Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-30
ANECDOTES OF LATE
JOSEPH JEFFERSON
Man Who Had Sympathy and Love OF Hun
dreds of Thousands of Men and Wom-
en-, Moved by the Subtlety
OF 1ir Art

Joseph Jefferson had the sympathy
and love of the hundreds of thousands
OF men and women whom he moved to
laughter or tears by the subtlety and
the drectness Of his art. The excel
lcncc of his stage work invested his
personality with an interest for the
general public which few actors have
aroused in the same measure. His
daily routine, his habits and his pre-
dominant traits became subject for dis
cussion, and the mass OF matter print
ed about him would fill enough books
to make up fair-siZed library. His
movements from place to place we're
promptly chronicled, and his life off
the stage made known to the public in
the minutest details. His art was ever
gentle and unaggressivc, lingering, as
one writer puts 1t, lin the mysterious
borderland of smiles and tears" and
many are the anecdotes told about
the veteran actor, rejecting the singu-
larly genial and delightful traits that
distinguished him. Among thousands
of stories related OF him the following
are few, selected ut random:
IRON a witty talk which the come
dian once made before the Barnard
Club in the Carnegie Building sound
idea may be gained of Mr.. Jefferson's
artistic method and his attitude to-
ward the idealistic and imaginative
side of dramatic art.
Realism" he said, "is being carried
to too great lengths II the part of
cook is to be played, a real cook must
be obtained to take the part. If fire
| occurs in the action of the play there
must be real smoke.
Zone thing they can't have on tho
stage. That is shipwreck. No thea
tire would hold the necessary amount
of water.
Some one has asked me why
don't bring my dog OH the stage in
Rip Van Wrinkle, answer that the
dog should by suggested rather than
shown. Then each person in the audi
encc can form his own idea of tho
dog.
IF | were to bring a real dog on tho
stage one man would say, i thought
Schneider was one of those dachs-
hunds, and another would remark,
Why. he ought to be Newfoundland
and then, like as not n boy in the gal
lery would whistle, and off the dog
would go. Anyway. he would always
be wagging his tail at the wrong time.
whistler once said, Nature some.
times comes up to art believe in
suggestion and imagination rather
than strained realism. Should an actor
feel his part? Coquelin and Irving
take opposite sides on this question.
AS for me, answer thatiit must rest
with the actor. He should keep his
head cool and his heart warm AS
Shakespeare says. Let the Whirlpool
OF your passion begct n temperance
that shall give it smoothness,'
Grandchild Commanded His Time.
How rigidly Mr.. Jefferson adhered
to plan he had definitely formed was
illustrated a few years ago Tho
comedian was stopping temporarily at
the Fifth Avenue hotel. and news
paper man called upon him in the
forenoon to ask him to write a short
article on the subject of all endowed
theatre.
Mr.. Jefferson came to the door of
his room. his little grandchild Juggling
at his coat. The request was put to
him.
II am much interested in the sub.
jcct." he said. "and would really like
to set down my views, but have pro-
missed this whole day to my little
grandchild. and I wouldn't disappoint
that boy for anything in this world.
Will not tomorrow do just as we'll for
the articlc?"
Mr.. Jefferson was told that time
was pressing and that 1t would be
necessary to have the article in hand
that day.
Then the discussion must get along
without me-" he answered. Promises
are promises, and would not disap-
point this little fellow If the theatre
Itself depended upon It,"
Then, with pleasant "good-day."
he lifted the little child to his shoulder
and they continued their romp.
Lincoln Elder Jefferson's Lawyer.
During Mr.. Jcfferson's first Western
tour, while still lad and n member
OF his fathers company, his wander
ings led him to Springfield, Ill, which.
being the capital of the State. was
deemed worthy of an aIl.season stay.
But the town had no theatre. so the
elder Jefferson and his partner dc.
cided to build one
lot was hired and soon a rough
structure, 90 feet deep and 10 feet
wide. was erected on It, But when
the project seemed about to be crown
od by success religious revival broke
out I'm Springfield and the preachers
persuaded the city council to put
license upon the theatre that was prac.
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