Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-10-29

house and the children acted juvenile
parts.
Transforming through Missouri and
Texas. with many hurdshlps. it's the
next chapter In their history, finally
bringing them up In Matamoras, Mex.
leo, where they had been invelgled by
wild tales Of the fortunes Of war. Sol
diers. gamblers and the "rag-tag and
bob-tail" that usually follow In the
wake OF an army. composed the audi
cnce. Hut soon the soldiers were or
dered away.-the town deserted and
the theater closed. Something had to
be done to make money, so young JEFF
Il rson and another stranded actor
opened a coffee and cake stand In a
bar.room called "The Grand Spanish
Saloon" Picturing the great Jefferson
running lunch counter for gamblers
and desperadoes IL enough to mako
ones imagination lame from over
stretching. The venture was success
financially. but the novelty OF lodging
bullets while passing a cup Of iot
coffee across the counter without spill
Ing drop having somewhat worn on.
the business was sold and the com.
pany returned to the States.
Mr.. Jefferson then Joined his hn!f.
brother. Edmund Burke. at the Arch
Street Theater. Philadelphia. AMI the
following years were less invested
with such hardships as had come TO
him up to that time. lie acted varl.
Ously-in legitimate work--as a stock
member. star and manager, and was
associated at different times with most
Of the famous artists Of the stage.
Nor was his experience bounded by
the limits OF our own shores. for In
1861 he sailed from San Francisco.
spending four years In successful,
touring Australia. New Zealand and
Tasmania. The return trip was made
via South America. after a long stay
In London. On arrival In London. he
met Dion ROucicault. who asked him
II he intended to act. and what ma.
tcrial he had. Mr.. Jefferson replied
that he intended to act II there was a
good opening. and said that he had a
great part in an Indifferent play called
Rip Van Wrinkle.
The result was the reconstruction OF
the play by Boucicauit and a run Of
more than 40 nights In I.ondon---:he
play opening on Sept. 8, 1866.
The idea OF using the quaint old
character first came to him during the
summer OF 1850, when. one rainy
afternoon. he had climbed to the loft
OF the barn at his country home to
read "rhe Life and Letters Of Wash
ington Irving" Much to his astonish-
Ilent. he found himself mentioned In
the book. and. impressed by the com,
p!iment OF the author, his mind dwelt
upon a list Of his books. As he thought
Of "The Sketch Book" there was some.
thing In the rhythm OF Rip Van Win
kle that riveted his interest like magic
and from that moment he never lost
interest In the character.
Demonstrations OF the sketch had
been played by Yates. Hackett and
Burke. but they had met with lndlf
| ferent success, and II was not unit
the happy meeting In London when
Rcucicault riveted with his maste,
Skill the structure that jefferson him
self had made that its success was as
Sured. Just before the opening IL
London. Mr.. Jefferson found himself
IN a curious situation as a result OF
his absorbing enthusiasm of the char
acter. Having procured the white
wig, beard and dress that had stood
twenty years OF hard weather On thu
mountains, he began n dress rehearsa
In front of his mirror In its rooinin;
house. Not long after, he was inter
rupted by the chambcrmaid. who sale
that the police We're insisting that ,
lunatic was In his room. And, lookln!
into the street, he saw a large GROVE
that, to him. looked like the entIr,
population Of London. taking in hi
performance--for he had forgotten Il
pull down the blind.
Mr.. Jefferson IL now at Palm Beach
the beautiful plantation home that III
purchased many years ago. Nature
always lavish Of her verduro gifts II
Southern climes, was especially gensr
Gus In her ornsmsntaton Of this Dc
ughtful Eden.