The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
JOSEPH JEFFERSON AS
A REAL SANTA CLAUS,

/
manager of the New National Theater Il
am not so sure about the date, bat l am
positive about the facts. Mr.. jefferson
was playing his usual annual engagement
at the National Theater. which, on this
! occasion, was for two weeks. The entire
| first week was devoted TO the play of Rip
/ Van Wrinkle, with Christmas Day falling
! during the latter part of the week.
/ Those who knew MIR. jefferson know
that his heart was as big as the rocks Of
/ the Cdtskill Mountains, and know what
/ pleasure De got out Of making others hap
/ py. All who have seen the old play OF
/ Rip can recall what a number Of children
/ take part IN it. on the Christmas ! speak
/ Of Mr jefferson arranged with Henry
Gross. the stage carpenter, 20 set up the
scene that is used for the home of Rip
which has q large hooded fireplace that
sets on the left Of the stage Mr. Jeffer-
son was a master Of stagecraft. and ne
did not forget 90 have all the effects ar
ranged that go with a visit from Santa
/ Claus. He had Mr. Adam Rosenberg
who was the leader Of the orchestra, and
/ al his men 10 stay 70 furnish the music
I was basket boy at the time, and it
was not long before ! was in the secret
/ one Of my duties was 10 assist the star
/ in the dressing-rOOm- The night before
/ Christmas eve Mr.. jefferson told me to
/ go to Monkey, the costumer and get d
box that was there for him. I went after
the box next day, and when / got it to the
/ dressing-rO 1 opened il. and the cat
costume for old Santa Claus. I kept the
] fact 90 myself as I remembered a good
/ piece OF advice Mt Henry Gross gave me
that as long as 7 was around a theater
/ The best way 10 learn was to watch and
/ say nothing. unless I was asked, and then
to say very little.
/ Mr.. jefferson was arranging 10
give the children who took part in the
/ play a surprise. The day before Christ
mas RuppcrJs large wagon drove up TO
/ the stage door and unloaded toys enough
/ O. set up "a store. / was on to the secret,
| but did not want to let on, So asked Mr.
/ Parker. the stage manager. what all the
/ toys were for He told me they We're for
/ the play Of Dot The Cricket on the
/ Hearth billed for the second week
/ They were stored away in the property
room until after the performance that
night. When the curtain dropped on the
/ last act of Rip Mr.. Parker requested
/ the entire company not 20 change their
/ costumes, but to go 10 their dressing
rooms and wait until called. The chill
I dreu were sent to a large dressing room
and kept there with the mothers and
/ fathers who had come to take them
home. Mr.. JEFFERSON hurried TO his
Idressing-room 90 make the change from
/ Rip TO Santa Claus, and ] was right
after him. for 7 was never so anxious 20
help him as at this time. When 1 got 20
the room Mr.. Parker was there and told
me that he would attend 20 Mr.. Jaffer-
son. Everything was massachusetts on
/ the stage, and all 81 Mr. JeffeTson's ar
raugemsnts We're completed. Mr.. Parker
called everybody on the stage.
/ Il can truthfully say in all my expo
/ rience I have never seen a scene that
could equal it-with all the company in
/ their quaint Dutch costumes. the chimney
! hung with stockings of all sizes and col
ors. stuffed with candy and goodies. with
each childs name on the stocking Two
/ immense hampers were on the stage. COW
cred over, containing a present for every
person IN the theateT from the leading man
e =
colored woman. who said If Mr. Jefferson
/ had anything 20 do with things. her stock
I ing was not big enough. So she hung up a
| potato bag. which was filled to its capa-
| city. Mr.. Parker gave Mr.. Rosenberg the
! cue for the music. and the orchestra
with all the bells &c. gave the proper
/ effect for the approach Of old Santa
/ Down the chimney came Santa Claus
/ lMr. JeffersOnl. accompanied by two at
/ tendants. Mr. Parker and Mr. Frank FOs-
/ ter, a member Of the company both clad
| in fuTs.
! AS Mr.. jefferson made his appearance
through the fireplace, in spite OF his make
1 up. little Ida Frazier who was playing
/ Neenie at the time, cried out in her child
/ ish delight. Why. it's Mr.. jefferson Mr.
! jefferson Mr.. Jefferson said: Now,
/ Meenie, don't spoil the illusion. for II you
/ do I won't give you this (holding up a
/ doll as big as she wasl' Ida. realizing
/ she had made a mistake commenced to
| cry and say she did not mean It. Mr.
/ jefferson said ne would forgive her this
/ time. but not to let it occur again.
/ Mr.. Parker and Mr.. Foster then dis
! tTibuted the presents from the large
| hampers. As they were given out. the
! orchestra struck up Aud Lang Syne,'
/ ard every one Joined in the chorus and
]
with merriment and good cheer. Mr.. w
4 W Rapley, the governor. proprietor. and
1 manager, who took in the whole perform
| ance from his private box came on the
stage and told Mr.. Jefferson it was the
/ best part he had ever played. Mr.. Jeffer-
! son said: I don't know so much about
/ that, bat l have never played a part that
gave me so much real pleasure Mr.
/ Rapley had ordered from John Miller's
/ a large bowl of esgnog, and every glass
was filed. When all were ready. Mr.
/ Rapley said; Here, joe take this You
! deserve it Mr. jefferson said: BIZ. I
/ have sworn Off Mr. Rapley replied
/ Just this one Mr. jefferson: Well. 7
won't count this one; and then gave the
/ toast known by all-Here's your good
! health, your familys. and may they all
/ live long and prosper Mr.. Parker made
La speech after this. speaking of Mr. JEFF
! ferson's goodness of heart, &c. and all
/ the children made a rush to hug Mr.
/ Jefferson. who got back of Mr. Raplev
and said: I claim your protection. Bill
! from this dangerous crowd and then he
/ hurried Off to his dressing-roOm, while
! the orchestra struck up Home. Sweet
1 Home"
/ A rather strange coincidence in connec-
ton with the above story is found In the
/ fact that three actors were in the city last
week who recall this episode very dis
tinctly. Nat Snyder and his wife. Rose
! Combs, who were members of JeTerson's
| company at the time, are playing at the
Columbia this week with Nat Goodwin;
! Atkins Lawrence, who is appearing in the
support of Annie Russell this week at the
/ New National Theater. had not at that
time adopted the stage as a profession
/ but was employed at the theater as an
usher, and well remembers the happy oc-
/ casiOn.
Victor Morley. who formerly played
Dick Wargrave in THE Earl and the