The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-25

a anai Tetters. ~ When the idea first oc-
Cured to him to lift Rip above the head
and other previous Interpreters of the
character had made him, and show the
practical side Of drifting, dreaming
a play for himself. The second act,
which is wholly monologue. was en-;
}tlrely original With him. The remodeled
play when first produced met with ~;
different success, but MI. emerson. syn
London in 1855. had the play altered and
rewritten by sBoucicault. His friends .ad-
ivised gainst its production, and predic1t-
successful when produced at the tAdelphi
Theatre, and ran for one hundred ana
fifty nights. -..i1
On his return to America In 1866 Mr. Mr.
the first comedian Of his time. and all his
tours after thatSw extraordinarily sue
cessful. He was most frequently seen as
Rip Wink!e but In .septemiber. 1ss s}
Street Theatre. Philadelphi and he has
Shilling. and y THE Cricket g, on. the
Hearth In ls75 ana 1877 ne ean again qp
former success. After October, 1871 he
appeared only! in this country; !, During
the last years Of the life Of William J.
Florence. Mr.. Jefferson was seen in COM
Everywhere Popular.
OF American actors and throughout the
land was known and loved and In no
place better than In Richmond. In the
to fall and though he continued to act
a few weeks annually in n repetoire OF
favorite parts. he gradually withdrew
himself from the stage. In those years
the quietude OF his home a t Buzzard's
Bay or In the far South. where he owned
magnificent estate. Ills s<impressionist
landscape In oils gave him a considerable.
reputation as an artist, N
In the course OF his lifetime Jefferson
accumulated a large fortune, which he
carefully preserved from the inroads OF
unwise speculation. HIS h investments ny II
to Charitable and benehcent purposes.
Tor many years he lived in Hoboken. N.
Later ne spent ms summers at az-
Where he lived through the winter, is
an s,ooo-acre estate on the Bayou Teche.
It was q semi-tro,pical forest when nc
rises .ise In an elipse from, the cypress
swamps. Half way up the rise along
hedgerow gracefully bounds Il, the lawn,
story story house, crowned with a square. cupo-
Ia, in the very center Of a profusion Of
giant oaks. from which hang long sweep
Ing trains OF Spanish moss as delicate
as a bride'sGyei
Bayou Teche is In the Arcadian coun-
try of Louisiana, ina%the midst OF the
homes OF the descendants of the exiled
s'ENangelne' people, and there. SUR
rounded by q slmple-mnded and hospl-i
table folk in blouses and sabats and
who still retain the patois OF their faith
erland. the famous actor finds y delights
full pastoral landscape and q neyer-end-3
Ing supply az quaint models for his brush,
AS An Actor.
AS an actor Jefferson was distinguished
by case, yer!smilitude, and perfection Of
finish. In many of tho plays used by him
admirable changes and ad-
ditIons. During his professional career
he appeared in over hundred comedy
parts, I Writing of his art. Rufus r. SyYil-
son. In a sketch written several years
VII 'For - many years the dramat! cwrlt.
ers have never ceased to study him,
and respectful and kindly comment has
always followed HIS presence, Ills don't
nant characteristic as an actor Is his
power of mental concentration, In act
Ing he lives for the moment In the char
ncfer lie Is Interpreting: he not only
speaks its words, but thinks It's thoughts,
bending all his energies to make his act
ir-. of tonight better than that OF last
night. as his acting OF last night was bet-
ter than the night before. The public
inves him because he Is In love witt his