The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-24
! JEFPERsON,s CAREER.
Dean of the Dramatic Profession in
 This Country.

GTUIeSHt0n In
 This Country.
 New York, April 2S.-Mr Jefferson was president of the Players club in. this city, and the news of his death was received tonight with many ex- pressions of regret. The Players. club has had no member more deeply inter- ested in it's welfare than MT. Jeefferson, and none that worked more untiringly. With Edwin Booth; Lawrence Barrett Augustin Daily, A. H. Palmer, Bran der Matthews, John Drew, S. L. Glenn ems, and several others, MT. Jefferson signed articles of incorporation for the club in 1888. and he was elected to the board of directors In 1893 his portrait by Sargent, was hung on the wall of the club a gift from Booth and Barrett. After the death of ME Booth in 1893 MT. Jefferson was elected president of the club and has been reelected to that office at every annual meeting since.
 He presided at the memorial meeting November 13, 1893, at the Madison Square concert hall in this city, com memorating Edwin Rooth's sixtieth birthday, upon which occasion he deliv- cred a felicitous and affectionate eulo- gy of the founders, introducing as the speakers of that occasion Parke God- l win Tomaso Salvini, Henry Irving and | the poet George E. Woodberry. On the founders night, December 31, 1893, he delivered an eloquent address as presi- dent, recalling the memory of MT. Booth in simple and touching words, concluding with the following repeti- tion of the founder premonition of his passing:
 They drink to my health tonight, Joe. When they meet again it will be to my memory adding for himself, 1.-Two years ago last autumn we walk ed on tine sea beach together, and with a strange and prophetic kind of poetry, he 1ikened the scene to his own failing health, the falling leaves. the withered sea weed, the dying grass upon the shore, and the ebbing tide that was fast receding from us He told me that 1 he had forgiven his enemies and could even rejoice in their happiness; surely :, this was grand condition in which to step from this world across the thres- hold to the next.
 Mir. Jefferson was at every Founders night annually, until 1898, when he was absent on account of illness; nor was he permitted to be present on the occurrences of that occasion, which ab- sences were sometimes caused by i'll health, but principally on account of activity in his calling. His sympathy and interest in "The Players" how ever, was always expressed either by letter or telegram, read at these times and embodying sentiments in accord ance with his communication of that kind which came on founders night, 1899.
 Palm Beach, Fla, Dec. 31, 1899.
 'gTo my Brother Players: I join with you in this, the departing hour of the old century, in keeping green the mem- ory of our beloved founder, Edwin Booth, and I wish you all happy New Year.
 (Signed) Joseph Jefferson"
 In compensation for his absence from Founders night, and In honor of wom- en friends of The Players he was pres- ent and contributed to the pleasure oi ladies' day whenever possible. Upon the 23d of April, 1900, he made a very witty and interesting address to the ladies sI present, and repeated the same pleas ant observance of the day the following year. The necessity of sgendinE the ~ N