River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-04-27

er a rally on Thursday morning and
which was followed by an apparent
Improvement until Friday, the family
has been waiting for the end. The
body of Mr.. Jefferson will be taken to
Buzzard's Bay on a special train, leav-
ing here this evening. accompanied by
all the members of his family who are
here. 1t will reach New York Wednes-
day morning and the family hope to
reach Buzzard's Bay the evening of
that day.
The sickness of Mr.. Jefferson which
ended in his death was contracted, it
is believed. while on a recent visit to
his son, Charles B. Jefferson, at Hobe
sound, few miles above Palm Beach,
where he went to meet his friend, for
mer President Cleveland. It is be-
lieved that from a slight indiscretion
in his eating there, he suffered an at
tack of Indigestion. Since his return
to his home his condition grew steadily
worse, with slight rallies, until the
erd.
Dean of the Profession.
Joseph Jefferson was born in Phila-
delphia February 20, 1929, and was
looked upon as the dean of the dra-
J matte profession in this country. He
first appeared on the stage as child
and during his career has played in
a number of foreign countries. His
great reputation was made in Rip Van
Wrinkle, which ne played in almost ev-
cry city in the United States. Of late
hn hoe r,Io hit
of each season. and in almost every
one of these short seasons he confined
himself to the one character of Rip
Van Wrinkle
A Family of Actors.
Joseph was also the name of Mr.. JEFF
ferson's father and grandfather and all
were actors. The lives of the three
We're similar in that their early careers
were struggles for recognition and al
most for livelihood. Up to 1857 Mr..
Jefferson is said to have merely at
tanned the standing of a respectable
stock actor but in that year he became
associated with Laura Keene's theater.
In this city, where for two years he ap-
peared with the elder Sothern. Will
liam P. Blake, Charles w Couldock
and Dion Boucicault. Mr.. Jefferson
here became prominent in the role of
Asa Trenchard in Our American Cou-
sin" This play ran for $50 nights.
Other characters portrayed were New
man Noggs in Nicholas Nickleby. !"
Caleb Plummer in THE Cricket on
the Hearth" DR.. Pangloss in The
Heir-at-Law," Bob Acres in "The Ri
walls. and DR.. Ollapod in the Poor
Gentleman"
In 1860 Mr.. Jefferson visited Califor-
MIA, but abandoned that field for Aus
tralia. where he spent profitable four
years. London was visited against his
own inclination in 1866, and the Adelphi
theater played RIP Van Wrinkle" for
150-nights-run. After appearing in
some of the larger cities in England. he
returned to New York in 1866 Since
1867, when he married for his second
wife Miss Sarah Warren. he confined
himself to few favorite parts. of which
Rip Van Wrinkle was the principal one.
Retired from the Stage.
Several months ago Mr.. jefferson re-
tired from the stage and has since divid-
ed his time between Florida and Cape
Cod A characteristic trait was dis
played in his anticipation of pleasure
upon his tours through New England
He was the recipient of the degree of NJ
A. from both Yale and Harvard univer-
stiles. and when in Boston or New Ha-
ven he was invariably requested to adj
dress the student body, a request to
which he always complied. and the re-
ception he received from the college men
with their noisy and lengthy cheers was
something that Mr.. Jefferson often re-
ferred to with amusement.
Sorrow in Buzzard's Bay.
Buzzard's Bay. Mass, april 24-The
progress of Joseph Jefferson's last ILL
ness was followed anxiously in this. his