The times., 1897-11-07

The return Of Joseph Jeffers N is an event
of rich promise. He Is the NestDr Of the
stage; Our grand old man; and weare bound
TO revere him FOR lis art and uis Dig
nified venera bleness. As a topic Jefferson
Is thrcshed out The last word has been
written II would be presuming 20 affect
toOrfEr words wlichcOuIdaid T. hisprestige
or explain personality which Ia been the
theme ~ the whole fraternity ~ dramatic
oir0Hiclers ana critics Tor half a century
But thci comes back auUlis tITne he words
o. Within Winter, the graceful and per
ceptive critil contemporary with jefferson:
Fifty years from now the historian Of
the American stage, II be should be ask ed
10 name La'- actor Of THIS period who was
most beloved by The people OF this gen era
ton VIII answer that il wa Joseph Ief-
fcrSon- DJler actors Of cur time are IA
nous. aud they possess in VARYING degrees
the afrecnon OF the public. Jefferson is
not only renowned hut universe II = be-
loved To state tie cause Of this eff ect
Is al once 10 explain his acting and To do
lt the homer 10 which II Is entitled. That
cause can be stated ia a single sent ence
Jefferson is al once a poetic and q human
actor- and he is thus able to charm all
minds and win all hearts. His success,
therefore, Is especially important not to
himself alone, but 10 the people.
IN tie same essay, from which the above
ts an excerpt, Mr.. Winter touches on the
art which eIocntes instead Of personating.
As he speaks in positive terms, and with
the authority OF scholarship and expert
ence; ana, moreover, as jefferson rapre-
sents IN o marEed degree. one side af the
1iscu ssioii, It may DC Interesting 70 read a
transcription OF his text.
Jefferson has aroused and touched and
satisfied the feelings OF the people not by
attempting TO interpret iteratnre, but by
being an actor. An actor is a man who
acts. He may be an uneducated man. de-
ltcienL ia iearning, and IN mental disci-
pine aAu yet 3 IlIle actor. The people
care not ~ all for literature. They do NOT
read lCr and they know nothing about in
until - IS Drought home 70 tkefr hearts by
some great interpreter OF IL. What they
90 kn0E Is action. They can See and the Y
can feel, and the actor who makes them
see and feei can do anything VIII them
Tis ia, HS plesSes 1t IS his privilege and
Jefferson is one or these artists tthey
aEe leN3 VINO depend Tor their effects not
upon Nilat authors have written, but uDOn
ilnpefs0nati0n. He takes liberties with
the text. II would not. perhaps, be- Savfur
TOO much 20 say that he does not primarily
AeeQ tle text at all lie ii an actor: and
speaking with reference TO him and to
others Ike him IL would, perhaps be well
II those persons who write criticisms upon
the stage would come to q definite con
clGs1Ol upon this point and finally under
stand that au actor must produce his
effects on the instant by some; hing that
he does and IS, and Lot by rhetoric and
eiOcutiOH- Jefferson is an actor who in
far1anly produces effect. and he produces
4f Dy inlpers0ua UiGa. and by inperSona tfon
that is poetic and human.
Jefferson's art was really ahead Of his
age Its mid delicious flavor came with
balm-hke effect IN contrast with the robust
type OF tie fellows of his youth. Duss
end Fiske are firm IN this art OF realism,
and Goodwin and Russell are struggling
With it. Last week we had an example ia