The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-04
JOSEPH JEFFERSON.
Ideal Citizen and Ideal Public Servant
in the Highest Acceptation-in Prl-
vate Life Simple and Unassunlng,
"Feitow OF Infinite Jest"
Atlanta Constitution

Atlanta Constitutions.
The ghostlv Dutchmen may thun-
der their spectral spheres along the
reverberating detiles of the Catskills
with impunity; they will not wake
old Rip. He lies in n sleep more pro-
found, sweeter and more enduring
than that produced by the wine from
their broad-lipped tlagons-the sleep
OF sheer eXhaustation following the
completion OF Il long yet well loved
task, joyouslv undertaken and worth
lily discharged.
In the mind OF the American public
joe Jefferson and Rip Van Wrinkle
have long been synonymous figures,
with this difference-we loved the
former with all the indulgent tender
Hess we felt for the latter. and then
we loved him for his own bright, in-
imitable personality. He took the
character out OF Washington lrving's
story, where it had stood for years
typifying quaintness and charm and
fantasy in American literature, and
breathed into it the vitality of
half-smitten interpretation, and, lol
there walked before us n man SO gen
timely droll and real and appealing
that we took him into our heart of
hearts gladly. Aud now that his
alter ego, his other and sweeter self,
has answered the last summons, their
Joint image is blended in our MEM
cries with Il vivid and an abiding i'm
preston.
Joseph Jefferson was, pre-eminent-
ly, the; dean of the American stage,
and, in many respects. one of its most
remarkable products. Born in 1929
OF parents who had already earned
more than Il local reputation for his
triOnic ability. he made his debut at
the tender age OF three years. From
that now distant day up to within a
few months ago he remained in the
profession Tor which heredity and
natural fitness had shaped him. His
rise was by no means phenomenal.
For Years his career was identified
with those strolling bands of players
that made our Southern States and
Mexico SO picturesque in the middle
wears of the last century. He knew
hardships, and slim and scotfing au-
dienceS were no unusual occurrences
in his younger and more strenuous
days. But he went on steadily, un-
remittingly with his work, pruning off
Il defect here, adding Il finishing
touch there and gradually preparing
himself for the crowning dramatic
achievements of his life.
These came just following our Civil
war, when he began to oappear as Bob
Acres in "The Rivals,' and Rip Van
Wrinkle in the play of that name. The
theatre-going public realized in n
flash the presence OF Il man who en-
dowed these trying roles with Il new
and II delightful meaning, and from
that time forward he became IL ma
tiOnal and: in Il sense. an interna-
tional figure in the world OF Thespis
His was no prurent, salaCious art,
depending on morbid sex problems or
an appeal to the purely sensual in
stincts for its success. Limpid and
pure, unaffected and straightforward
was his nature and these were the
qualities he applied to the unwinding
OF his task His was humor that
was keen and wholesome and never
failing, and for the entire length of
his eventful career he held fast the
affection OF the American public by
his ability to hold them in delighted
thrall without any of the complicated
nausea or horse-play of the modern
drama
in private life he was simple, unas-
sufning, a fellow of infinite Jest, -
well read. an accomplished amateur
painter, the transformations friend OF
the poor and the loved companion OF
many of the most brilliant men
America hasgiyen to the world. We
will miss him, the old man robust of
frame. sturdy OF mind, golden OF
heart; but he traditions for which
he stood will remain to illumine the
present and the future of his profes
sion.
Ideal citizen, ideal public servant
in the highest acceptatiOn, may the
last long sleep OF Rip be clothed with
sweetest dreams of the night.