The San Francisco call., 1905-04-24
Continued From Page 1, Column 8.


His first real acting, however, may
be said to have been in the company of
7. d. Rice, who as Jim Crow about this
time was convulsing Washington with
his inimitable representations Of negro
character, then a novelty on the stage.
Little Joe" initiated Rice so perfectly
that the comedian took him on the
stage. blacked and dressed as a minia-
ture likeness of himself, producing him
before the eyes Of the astonished audi
ence from the mouth of a bag turned
upside down. The effect was startling
and il made great hit.
Afterwaro the boy appeared in New
York in a combat scene.
FIRST STAR ENGAGEMENT.
In lS2S the family started on a tour
of Western and Southern towns, which
terminated in Is42 at Mobile with the
death Of his father two weeks after
their arrival in that city. Mrs. Jeffer-
son opened a boarding house and her
son went on the local stage, where he
had the opportunity Of acting with Mr..
Macready and the elder Booth.
From Mobile Mrs. Jefferson and
young Joe" went with a company on
another tour of Southern towns
through Texas and down into Mexico,
following the United States army into
the latter country. Returning TO the
United States, jefferson took up his
residence in Philadelphia where he ap-
peared at the Arch-street Theater un-
der the management of Mr.. Burton
He afterward conducted the dramatic
performances at Peale's Museum, ana
Their started on his first star engage
n1ent. during the continuance Of which
he was recalled TO Philadelphia by the
death of his mother, TO whom he was
very devoted.
In 1s4s he met and married Miss
Laekger, an actress then under err
gagement at the Chatham Theater.
New York.
Al the age of % Mr.. Jefferson played
the important part of Marrall to the
elder Booths Sir Giles OVerreach in "A
New Way to Pay Old Debts After
two seasons Of metropolitan stock
playing he went into partnership with
a friend in the mana cement of theaters
IN Savannah and Macon, Ga Then he
was engaged as actor and manager in
several cities. in 1858 being manager for
Jarrett's Theater in the Baltimore Mu-
scum
In 1884 he went to Richmond, Va, as
manager for John 7. Ford's theater,
where the romantic drama The Sea
Of Ice" was produced with great sue
cess. and was followed by another
show piece, The Naiad Queen" In
Richmond he met Agnes Robertson,
ISOucicault. Forrest, Edwin Adams and
other great actors Of the day.
In June, 1856, Mr.. Jefferson sailed for
England. where he was most hOspita bly
received by the great ones of the stage.
From London he made a three weeks
trip TO Paris and then returned home.
On the opening of Laura keene' S
Theater in Broadway. New York. he
was engaged for the leading comedy
characters and made his first appear
ance Of the season as DR.. Pangloss in
The Heir at Law. He made hit
with the public, but was roasted by
the critics for interpolating passages OF
his own. He excused himself on the
ground that it was good art.
FIRST BIG SUCCESS.
During the season lS5S-59 Tom Tay-
lOr's play Our American Cousin" was
produced with the most remarka bic
success of any play Of that period Its
run proved to be the turning point Of
Jefferson's career as well as those of
Laura Keene and Mr.. Sothern. Jeffer-
son had the part of Asa Trenchard.
while Sothern made Lord Dundreary
pleasingly ridiculous to the American
public. Jefferson's performance of the
shrewd, keen Yankee. Asa Trenchard.
was an instance Of admirable character
acting entirely original with him. and
50 different from the customary stage
caricature from the stage.
Our American Cousin" ran more
than $50 nights and has continued to
be faVorite ever since. Before its
season was ended Jefferson acknowl-
edged that Sothern had made Lord
Dundresry the most taking character
of the piece, but those who saw the
. two men in their respective parts know
that Jefferson's performance of Asa
Trenchard was the essential factor in
making Sotherns Lord Dundreary'
SO successful
During his engagement at Laura
Keene's Theater Jefferson played in
a number Of parts that he later made
so familiar to the American public
Newman Noggs in Nicholas Nickle-
by" Caleb Plummer in The Cricket
on the Hearth" DR.. Pangloss in The
Heir at Law" Bob Acres in 'tThe
Rivals" DR.. Ollapad in The Poor
Gentleman" 1t is doubtful whether
any American actor ever played any
one Of these characters with the care
ful excellence of Jefferson, and. with
one or two exceptions no English
comedian ever excelled him in any of
them.
After "Our American Cousin" was