The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-13
PLEASED ESPECIALLY WITH PROGRESS OF MONTGOMERY. In His Private Car Halsemere He Re- ceived Representative of The >Advertiser--Members A of
 His Family Travel
 With Him.

old time grace encased in cardinal dressing gown. clean cut, aquiline nose. a strong we'll nodded chin, eyes bright and bird-lke in their quickness, the whole shaded by thatch of straight iron grey hair. This was Joe Jefferson, the proud est exhibit of the American stage in his seventy-sixth year as saw him yester- day afternoon.
 The great actor sat upon a settee covered with green brocade. in his private car the 'Halsemere." summitting to the more or less annoyance ofNa newspaper interview. His face was rosy with health. His expression was eager and interesting. What he had to say was said in clear and resonant voice. His thought and speech was as quick as the flash of his clear eye,
 It was almost weird to watch him as he sat there apparently a we'll preserved man of 55 years and know that he had passed the seventy-fifth milestone of his life, to know that he was a boy on the streets of Mobile sixty years ago; that he had in his prime played to the grand parents of the men and women who would applaud his Rip Van Wrinkle at the night performance.
 Of the many gifts and talents that were vouchsafed to him, his conversa- tion showed that perhaps of all he was most proud of his strong and kindly old age He was surrounded by an atmos- phere of -contentment and happiness. The evening of a long and useful life with him Is disturbed by no cares or vain re- grets. The admiration of a nation oi people of him as a player, the respect of nation of people for him SIS a man no financial cares. no ghosts of the past his family about him satisfied and happy What is there for the great American and the great actor to wish for?
 There are momentary flashes of sadness They come when his mind reverts to the scenes and the men and women of thirty forty and fifty years ago.
 Yes" he said, "I played an engage ment in Montgomery of a week thirty five years ago. Who were the member: of my company? They are all gone. am the only one alive.''
 The old gentlman's voice grew soft witf sadness as the thought of the associate: who had made their last exit from tho worlds stage and left him, alone of tht old company, to play his part before new generations
 Mir. Jefferson was fresh from his winter at Palm Beach. His clear skin and
 bright eye showed the great benefits that
 had come to him from his Florida winter
 About him in the sitting room of hii private car were scattered golf bags anc sticks, caps and tennis racquets, belong
 ing to the members of his family who
 were with him. In the pile of recrea'
 ton implements there was no doubt 6
 favorite golf stick of the dean of the American stage, for 1t is told of him that a day on the bunkers has only less attraC tons for him than a day upon the water with his favorite rod in his hand and his friend Grover Cleveland at the other end of the boat.
 The interviewer was positively startled to find upon the settee and within easy reach, thrilling story of the "Deadwood Dick series. There was no mistake about it. The paper-backed. ten-cent was lying there distinct and tangible. Ii was no ocular allusion Had MT. lief ferson. like Disraeli. been resting his mind with a blood and thunder tale? Did he share the fondness of Senator Matt Quay for a stirring and thrilling detec- tive story?
 ! The interviewer was fain to believe the telltale novel was the property of some
 bright and promising grandson. He listened attenuvely for the sound of 6 boyish voice from another compartment | of the car, but no such voice was heard and no youthful form appeared. The novel was undoubtedly Rips. In fact | Mir. Jefferson's questioner was half con
 vinced that a daily paper was laid pur' posely over the "Deadwood Dick" as ht entered the car. The book, opened if l the midst of the desperate story, was l only partially concealed, however. | held the interviewer with fascinated in.
 terest He could hardly draw his eyes from it, which was unfortunate for him Our tour will end in the New England States in four weeks" Mir. Jefferson wa: saying At that instant the deathly still ness of the fading day was broken by the sharp report of pistol The printed words on the page of the "Deadwood Dick" literally forced themselves upor the understanding of the interviewer.
 Again and again the interviewer was on the point of turning the converse. ton upon "Deadwood Dick" but each time the effort failed. Every time a question was framed on that subject an other question bearing upon an entirely different thing would leap over 1t and jump out first ''Deadwood Dick" was not discussed.
 Montgomerians and Mobilians feel a special, almost proprietary pride in the greatest of American actors. VH Ills early life Is closely associated with these two Alabama cities. The grave of his fa- ther Is in Mobile. MT, Jefferson spoke of 1t yesterday in discussing Alabama and Alabama people.
 Part of my boyhood, he said. twas spent in Mobile was there in the years between 1S42 and 1s45. My father died in that city and he Is buried there.