The times., 1899-04-16
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

II 10 universally dSTeeu dHlOuS muse
who have made study of the matter that
mother love is the holiest OF the senti-
meDts that animate the human breast.
From generation to generation posts have
sung and artists painted from the theme
The great Homer was not above king
few remarks upon the subject nor the
less-admirable Charles X Harris bsnealh
setting to music verses dealing with so
beautiful a topic; Rafael made the affac-
ton of a maternal glance the sympathetic
tone of his best known picture and the
veriest dauber Of modern days finds ever
renewed possibilities in the idea. The
care of father for his child has been ItfI
out of the question. AS Lew Dockstader
once remarked, They neved said word
about the head of the family exc pting in
one song and then they had to get the old
man drunk" And yet history reS orjs the
most sublime sacrifices made by sirss for
their sons Story and rhyme will probably
not deal with the fact. but an example of
Just such heroism is now before the pub
lie.
Joseph Jefferson is the most respected
and one OF the most admired players on
the stage. Through the strongest of art
istic tendencies he has won success so sure
that he has lost deal of popularity in
his profession. And yet, with all this fine
sense of perception concerning histrionic
art, Mr.. Jefferson is maintaining a school
of acting for his progeny. Directly under
his eyes. and in his own company. he has
placed these scions, with noble disregard
! OF consequences and his salary list giving
Z the boys parts OF such magnitude that the
/ best people known TO the theatre have
I achieved fame in them. With William Win
/ ter Jefferson this deed has not involved
I remarkable fortitude. the name-sake OF
/ passabie as Bob Acres in The Rivals
4 few months ago, and so good as Fag last
week that one familiar with the piece was
! not forced to consult his programme in
order to see what role the young fellow was
assuming. The education OF W. W. Jeffer-
/ son has not involved notable courage.
But in the case of Joseph jefferson. jr.,
things are emphatically different. This
I lad was seen here at the National as Sir
! Lucius OTrigger, and his portrayal was
4 chiefly notable as sort OF international
! complication in polysIotic verbiage. Young
Jefferson's buoyant Irishman was candidly
/ about the most doleful thing of the sort
i ever seen in the city OF Washington Abb
( solutely without tinge of life or color and
J equally minus the attribute of appear
ance the impersonation was simply piti-
full one. His Heindrick in rip Van VIM
I kle'' was not a whit better. And the no.
I BILE father must see and realize this fact
/ Notwithstanding he continues in his heroic
efforts to make his son an actor, and proba-
bly, will persist in the face of all difficult
ties. No matter how narrowed he may be
or how his heart is torn he will continue in
this munificent labor. And yet paternal
love has never been taken up and harped
upon by poets or painters. Truly the men
of pen and brush have been unjust
The Bijou Stock Company has acquired
a very valuable man in Sam j. Adams,
local boy who returned there three weeks
ago as a monologuist and has been re-
tanned with Manager Grieves' organiza-
ton. Mr.. Adams is not high-elass
comedian and his methods are sometimes
of the veritable variety sort but he is
original and he is clever. while his droll-
cry mngles spice of Dan Daily with the
slowness of that solemn individual. He
gets away from the traditional German
dialect stuff that has been served up in
the vaudeville houses for untold years and
is generally an improvement on Manager
Grieves' other people. In addition to his
merit as laugh -provoker Mr.. Adams has
a very melodious voice, which he uses
10 good advantage. When he has forgot
ten Lucky Jim and learned not TO do
his bad imitation of James A. Herne the
Young fellow will be worth his weight in
silver to the Bijou company.
Undoubtedly the most artistic imperson-
alton of the rendering given The Charity
Ball. by the Frawley Company last week
| at the Columbia Theatre was that OF Judge
Peter Gurney Knox contributed by Harry
Carson Clarke The comedian. whose FIRST
work with the organization this was. has
lust finished a starring tour in What
Happened to Jones" and If the portrayal
mentioned may be taken as sample of his
ability no one need wonder that the ex-
perience was profitable one. Mr.. Clarke S
effort in the Belasco-De Mile drama was
not only intelligent and careful, but it
brougn, out an inherent humor and keen
appreciation of the laughter to be won by
studious reading Of the lines that was
most commendable. AS a characterization
pure and simple its merit was indisputahie.
Every detail and mannerism that went to
make the part distinctive was introduced
by the young actor. Mr. Clarke's assump-
ton of half-senility was perfect in voice,
gesture, walk, and expression. The por-
traiture was. all in all. the best portion of
a rather remarkable performance and will
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