Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-04-25
DEMISE OF JEFFERSON
Noted Thespian Leaves Life's Stage
After Long Career.
PLAYED MANY PARTS
while a Child He Made His Initial
Appearance rs m Actor, Beeem.
Ing One Of the Leading
Dramatic opponents.

West Palm Beach. Fla. April "a
Joseph jefferson died at his home. The
Heffs. at Palm Beach, at s;i5 O'Clock
Sunday evening. The end came after
a day OF Inconsistencies and after
q heroic struggles OF days. which had
exhausted his vitality. At his death
bel were his wife. his sons, Charles
d. and Frank jefferson. his nurse. Miss
Mabel Bingham; Dr. II. 8. Potter and
his faithful old servant. Carl Kettler.
The end was not a surprise 10 his
family. Ever since his last sinking
spell. which came after a rally on
Thursday. and which was followed by
an apparent Improvement until Friday.
the family has been waiting for the
end. Mr.. Jenerson's condition SUNDAY
night grew steadily worse and the
family, who had retired. were sum
moned from their beds and DIR. Potter
was called. The patients condition
continued 10 grow worse all through
the day. and the brief bulletins from
the bedside contained no words Of en-
couragement The sickness OF Mr.. JET.
ferson which ended IN his death was
contracted Il Is believed. while on a
recent visit 10 his son. Charles Il. Jef-
ferson. az Hobe Sound. few miles
abve Palm Beach. where he went TO
meet his friend. former Preslden,
Cleveland. Il Is believed that from
a slight indiscretion IN his eating ne
suffered an attack OF Indigestion sirce
his return 10 his home his condition
grew steadily worse with slight rallies
until the end.
The body % Mr.. Jefferson goes 10
Buzzards Bay. Mass. on a special traip
accompanied by an the members OF his
family who are here. II will reach
New York "Wednesday morning. and the
family hope 90 reach Buzzards Raw bv
the evening % that day.
A New York telegram saws.
Joseph jefferson was born In Phila-
delphia. Feb. 20, 1929. and was looked
upon as the dean of the dramatic pro-
fession In this country lie FIRST an.
peared on the stage as child. ana
during his career has played IN n NUM- /
Der ~ foreign countries. His great /
reputation was made IN Rip Van Win |
lde. which be played IN almost every
city In the United States OF late
years be has played but Few weeks 4
or each season. and In almost every one
~ these short seasons confined him.
SELF 10 the one character of Rim Van
Wrinkle.
JOSEPH was MISC the name OF Mr.
Jenerson's father and grandfather. and
an were actors. The lives OF the three
were similar IN that their early ca
reers were struggles for recognition
and almost for q livelihood In 20
1857 Nfr JEFFERSON g. said 20 have mere
y attained Tho standing Of a respecta-
oIe stock actor but IN that year he
became associated with Laura Keene's
iheater In this city. Mr.. jefferson here
became prominent IN the role Of AsaI
Irenchard IN "Our American Cousin
RMS play ran for $50 nights Other
characters portrayed were Newman
Nosge In Nicholas Nickelby:" Caleb
In THE Cricket on The
Hearth" DR.. Pnagloss IN The Heir
Il Law" Bob Acres in The Rivals
md Or. ollapod In THE Poor Gentle
nan"
In 1850 Mr.. jefferson visited Call-
ornia. but abandoned that field for
australia, where he spent n profitable
our years. London was visited ngaius,
lis own inclination In 1855. and al the
Ndelphi theater he PLAYED RIP Vanl
for a $50 r,ghts' run. After
ppearing In some % the larger cities
n England he returned 90 New York
n 1855. Since 1867. when he married
Is second wife. Miss Sarah Warren
e confined himself % few parts Of
Which Rip Van Wrinkle was the ptlnci-
al one Several months ago Mr. JET
.rson retired from the stage. ana has
inee divided his time between Florida
nd Cape Cod.
Characteristic trait was dlspaveil
his anticipation ~ pleasure uponl
IL tours through New England He
'as the recipient of the degree OF NJ 4
rom both Yale and Harvard UNIVERSE
les. and when IN Boston or New Hn-
en- he was Invariably requested o.
ddresa the student body "a rc1ur4tI
which he always compiled ana thol
reception he received from the collcceI
zen. with their noisy and lengthy
heers was something that Mr.. Jener-
IN often referred 10 with amusement