The Washington times., 1903-11-17
OLD FRIENDS MEET
At RIP VAN WINKLE'
Joe Jefferson AffectiOnately
Greeted at National
PLAYED "JUST THIS ONCE"
Veteran Recalls First Appearance as
Rip Forty-fve Years Ago in
Washington.
PLAYED ~JUST THIS ONCE"

rip Van winlzle.' f..iry-tale drama
with which the life and art of Joseph
Jefferson have long been interviewer,
was performed again by that distin-
guished actor and his company at the
National Theater last night. The occa-
sion was significant of many things
q local temperance of the actor who
now stands at the head Of the American
stage, an imDersonation in which a
lovable and fine personality is united
with a mellow and fully developed art
and an audie1ce which dIled the theater
and included more than its just pro-
portion Of veteran playgoers. But 1t de-
rived its chief character from demon
station of 1cgard. a seal of affection
earned from an almost limitless audi
tory by a long and cheerful service,
which IS probably without precedent in
Washington. and could. perhaps. occur
nowhere else than in the theater.
Mr.. Jeffcrson's entry in the first act,
in the familiar suit of hOmespun.
stained with hunting and bespattered
with mud. evoked a welcome which rang
in every corner of the building. Each
of the ensuing scenes brought forth in
its turn some old and tried expression
or long-rememDered infection Of the
voice which either provoked the laugh
ter Of happiness or touched the sym
pathies until the eyes glistened. Old
Rip has not called for his dog Schneider
too often or been too many times per-
suaded to take a drink Just this once
for the inciSent to be new and fun Of
interest. And II the end OF the play
with the old toast dying away into ST
lence. Mr.. jefferson allowed the curtain
70 fail behind him and leave him at the
footlights 10 talk happily with his audi
ence.
From Genera tion to Generation.
He had delayed acknowledging the
evenings welcome, he said. because he
had wished not TO interrupt the play.
For the audience still seemed 10 md
interest in IL and wish 10 see il through.
although everyone who heard him must
now know It by heart. But he had
something To say which few of them
knew. although he had acted Rip not
only for them and their fathers and
mothers, bat for their grandfathers and
grandmOthers as wei. 1t was that he
had first essayed that role in this very
city forty-hre years ago this season.
That he still appeared in the same play,
that he still acted the part of Rip
this was nos his fault. but that of his
audiences II had been said, Of late,
that he was about 10 retire from the
stage He expected TO do so, possibly
son. But while his health continued
and his histrionic powers remained an
impaired and his performances as Rip
met with sUch a cordial reception, he
intended every year to renew the
friendships he had begun in Washing
ton so long ago.
The speech teemed with good feeling
and contentment. but il was not more
distinguished for those qualities than
the reception II obtained. Every sen
tence was appIauded. and the speaker
was interrupted BY continued hand
clapping whenever he paused TO take
breath Finally, when the actor, bow
ing with a grace and ease which con-
tradicted both the shabbiness OF his
costume and the gray hairs Of his long
beard, ilad retired of one side Of the
stage. the audience passed regretfully
from the building TO compare notes on
Mr.. JeffersOn-s earlier appearances as
Rip. and dwell afIectionately on the
odd days OF our stage.
A Figure OF Rare Distinction.
That picture Of old Rip standing be
fore the curtain is the key TO the whole
performance II is still. as IN the earlier
days Of its career. notable for the art
with which Mr.. ss-serson embOdies his
character f-nd the consistent Illusion
which he creates. It stil exhales ths
air OF faiiy-tales and the mystic TO
nance Of The stories which little chill
dren invent. II stin builds with wood
en- characters a series OF beautiful pie
lures which the eye refracts for th'
mind sometimes and the memory near
" always As II must always co. Al
still clears the ears Of tjlc roar o. cits
life and fills them instead with the pas
toral sounds OF Falling Water Village
and the peaceful ripple OF the uppei
Hudson
As long as Mr.. Jefferson continues q
act our stage Will be the richer for this
embodiment. and when Rip Van Wrinkle
shall go TO sleep in the Catshills fol
the last tilne-May tn, day be far dis
tant-it VIII live in the memory like the
Hamlet OF Edwin Both and the Shy,
lock OF Henry Irving, an embodiment
true TO the character in a thousand de
tails, nlumi nate; with the light OF tai
ent and arr. and aglow with spiri
near 10 that OF life itself It was u
this that the demonstration Of last nigh
bore witness. A D. A.