The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-04
Marie Cahill tells this story:

Marie Cahill tells this story:
81 playing occasion in Minneapolis with
of Dalys companies, when committee waited and
asked if would consent appear at benefit to be
given the afternoon in aid Of the families of several
remen who had been killed in the performance of their
duties. told that Joseph Jefferson had consented to
appear and deliver talk the drama. Of
scented, feeling honored to participate affair Of the
kind, especially as was to play with Jefferson.
l. 'sThat next afternoon found myself of great
gathering Of professionals of all kndsmostly vaudeville
performers, fancy stood in the wings Mr. Jefferson
began his address the DRAMA and deeply interested
in what that distinguished player saying when sud-
denly became that young peerng over
shoulder Her hair blonde and she short pink
skirts The song-and-dance artist stamped lndellby
her At that moment Mr. Jefferson with eoquence,
referring the comedies of Wycherey and Sheridan
and Goldsmith, and for second lost sight of
panon when startled to hear in loud whisper from
somewhere back in the wings shrl grsh voice saying:
e Hi, Name, whos on now?'
.'The ng-and dance fairy beside turned her head
and whispered back: '.-
& 7 dunno. Some old guy dom monologue.'' H..
Miss Macdonald in private life is the wife Of Joseph
jefferson Unlike many actors of prominence, the
Of the American stage far from to his chill
dren and grandchildren marrying the theatrical profess
sion The story told that when the marriage of Of
Jefferson to ballet girl announced, busy
body said the comedian: M Jefferson it must have
been great shock to you when your son married ballet
girl' -. ~ 49,. -
'Why Shouldn't he marry ballet girl if he desired?"
asked the comedian. ellis mother one" - ~
Joseph Jefferson used tell this story Of Edwin Forrest
one Of whose early young Norval, in the
tragedy Of Douglas The story goes that William Wood
the stage manager who seldom known to praise anyone
being ausc and in his criticisms night
ang in the before the whole that the
finest first appearance he had witnessed that Of
young Philadelphia in the character Of Norval
Theeupon the great agedan and bowling with comic
gravity said: 'Alr Wood that young gentleman"
The actors delighted to that Wood had betrayed
himself into compliment uninentionally when Wood
claimed ''We, sir you have never done so we'll since'
A number of years ago jefferson played onenight
gagemen small Indiana town. appearing in his favorte
character In the hotel which he stopped Irish
recently 'anded who acted porter and general
assistant Judged by the deep and interest which
he took the house. he might have been clerk lessee and
proprietor combined into At about O'Clock in the
morning jefferson startled by violent humping
his When he struggled into consciousness and realized
that had left 'ca order at the office, he in
indignant But his sleep spoiled for that morning so
he rose, and after appeared before the clerk.
See here, he demanded of that individual ''why
| I called at this unearthly hour?'
II don't know sir,'' answered the clerk. "I'n ask
| Nike
| The Irishman was summoned Said the clerk s.NIike
there call for Mr. jefferson Why did you disturb
| him?''
Taking the clerk by the lapel of the coat the Hbe1an
led him to one side, and said in a mysterious Whisper
He snoring like horse and Oh heard the boys
say how he onc afher shaping for twenty years.
SO Oh to mesef I: mike, it's coming onto him
again. and it's yer duty to get the crayhur out Of your
i house at once
Jefferson had in his employment plausible sort of
man. half vaet half factotum grossly incompetent and
unsatisfactory whom he desired to rid Of It
tainty that the drank Wine from the cellar would
myseriously disappear and gradually go down the de-
canter; but there any ocular proof
'And'' said Jefferson in telling the story friend,
1sthere was What could do9 However, one day as I
sitting in my library whom should but William
reeling up the walk drunk lord. There
doubt of it. My opportunity had after many years
waited for him. would tell him how drunk he He
would deny it, Of He would insist that per-
i fecty SOBER and that the who drunk But
should have the calm consciousness of right sde
and my for sending him away would be sufficient.
So when William appeared my gazed at him with
i all the severity that could summon, and said:
1 q William, you are drunk
He returned my look with perfect imperturbabity.
Mr. jefferson, said he, 4 than that very
i drunk, sir
i And !" confined Jefferson, twill you tell what
could do? He took the wind my sails He proved HIM
self perfectly truthful man. and couldn discharge
man for telling the truth, could + Sunday Magazine.