Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-10-13
ANECDOTES ABOUT
JOSEPH JEFFERSON
Veteran Actors Testof His Pow
ers Without Stage Scenery
REVENGE OF A PROPERTY MAN.

The Comedians Encounter with One
Who Wns Repulsed For His FamiI-
iarity-NoveI Experience with an
Irishman - Result of an Interview
with "a yaIet-JeGerson's story of N
Pass Worker
Several years ago Joseph Jefferson,
the veteran actor, who recently retired
from the stage, spent a short summer
vacation as the guest of al old time
Minneapolis friend at a comparatively
unknown resort at one of the lesser
Minnesota lakes, says the Chicago
Mail. General" said the actor TO his
host one day, my object in coming
here was threefold-irst, l wanted to
meet you again and enjoy your com
panionship; second, / needed rest and
recreation, and this is a good place to
secure both, and third, l wanted to
test my w powers a little.
do you know, / one felt very GER
tain concerning my own histrionic abil-
tiles? Well, l did. When l was many
years younger / was egotistical enough
to believe that it didn't make much
difference whether l had the valuable
accessories Of a fine theater and good
scenic effects or not. At any rate, |
was able to handle my audience about
as / wanted to do it, whether ! played
Rip In a barn or a first class theater.
/ knew then that the people turned out
to see me and not the work of the
scene painter. 1 am not sure about it
now. l find myself wondering whether
I have lost the power of moving the
people aside from the associations of a
good supporting company and excel
lent theatrical appointments. l want
to test this matter, and l mean to do 1t
before l leave here. Will you help me?'
Nothing could be easier" replied his
host. 1--WE will spend an evening with
some friends of mine who do not
know you, and l will arrange matters
SO that you car give them a few selec-
lions from Rip l have III acquaint-
ance-a well to do miller-who lives
in a small village about six miles from
here. We will drive over there some
afternoon this week and spend the
evening. No one in the place knows
you. l will introduce you as Mr.. Jo-
seph, an old friend Of mine from New
York, who formerly was an actor. This
will give you an opportunity to test
your powers upon utter strangers and
without any help from scenery or sup
porting company"
A few evenings later the Minneapolis
gentleman and his friend, Mr.. Jo-
seph" Of New York, were seated in the
miller's parlor after tea. The CONVEX
sation turned upon the stage and the
difference between the modern styles
Of acting and those of a half century
ago. MY friend here did some credit
able work in his time, l am told" said
Jefferson's companion. Have you for
gotten all your old tricks? Can't you
give us a few lines from some of your
old plays or have you entirely for
gotten them alp
"Well l don't know-its been q
great many years since l tried any
thing Of that sort, you know. l don't
know whether l can remember any Of
my old lines or not. But I'll try 1t If
you'll agree not to make fun of me
HIN! How does it go? Yes-no-ah,
yes. l have it. The line runs like
this
And Jefferson began reading the
scene between Rip, the jolly y~agabond.
and his scolding wife. The little audi
ence evidently enjoyed it, as the hearty
and almost incessant laughter album
dainty testified. Then Mr.. Joseph"
gave Rips parting with little Meenie.
The laughter ceased. Then followed
the weird scene between Rip and the
dwarfs in the Catskills. At this point
the silence in the room had become
painfully oppressive. Every auditor
seemed to be holding his breath. The
old man paused for a moment and then
gave the lines describing Rips return
home after his twenty years sleep. AS
the reading progressed the silence in
the o was broken, but it was
broken by the sobs of the miller and
his household. There was not the
slightest manifestation Of applause
when Mr.. Joseph" abruptly ended his
reading and resumed his seat.
Ar Jefferson and his companion babe
their entertainers good night and start
Cd upon the homeward trip the Mime
sotan merely said, "Well, JoeT' and
Mr.. Joseph" simply replied. II am
b~atisned."
On several occasions one summer
MI. Jefferson had with him as a guide
m old colored man, to whom had
rsached dimly and from afar the fame
Of Rip Van Wrinkle. says the Cleveland
Plain Dealer. One day, when the two
were out fishing in q rowboat, he haz-
arded q few remarks: Boss, Is It a
circus you are IMP Not exactly a
Gtrcus," said MI. Jefferson. 'Yas. sab.
70 can act, can't YEP Mr.. Jefferson