New-York tribune., 1903-05-18
ADVISED BY JEFFERSON
Actor Tells of Obstacles to National
4rt Theatre.
MAKES FUN OVER HIS DEAFNESS.

Joseph Jefferson furnished most of the merr1"
ment and incidentally some sage advice. at the
meeting in furtherarce Of the plan for an American
National Art Theatre, at the Garrick Theatre last
night.
THE audience filed the body of the theatre. while
the galleries contained more than sprinkling Ihe
Frohnan brothers and Mr.. Mckee had gwen the
use OF the theatre. William A. Brady $ "ile'
Grace George; Marie DressIer. the Misses fronrnan
Marshall p Wilder and others we'll known behind
the footlights there
Mr. Jefferson's one apparent weakness. MS slisht
deafness was played on. to his own great giee ana
the amusement of the audience. He came to the
theatre early with President Joseph l. G clarke
and sat for an behind the scenes. telling re-
niscences to j. J. Mackay ard others.
Mr. Clarke declared that within the year 1904 the
cornerstone of a National Art Theatre would be
laid. He predicted that by the end of the year II
would have a membership of 5000 and would be
put in the hands of the manager to be selected
by the directory OF the society. 1t would COM
bne some of the present schools OF acting and try
to make a more substantial Frank Ttford
had offered to stand trustee Of the endowment
fund which was q guarantee of its success.
cable dispatch was read from II. Beerbohm
Tree saying he in hearty sympathy with the
founding of the theatre and hoped England "outd
follow suit. Teegrams were also read from Jul1a
Marlowe f. NJ. Holland. E. H. Sothern. William
Redmond William Courtleigh and William Haines
in similar vein.
THE opening OF this theatre" said Mr.. Clarke.
will mean the signing of the new Declara-
ton Of independence of the theatre in America,
Sydney RosenfeId told of the difficulties he had
had in persuading Mr.. jefferson come. and said
that the situation reminded him of one Of the open
ing sentences in Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield
that the who married and raised large
family did for the community than the man
who talked about population. All the audience
Immediately applied the statement to Mr.. Jefferson
as he is man of family, but the speaker insisted
TO him that he did not mean any such thing. ,a
will not lie down together at once. can't i'm
agine seeing Mr. Mansfield snG MI S SofH9rn Ne pyHs
do the stars: Mr.. jefferson. however. knows the
I'VE say, said Mr.. Rosenfed joking. you give
the best example that it pays 10 get on the water
4 don't know what you mean said Mr.. Jeffer-
When Mr.. Jefferson rose to speak he moved his
seat TO Mr.. Clarkes right and said;
have removed my seat because didn't feel IKE IKE
being nth IN the 8 & & GamP Park X IS sd xf because did
not hear word OF it. But it Is easy to fepiy rel i6 70
particularly those remarks in which he referred to
Some time ago / wrote a letter in answer to a
request from magazine for my ideas on the SuO
3 }et not OF aend fb etteT SO Can tell Of it now 1t
would give me great pleasure to see agGn n the
way. Location is one Of them. In Europe the en-
& IS ra1se are Berlin a m ePmany Vienna
and with all the others In America there are
many demands for d national theatre from them
would be hard to secure the pest OrdIneAtic
Talent Leading actors could scarcely be induced TO
forego visiting the cities where they are so well re-
ceived and where their returns are great Again.
prominent actors would not care to submit TO the
discipline d directorate or board Of management
would insist -,
There IS danger too that 1t might drift into poll
tfrs The MANAGEMENT might change every
four years, and we might nave the Fepuoiii!Ctil
tragedtan term and the Democratic comedians
in the next administration hope however. that II
will be a great success. and that shall not De
offered the management. =, ...,. -
I believe 1t is much better to call attention 10
the stumbling blocks before the project IS under
way than after. Forewarned Is forearmed Inc
people who subsidize the theatre will be very exact
cal The authors will be severely criticised II a
theatre can be established with the saving OF rent
and continued subsidy, 1t is sure 20 be success
will be able to present more nnely the ufd4id.
The dra ma is better than ever to-day, not only
commercially artisticay, and It is better acteu
It is far better presented than ever Oh coutse
all other things. There are some things ooScehe
in literature vet that is reason why we should
refuse to read Shakespeare, Byron and scott Rag
time IS in voge, but that Is no reason for torSak-
ing Beethoven. Obscene paintings sometimes are
found but that is reason for denying KEN
brandt Then there those who rush lnIo the
sure on It, 1t has always been the same. Inc
drama has declined. according to the faulthnders.
But II has gone from the highest TO the worst,
from the worst TO good and now to It's present
am very hopeful for the success of this theatre.
1t has my best wishes and you have my deepest
thanks for listening to my TRADE so patiently.
Mr.. Clarke announced that the following would
serve as chairmen of the committees to advance
the project:
Financial. Frank Tilford; constitution and by
laws John R. Dos Passos; publishing. Arthur Horn
blow; women's Julia Marlowe and Genie H. Rosen-
field; auditing, Isaac L. Rich