Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-04-28
DENISE OF JEFFER SON
Noted Thespian Leaves Life's Stage
v, After Long Career.
PLAYED MANY PARTS
While Child He Made His Initial
Appearance as an Actor, Becom-
Ing One Of the Leading
Dramatic Exponents.

West Palm Beach. Fla. April "a
Joseph Jefferson died at his home. The
Reefs. at Palm Beach, at 6,l5 O'Clock
Sunday evening. The end came after
day OF unconsclousness and after
a heroic struggles OF days. which had
exhausted his vitality. AZ his DEATH
bed were his wife, his sons. Charles
b. and Frank Jefferson. his nurse, Miss
Mabel Bingham; DR.. r. s Potter and
his faithful old servant, Carl Kett.er.
The end was not surprise to his
family. Ever since his last sinking
spell. which came after rally on
Thursday, and which was followed by
an apparent Improvement until Friday.
the fam y has been waiting for the
end. Mr. Jefferson's condition Sunday
night grew steadily worse and the
family, who had retired. were sum
moned from their beds and DR. Potter
was called. The patients condition
continued to 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
cont acted. II is believed, while on a
recent visit to bis son, Charles B. JET
ferson, at Hobe sou.d. a few miles
abve Palm Beach, where he went TO
meet his friend. former President
Cleveland. II is believed tho. from
slight jndiccretion u his eating he
suffered an attack OF indigestion sn, =
his return TO his home hil ecneit.or
grew steadily worse. with slight rallies
until the end.
The body OF Mr.. Jefferson goes 20
Buzzards Bay, Mass. on a special train
ACCOMPANIED by all the members OF his
family who are here. It win reach
New York Wednesday morning. and the
family hope to reach Buzzards Bay by
the evening OF that day.
A New York telegram SAYS:
Joseph Jefferson was born In Phila-
delphia, Feb. 20. 1879, and was looked
upon as the dean OF the dramatic pro-
fession In this country. He first APP
peared on the stage as q child, and
during his career has played in mum
Der of foreign countries. Hip great
reputation was made In Rip Van Win
kle. which he played In almost every
city In the United States. or late
years he has played but a few weeks
or each season. and in almost every one
or these short seasons confined him.
self to the one character OF Rip Var
| Wrinkle.
JOSEPH was also the name OF Mr.
Jefferson's father and grandfather, and
all were actors The lives of the three
were similar I'm that their early -
reers were struggles for recognition
and almost for a livelihood. Up tc
1887 Mr.. Jefferson is said to have mere
ly attained the standing of a respecta-
bic stock actor but In that year ht
became associated win Laura Keene'i
theater In this city. Mr.. Jefferson her,
became prominent In the role OF Asa
Trenchard in "Our American Cousin.
This play ran for $50 nights. Othe,
charae'~rs portrayed were Newman
Nogge in " Nicholas Nickelby;" Calel
Plummer IN "The Cricket on III,
Hearth" Or Pnagloss in "Tho Wei,
at Law" Bob Acres in "The T ils.'
and DR. ollapod in "The Poor Gentle
man."
In 1860 Mr.. Jefferson visited Call.
fornia. but abandoned that field fol
Australia. where he spent a proftabl,
four years. London was visited agains
his own inclination In 1865. and at tn,
| AT.'~hi theater he played RIP VaI
WI ie'' for l50 r:-hts run. Afte
happearing In some of the larger citiei
In England he returned to New Yorl
In 1866 Since 1867. when he marie,
his second wife. Miss Sarah Warren
he confined himself TO few parts. O
which r p Van Wrinkle was the princi
pal one Several months ago Mr.. JEFF
ferson retired from tie stage and ha
since divided his time between Floridi
and Cane God.
| A chfrf eristic trait was displaye,
I'm his anticipation OF pleasure upoi
his tours through New England HI
was the recipient OF the degree OF M. A
from both Yale and Harvard univer-i
ties. and when in Boston or New Ha
ven he was invariably requested L
address the student body. reques
TO which he always complied. and tn
reception he received from the coIleg
men. with their noisy and length
cheers, was something that Mr.. Jeffer
so1 cften referred TO with Amusement