplauseD
However. this was only diYerging ana
Mr.. jefferson speedily got back TO MS
| hard work. and is the thing that tells. lie
| gave an instance in the life or charles
| Macready the great actor, who, after inc
| lapse OF some years, found that one or
strongest
fectiye with his audience. tho out
| lined the scene)
MacReadv went 20 a celebrated actress
| of his day-a Mrs. Warner-and told her
that he had noticed IL, and said he Won
! dered why He was afraid, be SAID, IL
was because it had gotten common TO ms
No" said she. ITS because its gotten
common to you. YOU used TO present IL as
If murder and theft filled you with nor
/ ]
uitted both crimes twenty or SO times ana
gotten used TO IL.
Art means the power 10 continue 10 pre-
sent the drama with power that Is ale
! Ways fresh.
TRAGEDY AND COMEDY
In Garrick's time. said he. "a picture
N,,s PAINTED Of him seated between me
muses. of Tragedy and COMEDY. Tragedy
held him in her grasp, but ms l".V "''
turned 10 comedy, AS n inclinins 10 He.'
4 friend asked nm when Ar llcl044' "'
Wei " said he. no matter how SICK
or how well. how blue or how cheerful, i
am always equal 10 tragedy; but COMEDY
now-why, comedys very serious DD''-
ness" applause ana lduehteil
lie then dwelt upon the difficulty ln pre-
seutiuas comedy. In SO uOlus. sara hrf t"r
actor. in his opinion, should 20 uI1o.-
sclOusy humorous, lee shOuli De ut4D ~
sciOus of what was intensely Iaushdblv
10 ms audience. Telling a joke was q ull 81
| fercnt thing. OF course a. man ought 20
| see the point OF his own joke. Here ne
! cited Scene 10 Act v. from Hamlet.
In conclusion. Mr.. Jefferson announced
! that he would now answer any questions
| the committee might put 10 MIN. as ne
| thought that would bee more interesting
| and less formal Tor his audience.
If / cannot answer them. SAID Ne.
you must forgive ne, but suspect you u
| think me far more interesting when /
cannot answer than when l can. (laush-
I teri
Before proceeding with the questions
| however. he gave some amusing personal
| experiences. once. said he. as be made
| his exit from the theatre after per-
! Torrance lwhen he was on starring
| tour. a severe looking man. with large
eyeglasses, met him Ia the aisle with the
| following:
| starring tours are among the most per
| lic?"
Sir" said he in response. when ] was
| a stock actor I looked upon every star as
| a tyrant. when ! became a star / looked
upOn every stock actor az a conspira-
| tor" applause and laughter)
He proceeded TO show the origin 81
| stars I'm the dramas OF William Snakes
pearle, citing Coriolanus. Romeo ana
Juliet Macbeth. and others as pOrtraying
sion that made the leading and vital IN
| tercst OF the story.
THE QUESTION BOX.
Now" said he. Il am ready for the
questions. He declined Mrs. Anderson's
! offer of a chair. and continued TO stand
while answering those which she pre-
/ eeufed fo him uuOu Il SLID OF paDer