Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-10-26

house and the children acted juvenile
parts.
Transforming through Missouri and
Texas, with many hardships, fills the
next chapter in their history, finally
bringing them up in Matamoras, Mex
lco where they had been inveigled by
Wild tales of the fortunes Of war. Sol
diers, gamblers and the ''rag-tag and
bob-tair' that usually follow In the
wake of an army, composed the audi
cnce. But soon the soldiers were or
dered away-the town deserted and
the theater closed. Something lad to
be done to make money, so young JEFF
ferson and another stranded actor
opened coffee and cake stand In
bar-room called "The Grand Spanish
Saloon" Ficturing the great Jefferson
running n lunch counter for gamblers
aud despersdoes is enough to make
ones imagination lame from over
stretching. The venture was success
financially, but the novelty of lodging
bullets while passing cup of hot
coffee across the counter without spill
Ing drop having somewhat worn of,
the business was sold and the com
rany returned 10 the States.
Mr.. Jefferson then Joined his half
brother. Edmund Burke, Mt the Arch
Street Theater. Philadelphia, and the
following years were less : invested
with such hardshps as had come TO
him Up to that time. He acted varl-
ously-in legitimate work--ns 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 out own shores, for in
1851 he sailed from San Francisco,
spending four years in successfully
touring Australia, New Zealand ana
Tasmania. The return trip was made
via South America. after long stay
in London. On arrival in London, he
met Dion Boucicault, who asked him
If he intended to act, and what ma
terial he had. Mr.. jefferson replied
that he intended to act If there was a
good opening, and said that he had
great part in an Indifferent play called
Rip Van Wrinkle.
The result was the reconstruction of
the play by Boucicauit and run of
more than 40 nights In London-.he
play opening on Sept 8, 1865.
The idea of using the quaint old
character first came to him during the
summer of 1859, when, one rainy
| afternoon, he had climbed to the loft
| of the barn ut his country home to
! read THE Life and Letters of Wash
ingtoa Irving" Much to his astonish-
ment, he found himself mentioned in
the book and, impressed by the com
p!iment of the author lis mind dwelt
upon list of his books. AS he thought
of "rhe 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 indf-
ferent success. and it was not until
the happy meeting In London when
Ecucicau!t riveted with his master
skill the structure that Jefferson him
self had made that its SUCCESS was as
sured. Just before the opening in
London, Mr.. Jefferson found himself
In curious situation as 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 the
mountains, he began dress rehearsal
in front of his mirror in its rooming
house. Not long after. he was inter
rupted by the chambcrmaid, who said
that the police were insisting that a
lunatic was in his room. And, looking
into the street, he saw large crow d
that, to him. looked like the entire
population of London, taking in his
rerformance-for he had forgotten to
| pull down the blind.
Mr.. Jefferson is now at Palm Beach,
the beautiful plantation home that he
purchased many years ago. Nature,
always lavish of her verdure gifts in
Southern climes, was especially gener.
GUS in her ornnmentatlon of this de-
lightful Eden.