Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02
4 JOKE ON JEFFERSON FL.
a LOCAL Reniniscence.


Another victory chortled. the, ANA
teur Magician. as he Joined the little
circle at the club. ai= saS
You boys went to see him at the AGA
deny, reckon, but I--well. just let me,
tell you.
Henry who used be g bum actor. you
know, made up little party TO lunch
with Jefferson at: Rueg@s- We had
good feed and say. If you were never
handed any creme de menthe sheroert
at dessert. try IT, It's great.
John was there, and Claude and Her
ace. You know Claude thinks he is some
thing OF pres tidigitator. believe Jake
Wells did let him sit around behind in
the Bijou that time the White Rats had
trouble waiting for chance to do turn
well, after becoming well dined men
we talked and smoked and nlbbleti the
liquors. and somehow the talk drifted
around to ma gic. Jefferson said that It
was subject that had always interested
him. and that after he first met Her
mann he had dabbIed q bit In it.
$50 we all insisted that Claude do &
/ little inpron1ptu work, but he was rat
tied, and it was pretty bad. Jefferson
took on sort of fhaIf-bored. half
were worse than that to the poor boy. So
CLAUDE sat back. and to get even started
a boot for me to work few little mira
cIes l had been smiling at Claude's
attempts. SO, although I:ffelt shaky. /
couldn't back down.
And, my children. the Greatest 5Anneri-
can Actor certainly appeared pleased and
nystified.
t.tHe applauded right along. So thought
I rnight as we'll wind up with a &c one.
borrowed his watch and deliberately
flung 1t on the floor stamped on 1t ana
made it a subject for an ole gold box.
The old fellow looked annoyed and trou-
bIed No matter how many times a mar
has. seen that trick, come out all right he
IS always a little cold up the back a this
stage of.the game. Ipicked un the watch
and calling the waiter told him to throw
it out into the street. Then sat down.
lighted a cigarette, and looked out Of the
window in an absent sort of way. There
was painful silence. Jefferson fingered
his glass and watched me from the cor
ners of his eye.
Presently. for the hush was getting
unpleasant said:
e Mr.. j Jefferson, have You ever formed
any conclusive opinion Of the place On the
rolls Of American dramatists that should
he siven<to James A. Herne?'
That was the limit. Jefferson turned
full upon me and said in chilling tones:
Yes. hut I want my watcn
'Why. 7 really know nothing Of Your
watch answered, surprised Has any
thing happened to it?s Let me see it, =
continued:
THAT had them all going It was tn.
place where I2~denendad On psychology
/ knew what he would do. .1hatc Why.
reach for his watch. He knew it was
gone, but when asked for it he put his
hand to his watch pocket ard pulled OUT
the watch.
We'll, ii. T had asked for whole row
at the Academy just then / would have
gotten it. He just stared at me-simply
stared. 7 had been sitting across the
tabieaali the time. out OF, arms reach. FIe
had handed the timspiace across to nae
ard without any hesitation had sent j:
era shing to the floor the waiter hac
thrown it in tic street. and now It was
sd fe7 in his hand.
-. 3 Veil. Schneider. he said We Eat pet
fer pc Going That was all Then sud
denly a light came into the eyes of Rip
Van Winkle. Jefferson. He grabbed his
hat and hurrying out across the sidewalk
peered into the gutter. Intently he SIR.
yeyed the pavement. but there wasn't
SO much as wheel or spring in sigh
1t was funny. With a despairinS gesture
be turned and marched into the buffet
waving US to follow. Sto1idly he oroere1
highballs for US all. gave US Rips toast
Here's to- your health and families, and
may they live long and prosper
Freddie, said the Man with the RED
Vest, at the conclusion. did you ever hear:
that little song the Winuy Point Clun
gets off at their watermelon feast. where
a victim speaks?
-. - No, replied the Amateur Magician.
what is. it?' Fssz
We'll returned the man with the Red
Vest. it goes something Ike this: