Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-04-25
THE DEMISE OF
JOE JEFFERSON
Noted TheSpian Leaves Life'S Stage
After Long Career.
PLAYED MANY PARTS
While a Child lie Made His Initial
Appearance as an Actor. Becom.
ing One Of the Leading
Dramatic Exponents.

~ dhdliN bApbHChNs.
West Palm Beach, Fla. April Is
Joseph jefferson died nj his home. Tho
Reefs. at Palm Beach, nj els o'clock
Sunday evening. The end came after
a day OF Inconsistencies and after
a heroic struggles of days. which had
exhausted his vitality. At 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 Kettler.
The end was not a surprise to 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.. Jefferson'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 to grow worse all through
the day. and the brief bulletins from
the bedside contained no words of en-
enlargement. The sickness of Mr.. JEFF
ferson which ended in his death was
contracted. 1t is believed. while ON a
recent visit TO his son. Charles b. JEFF
ferson. at Hobe Sound, a few miles
abve Palm Beach, where he went to
meet his friend, former President
Cleveland. 1t is believed that from
a slight indiscretion in his eating he
suffered an attack of indigestion. Since
his return 10 his home his condition
grew steadily worse with slight rallies
until the end.
The body of Mr.. Jefferson goes TO
Buzzards Bay. Mass. on a special train
accompanied by all the members Of his
family who are here. 1t will reach
New York Wednesday morning. and the
family hope 20 reach Buzzards Bay by
the evening of that day.
A New York telegram SAYS:
Joseph Jefferson was born in Phila-
delphia. Feb. 20. 1929. and was looked
upon as the dean of the dramatic pro-
fession in thi. country. He first ap-
peared on the stage as a child, and
during his career has played in a num-
Der of foreign countries His great
reputation w't made in Rip Van Win
lSle. which he played in almost every
-cil,.- la --E2z.A-l-
1870 mas pIayeu OUT Few Weeks
Of each season. and in almost every enc
OF these short seasons confined him
self TO the one character OF Rip Van
Wrinkle.
JOSEPH was also the name of Mr.
Jeferson's father and grandfather. and
all were actors. The lives of the three
were similar In that their early ca
reers were struggles for recognition
and almost for a livelihood. I'm 70
1891 Mr. Jefferson is said to have mere
~ attained the standing OF a respecta-
bic stock actor. but in that year he
became associated with Laura Keene's
theater in this city. Mr.. jefferson here
became prominent I'm the role OF Asa
Trenchard IN Our American Cousin -
This play ran for $50 nights Other
characters portrayed were Newman
Nogge I'm i" Nicholas Nickelby:" Caleb
Piummer in The Cricket on Tho
Hearth" Dr. Pnagloss in The Heir
at Law" Bob Acres I'm The Rivals
and DR.. ollapod in 1.-THE Poor Gentle
man"
In 1850 Mr.. Jefferson visited Cali
fornia. but abandoned that field Tor
Australia. where he spent a profitable
four years. London was visited against
his own inclination in 1865. and at the
Adelphi theater he PLAYED "Rip Van
Wrinkle for a 15O r.ghts' run. After
appearing in some OF the larger cities
in England he returned TO New York
In 1866. Stree 1861. when he married |
his second wife Miss Sarah Warren. |
he confined himself to few parts Of
which Rip Van Wrinkle was the princi-
pal one Several months ago Mr.. JEFF
ferson retired from the stage. and has
since divided his time between Florida |
and Cape Cod.
4 characteristic trait was displayed
In his anticipation Of pleasure upon
his tours through New England. He
was the recipient Of the degree of VI. A.
from both Yale and Harvard UNIVERSE
ties. and when ~ Boston or New Ha-
ven he WAS invariably requested TO
address the student body a request
10 which he always complied and the
reception he received from the college
men. with their noisy and lengthy
cheers was something that Mr. Jeffer-
son often referred TO with amusement.