The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-06
NEVER HEARD OF JEFFERSON.
ONE MAN TO WHOM THE GREAT
ACTOR IS STILL UNKNOWN.

Thought He Might BE a Circus Actor.
Mr.. Jefferson Not Fond of Remin-
iscences and Did Not Seek out the
scenes of His Youthful Efforts
While in savannah-Was Manager
of Savannah's Theater Nearly Half
Century AgO-Is Only 30 Years
Old and Is Not Prepared to An
nOunce His Final Tour.
To be known and yet to be unknown.
Such is fame.
After having been Americas leading ac-
tor for nearly a quarter of century and
after being known to the stage, and es-
pecially the Savannah stage, for half a
century, 1t was to be expected that every
person in Savannah. especially among the
older citizens would at least know of JOS
eph Jefferson.
There were two private Pullman cars
on the tracks at the Liberty street end of
the Plant System yards when Morning
News reporter called to see Mr.. jefferson
yesterday.
rs that Mr.. Jefersons private CARP
the old Waterman at the gate was ask
ed.
NO sir, that's Mr.. Plants car" was
the reply, in a heavy Irish brogue.
rs the other car Mr.. jefferson s?' the
old man was asked
Not that I know Of, was the reply.
rs Mr.. Jefferson's car in the yard then?''
Il don't think so. Who is jefferson,
anyway" inquired the Waterman.
why you must know of Joe Jefferson.
the actor. He played at the theater last
night"
Il niver heard of him. said the old
man. "An actor is he? There was a cir
Gus parade wint down the strate awhile
ago. Maybe that was him"
While this conversation was in progress
Mr.. jefferson was sitting at the window
of his car not over forty feet away, quiet
ly painting fancy sketch of some scene
that he recalled.
Surprising naturally from Mr.. Jefferson
remarks at the theater the night before
in which he recalled many of his former
| experiences in Savannah that he would
have revisited the scenes of these expert
ences and noted the changes which have
occurred in the half century which has
elapsed since he appeared upon Savan-
nahs stage and afterward managed the
theater here, Mr.. Jefferson was asked his
impressions as to the changes which have
occurred.
mo, I did not take the trouble 90 &c
over the city and look up the scenes OF
my youthful experiences" said Mr.. Jeffer-
| son. 1.-THE fact is that l am not much oil
hand for "reminiscences, anyway.
| have no doubt that a great many changes
| have occurred, and when a man Is get
| ting old the fact of these changes is like
! ly 20 affect him unpleasantly. 1 am still
more interested in the things of to-day
| than Of those of yesterday"
Savannah was the scene of some of nv
earliest experiences. though" said Mr.
! Jefferson. 1T is forty-seven years since
| l came here from New York with John
| Ellsler. Charles Kemble Adams was man.
| ager of the theater then, and as 1t short
! ly developed that he was unable to pay
! our salaries our contract with him was
| dissolved. Ellsler and myself rented the
| theater from Mr.. Padelford and conduct.
ed it for two seasons, maintaining a stock
company. From Savannah 1 went to Ma.
| con. where my eldest son was born"
| Mr. Jefferson was unable to recall
whether the elder Crisp was in charge oil
the Savannah theater before or after his
managership. He was certain that Mr.
Crisp did not play in his company.
You are the veteran of the profession
in America, are you not?' Mr.. Jefferson
was asked.
Il am just TO- said Mr.. Jefferson with
the air of a man who feels that he is eood
for many more years yet
You are not ready to announce Won,
! final tour, them"
The newspapers have done that sew.
eral times for me-" he replied; "but
have never authorized such an announce.
ment, nor have 1 any intention of doino
so at present My health is verv good
now; you know / was quite i'll some time
since, and l see no reason why I should
not continue on the stage for several wear.
yet"
Mr. Jefferson takes a pardonable nriae
in his presentation of THE Rivals civ.
ing credit TO his company as well as re
himself. 1.-The company is a very strono
one" he said 1T is probably the ehIesl
! presentation of this comedy that has owe,
been seen upon the American STAGE
Mr. Jefferson has played the mart n,
| Rip Van Wrinkle so often that his voice
and manner at once bring to mind recnl.
| lections of that great character. Mr. Tef.
! ferson has a large family Two of bic
sons are travelling with him. Mr.. Charles
Jefferson is acting as manager. while Ia,
seph Jefferson Jr., takes the port Of 81,
Lucius O'Trgger I'm The Rivals and
| w. w. Jefferson plays "Fag." Mr. Tef.
ferson and his company appeared ir
Charleston last night. From there they