New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-05
MR.. JEFFERSON'S ACTING.

Little if anything remains to be said about Mr..
Jefferson's impersonation of Rip Van Wrinkle 1t
has been conspicuous before the world throughout
than the whole period of generation. 1t
made its way slowly at first it presently enticed
universal sympathy. and it has not only grained
the popular heart but educated the popular taste
AS 1t in the beginning it is now,-an fnsplra-
ton of dramatic genius and work of perfect
dramatic art. It satisfies the imagination by Its
romantic and spiritual qualities, and 1t wins the
affections by its humanity. 1t has had many lnl-
tators but it has had parallel. The only other
dramatic embodiment of our time that vies with H.
in the potency of charm, is Irving's Dr. PRIMROSE
but that involves element of the preternatural'
and is therefore, kindred with II only in emotion
sweetness and grace. Jefferson's Rip Van "lnkle
alone In fact and 1t will always STAND alone
in memory.
The secret of its supremacy is not obscure. 1t
has bewitched the world, for the simple reason
that it has successfully applied the method OF
poetic treatment TO common things, Ihae Is eaaHS
done-when you happen to be able TO DO H. OUT
you will not accomplish it unless you were porn
with the faculty of the poet. Mr.. JEFFERSON Is
a natural actor but not in the prosy, Photographic
sense: he< is natural but he is poetcahy natural
He does not cucumber himself Win tiie
paraphernalia Of the kitchen and the staole' Out
he adorns ali that he touches. and shows every
common object through glamour of refinement
and grace. All the talk about the bottle ana the
sot and the bad example and the bad lesson Is
idle chatter, and It goes for nothing. NooooS
profits by temperance lecture. Inc Wotst way
in which to endeavor to exercise a good influence
through the medium of a work of art, is the didac-
tic way The moment you begin to preach on
the stage YOU are a bore, and you overshoot your
mark and miss your object. The real moral
of Rim Van Winkle-the moral of gentleness ana
love in human intercourse, and of beauty ana
cheer in human life-steals imperceptthly into the
mind and it stays there long after the picture has
been lost to sight. Nobody ever saw Mr. Jefferson
as Rip Van Winkle-and liked it at all,-vithout
being made happier and better for the spectacle.
The dramatic mechanism alone is lasting comfort
to the sense of symmetry and the perceptlon OF
finished execution.
The comedian was earnest and thorough last
night as he has ever been. and 1t was dengnt1uHy
apparent that the deep springs Of feeling, oy VIZ
tue of which he is able to animate one OF the most
fragile and fantastic plays ever written. are sun
rich copious and potent; still enchanting IN 'helr
musical flow; still irresistible in their inspiring
strength. Mr.. Jefferson hailed with an anec-
Tomato welcoms and often cheered with hearty
applause The scene with the ghosts remains the
gem of this performance and indeed that scene
Is one of the most eloquent pathetic and beautiful
expositions of the best power and happiness OF
dramatic art-to thrill and ennoble all who benold
ft-that the stage has disclosed. The old drama
was mounted with care and taste. and the moonl1t
desolation of the solitary mountain summit, with
the sbadowy shapes of the grotesQue yet weird
spectres slowly stealing into view, was impressive
" indicated Mr. Jefferson will continue to act
at the Harlem Opera House till the end of next
week May 16-when his season closes,-and KIP
Van Winkle' will be several times repeated
w w.