The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-24
Nj Iener,nn,s CnrNer.

Like many other actors, Joseph Jefferson
had been on the stage since early youth
In fact, he had been before the public 90
long that he was reputed to be much older
than lac really was. Many persons will
be astonished TO learn that he was not over
so. The truth is that be was bonn on Feb.
20, 1929, in the city Of Philadelphia, the son
oil Joseph and Comelia Fran oes Jefferson.
He came Of a good theatrical stock, for bis
people had been connected with the stage
for three generations back. His great
grandfather was in a way a prottge OF
Garrick His grandfather, who came 20
this country in l7o5, was an admirable
actor and earned considerable fame His
father was not noted, but was highly es-
teerned for excellent personal traits.
When he was 3 years old Mr.. jefferson
made his stage debut as the child In Pr
Tarro' at the Washington Theater. Later
he gave limitations on the same stage Of men
now forgotten. In the same theater too,
he APPEARED as a pickaninny with Thomas
D. Rice, when that negro impersonator
sang the original Jim Crow song. Little
Jefferson was carried upon the stage by
Rice IN a oarpetsaok and let out at the
proper moment. At the age Of he
began acting in earnest, and accompanied
his father on long tours on the road, In
the unhappy days when transforming was
literally the occupation of the travelling
actor On one OF these trips he followed
the United States army into Mexico.
When he was 20 years old he returned
10 New York and was a member Of
the stock company at Chanfrau's National
Theater. There he met a young English
actress. Margaret Clements LAckaye, who,
on May 10, 1856, became Mrs. Jefferson. In
the autumn Of that year the two young
people played together at the Olympic
Theater. The following season Mr.. Jener-
son was a member Of the Niblo's Garden
company, in which were also Lester Wallaok
Rufus Blake, Mrs. John Drew. mother OF
Re present popular favorite, and Charles
Wheatleigh.
Mr. Jefferson was now stung by the man
agerial bee, and went on a tour through the
South. conducting brief seasons in various
places. He concluded this experience with
q stay in Philadelphia and short season
IN Baltimore, In 1885 he made tour in
Europe and studied the methods OF the
actors Of London and Paris.
Il was in this same year that Laura keene
opened her famors theater in this city.
In 1857 Mr.. jefferson Asade the first OF the
great hits with which his name continued
TO be identified. As Dr.. PdRpLoss he be-
came the talk Of the town, but he was 70
achieve lar greater triumphs. In 1883
'Our American Cousin, the most brilliant
success OF Laura keenes management,
was produced, and Edward 4, Sothern,
father OF the distinguished Sothern OF to-
day. created hlB remarkable character,
Lord DuHdredrp. The COMPANION picture
% this in the same play was JEFFERSON
asa Ir6nchdh
lie now went 10 the Winter Garden The
ster winch was unoer the management Of
William 81 IATt ana Dion Boucicault. The
latter's uraluhL zatio OF The cricket on
tuy Ita.tt. ~as L4OuSnJ Out, ailu OC4i vl SUI
placed Letore the pubic his touching en-
bOdlment of CdIeb PiumHeT, which he re-
viyed With no little success few years al o.
lie also wrote a version Of oliver Twist,
in which James W. Wallack, Jr., achieved
great success as FdglH.
In 1861 Mr.. Jefferson's wife died and he
entered on a roaming career. He was
now generally recognized, not only a. q
popular actor, but as an artist Of oonsum.
mate skill de had served an arduoUs
apprenticeship and had gained that easy
command OF technique which the training
Of the O d r school supplied He had shown
that he could touch the entire range OF
feeling from polished and exquisite humoI
% simple and moving pathoe. he had ye'
70 hnI the . G which enabled him to unite
IN IL the entire resources OF his art.
In 1901 from July till November, he acted
IN San Francisco. Then he spent four year.
in Australia In Tasmania he acted Bob
Briefly in Boucicault's Ticket o Leave
Man" before an audience Of hostile ticket
Of leave men and converted them into
hearty admirers In 1895 Jefferson weni
70 London seethinR with a new idea, which
he laid before Dion Boucicault, the mos
skfUl dramatist and adapter Of that time
Jefferson had become enamored OF the
character Of RIP Van Wfnkls In Washingtoi
lrvings story OF that name. He had a.
ready acted Il in an old play, and 90 haS
Charles Burke, j. X. Haokett, father OF TN
present well known actor, and William Usher
wood. None OF them had been fortunate II
this venture and Jefferson believed that tn
fault Law in the play
He had an idea as 10 how II could be re
Constructed, and this he confided 70 IN
astute Roucicault, who at once saw evel
more than the actor had seen. Boucicaul
wrote a new version, which Jefferson pro
duced At the Adelphi Theater, London, o.
Sept. T. 1895, The play oaptivated IN
English press and public and Jefferson va
hailed with a chorus Of praise Il IL histor
that in Rip be found his best part OR
tainlv Il was the zoe In which the pa, u
most loved 20 see him. He often said the
no matter what else be essayed or hoy
successful he was In Il, the public N N