Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-09

Through Stage Fright, Turned n
Tablenh Into a Dismal IS9nsGo.
The only time Joe Jefferson was ever
missed from the Stage occurred IN st.
Louis, where III later years he was to
become one Of the most pronounced 70.
Sorites OF all the actors who visited tbs
city
Jefferson's carly eafe was of the most
varied description, though never eX.
tending beyond the limits Of the socl:
and 'buskin save when for awhile he
essayed to run cafe In IL Texas town,
but, despite its Kaleidoscope quality, 1t
was never one III Which the emDarr;lss-
ment of dismal artistic failure entered
except on ills OCCASION. The genial old
actor. the dean Of the American stage
at the time Of his death, tlisiniHscs 1t III
kindly but brief manner in Ills "Au-
photography" yttit il nppurent that he
was stuhg TO the quick by the fiusco,
for he did not appear 81 St. Louis
ugnin for tiirty-two years and thpn
FFonfHtfwhtnth his position had scared to
assured and brilliant stcliir heights.
Speaking of tliB rcappeaHlnce in 1870.
he merely says That II was his first III
st. Louis since the memorable season
,SSHhcn rs youth had lnoerA dalssed
ts,from the stagt."
1t WAS IN 1914 that tile trouble oc.
CURED. when Jefferson was but liz
teen years old 1hc occasion wis his
first trip to tho west nnd south. Tie
had Joined tho company, Of which his
mother was II member, the season be-
fore. when 1t was starting for the west,
had played " Chicago then only M
srlsigniitca,ppti tyilfMe, worked down
Hthfolgh Illinois TO Loufbinnu and Mis-
sissippi, and OH The return north be-
gah summer engagement In st.
Louis undet tho mana cement OF Lud-
low K Smith, then Ole Of the most
prominent theatrical firms IN the cUn-
l{fAarsSis Ihs, sInrs Of his company, an eX-
ceptiOnHlly good one for It's time, in
Guided players whose names are we'll
remembered even unto today, and
among them were '.sucil notnbles in
the stuge world rs Mr. nnd Mrs.
Charles Kean, Anna Cora AIowutt and
james X. Huckett
The season spentin trayel.hud been
uneventful and TINT In ST. Louis was
no departure from this even tenor ex-
cept for the unfortunate fiusco which
befeil young jefferson. Everything
went well until the night Of the Fourth
of July, and OH this occasion the mnn-
agement decided to make the perform
aice fitting to tho dizzy by Introducing
ut the close " tho Regular bill n pm
triotic t;DieuuN, in which Jefferson
was dtf,uted to net as soloist nnd sing
the Star SpanXlcd Banner" When
I'M ps.S,i,F LII.
plunged Into all ecstnsy OF delight.
Hitherto he had been playing all num-
her Of small parts. hundIing properties
and doing such other things OF general
utility the managGr, saw fit to sab
die upon llnl. and now for tho first
time In his career lie was to stand in
the center of the stage. the attention
of the audience concentrated upon his
youthful form. and render the star
number Of The bill
The patriotic tabeau had been alenvi
~ billed, and the house WAS crowded
for the Independence day performance
Jefferson was III frenzy OF excite
Z ment. and rs lie pccpcd through the
curtain Mt the great audience lie felt
that his reputation was nude For
duys ho lind reheurscd the national an
them, sung 1t backward anu for
ward" as he subsequently declared,
until he was certain of the effect lie
1; would produce, coupled especially with
the enthusiasm that would naturally
be In the ;kr on such III OCCASION This
lightfirf fnme WINS In the making; on
tile morrow 1t would Temp from tongue
to tongue around the town. So lie felt
,,.1 IT., >
: ;hrtlor and nssurcdness OF his youth,
whiting impatienty for the moment
to come when he, and lie alone. would
be the center of interest. tue stnr of
the principal event on the bill
AT last the dramatic offering OF tho
evening reached It's final curtain, and
the preparations rnr the 9atriotlc num-
Der began. They were simple enough
wood setting, the company grouped
fn conventional attire on the stage
Those who had swaliowtaii coats
wore them" said Jefferson later in
life ''aiid those who syere not blessed
with that grncsAAal garment did the
SBeststliey could" IN the center Of the
Conventional half circle stood the
Goddess Of Liberty" on 0 small dais,
one Of the female members Of the
.tfDtpe<fn ordinary evening dress. with
q pasteboard Roman helmet OH her
head and her figure draped with a
United States ensign.
Jefferson stood by the side of this
imposing woman. and as the curtain
arose great roar Of applause went
up from the crowd OF patriots assem-
bled In pit. balcony, gallery and boxes,
and ot tbof xvnva If aou1d fha Howl,