The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-25
JOE JEFFERSON PASSES FROM
THE STAGE

man is there, who heard the creator
of Rip Van Wrinkle utter these words
upon his return to his native village
after his long sleep, can forget the
pathos of that scene
The world was prepared for the
death of Joe Jefferson, the famous vet
eran actor, though his strong vital
ity gave hope that he would SURVIVE
the attack. No actor has been more
generally beloved than Mr.. jefferson.
He belonged to the great men who
have made the stage an instructor and
Il delight to his generation. AS a
man he took mans part in
public affairs and his influence was
broader than his calling. He stood for
the elevation of his profession and
showed that the stage had a great
amusement of the people, ''for the
people must be amused" as we'll as
instructed. The man whose genius
created the lovely character of Rip
Van Wrinkle was a benefactor to his
race, filling many an hour with cheer
and making mems lives sweeter and
brighter. Many men and women, re-
calling the pleasure he had put into
their lives, followed his illness with
deep solicitude, and felt to say to him:
MAY you live long and prosper"
Joseph Jefferson was born in Phil
adelphia, February goth, 1929. He
his father, Joseph j. Jefferson, and his
mother, having been actors. His faith
er died when he was a mere boy and
he joined a company that travelled
through Texas and Mexico in days
when the pay of the actor was poor
and uncertain. He found no easy
road to success rising slowly from the
baby i'm arms to the king of the play
erS. But he won distinction through
long term of hard work. His first
real success was in New York when
he played the part of Asa Trenchard in
Our American Cousin" in Laura
Keenes theatre for $50 successive
nights. subsequently he played the
parts of Newman Noggs, in Nicholas
Nickleby''; Caleb Plummer in
Cricket on the Harth"; Doctor Pang-
loss and others, and more especially in
the name part of rip Van Wrinkle"
which he played in every city of i'm
portance in the United States, and in
which he is best known.
For some years Mr.. Jefferson's
health has been falling and he had re-
tired from the stage. He owned a
home in Florida where he delighted
to entertain his friends-and no man
in America had more friends-and to
spend his leisure in fishing and hunt
ing.
When shall we see his like again
A letter was received by Herbert
Satterlee, of Brooklyn from Joseph
Jefferson a few days before the vet
eran actor was taken i'll at Palm
Beach. Mr.. Satterlee had written Mr..
Jefferson, asking advice how best to
succeed in the theatrical profession.
Mr.. Jefferson answered as follows, and
this letter was probably his last ad-
vice to those desiring to enter his pro-
fession:
Success is attained by few in it's
best and most valuable form. Many
men become rich and many become |
famous, but not more than one out of
hundred men are ever truly sue |
cessful. man may be able to write |
masterpiece of literature and still |
not be able TO keep mis- own life pure;
n
beauty on canvas and not be able to
make his own life beautiful. He may
be dissipated and he may not be able |
to tell the truth, and therefore, he is |
not successful, even though he has
painted the prize picture of the year, |
or written the most successful book of |
the season.
"A man who has many friends is |
successful in one sense because no one j
can have large friendship unless he !
possesses many good qualities | thing |
the faculty of making friends is one
of the most valuable gifts of man, |
and when good man has it he is usu-
ally a very successful parsonage. OF
course if a bad man has that faculty |
he uses it to the detriment of his
friends, who soon desert him under |
such circumstances. And as a man to
have friends, must show himself |
friendly | think it q good sign for a /
man to be always companions BILE.
II do not think that money means
success; far from it, There are jhous-
ands Of men who have accumulated |
large fortunes and are still unhappy
and dissatisfied with themselves. They
have done nothing else but make |
money, and have sacrificed everything |
to That one end. They have in many |
cases sold their honor, and hence they
are poor while the world calls them
rich. 1t should not be hard for young
people 20 choose what wealth they
most desire-wealth of character orl
wealth Of money. They ought to
know Which will bring them the most
happiness, from mere observation |
Many wealthy men are known to COM
nit suicide, while man of strong
character was never known to put an
end to his life. The pleasure Of liv- |
ing is too great for q successful man
to end it.
81 think every one desires to be able |
to live in comfort; but, when that
state is reached the man of character
works for other things than mere
money. l have never followed my art
as a means of making money. If
had l would probably not have made
any. The men who act for money |