The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30

JEFFERSON.
siderably over six feet high. 1 was but
four years old, and as we stood there,
dressed exactly alike the audience roared
with laughter"
Debut in New York.
Jeffersons first appearance In New
York was made at the Franklin theatre,
September 30, 1887, when he was eight
years old The occasion was q benefit,
and Jefferson a Greek pirate had to
engage in a broadsWord combat with an
actor of mature years. He did 1t SO well
that despite the fact that his opponent
was supposed to kill him in the course
of the combat, he was obliged to come
to life to bow his Acknowledgements to the
plaudits of the audience.
Young jefferson accompanied his father
to Chicago in 1888. The journey in those
days was made by canal boats, steam
boats and stages, and entertainments
given on the way paid the expenses of the
trip. After short period in Chicago
the Jefferson company began a tour
through the wild and undeveloped west,
travelling most of the time in open wag
ons. 1t Is recorded that during this tour
Jefferson's father built little wooden
theatre in Springfield ILL.,, but a couple
of days before 1t was to be opened the
religious element of the town succeeded
in getting a law passed fixing the license
so high that it prohibited them from
opening the house. Abraham Lincoln,
who was then a struggling young lawyer,
realizing the hardship of 1t upon the ac-
tors, is said to have made a speech be-
fore the local council which resulted In
the reduction of the exorbitant tax.
Jefferson's father died in Mobile Ala,
November "a. 1912. After his death young
.. Joseph and his sister played children's
parts for a joint salary of $12 a week.
While in the south at this period young
jefferson also acted in the support OF
Wallack, Macready and the elder Booth.
When war was declared with Mexico
Jefferson and his family followed the
American army, giving performances and
it Is said that business was so bad that
he and fellow actor named Badger
opened coffee and cake stand in a sa-
loon at Matamoras.
Jefferson next appeared for a short
time in New Orleans. After that he was
seen for the first time in the famous
old Arch street theatre, in Philadelphia,
which is still standing He appeared
under the management OF w. E. Burton,
and during the summer months gave per-
formances in partnership with John Sleep
er Clark A disagreement caused the dis
solution of this partnership. and shortly
after this Jefferson's mother died.
His next appearance was at the famous
old Amphitheatre at Ninth and Chestnut
streets In Philadelphia. The equestrian
drama was in favor at this house, and for
$50 week Joe" Jefferson appeared in
productions of Captain Kidd" "Mazep-
pa and st. George and the Dragon"
After that he came to New York and
played at Chanfraus National theatre,
where he met Miss Margaret Clement
Lockyer, an English girl ~ years old,
who was playing with the Chanfrau COM
pany. They were married on May IL,
1850, and Barney Williams, the famous
Irish comedian, was his best man. He
continued to play in New York for sew
eral seasons. during which time he sup
ported the elder Booth and other famous
actors.
son the Road"
In 1852 jefferson formed a partnership
with John Ellsler, himself famous old
actor and the father Of Effie Ellsler.
They made a couple OF southern tours,
which were fairly successful as successes
went in those days. In 1854 Jefferson be-
came associated with John T. Ford in
the management of a theatre in Rich
mond, Va.
In 1856 jefferson made short trip to
Europe.
In 1867 he Joined the stock company
playing at Laura Keene's theatre. He
lnl1lSElI mas Sdlu TINT Lllis really htu
the beginning OF his career as an actor.
He very soon proved his right to the posi-
tion of leading comedian, and success
sion of comedy parts placed him practi-
cally at the head of his profession. 1t
was in "rhe Heir at Law that his sue
cess was immediate.
In 1858 Jefferson appeared In "Our
American Cousin" in which r. A. Soth.
ern became famous as Lord Dundreary.
C. w. Couldock and Jefferson also scored
big successes in this play. Following
this jefferson scored one o, the big sue
cesses, which he continued almost to the
last season of his appearance on the stage.
This was as Caleb Plummer in a drama
tization of Dickens THE Cricret on the
Hearth"
The Birth of rip"
About this time also he appeared in
Nicholas Nickleby" and Bouccault's
famous old melodrama. THE Octoroon."
The following season he Travelled on his
own account. and then spent a summer
in an old Dutch farmhouse in the Pocono
mountains of Pennsylvania. Here 1t was
that the idea came to him to utilize
Washington Irving's RIP Van Wrinkle
for the stage. 1t was under the manage
ment of John r. Raymond that he made
his first appearance in his never-to-be-
forgotten part of Old Rip in Washing
ton II was not tremendously successful
at first, and Dion Boucicault rearranged
it in its present form. assuring its instant
and permanent popularity.
Mr. Jefferson's wife died in 1861. Then
he made trip to the Pacific coast, and
after that to Australia, where he played
in repertoire. In Melbourne he acted for
164 consecutive nights, which was then
the record. He also played in New Zea-
land He visited London again in 1865,
where he played Pip at the Adelphi to
crowded houses.
Second Marriage.
Returning to this country, he married
his second wife, Sarah Warren, niece