East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-03


He claimed be found more pleasure in
portraying Bob than any other char
acter in his entire repertoire, He played
Il more than one thousand times and in
each performance, found something of
new interest. -
When Mr.. Jefferson and W. ].
Florence formed their famous COM
bination, Mr. Florence found in the
part of Sir Lucius Just as many things
to interest him as Mr.. Jefferson found
in Bob.
The Boys Follow.
And now comes the most peculiar
coincidence of the entire romance Of
The Rivals and the Jeffersons.
Two of Mr.. Jetferson's sons, Joseph
and William, each considered the play
the finest example Of theatrical htera-
ture in existence They have never
abandoned this idea, and even to-day,
either of these two young actors adj
vance argument after argument in
support of their contention.
When Jefferson and Florence were
at the height of their fame, the two
young Jeffersons never missed a pro-
duction OF the old play. Joseph, the
elder of the two, from the time he was
a boy had but one ambition,-the one
desire to play the part of Sir Lucius
O'Tugger in his fathers company.
The younger son had just as great
only his dream was to live
out again the life of Bob Acres, as his
for generations back, had
lived it out for the delight OF thousands.
Joe Realizes Ambition.
After Mr.. Florence died, young Joe
jefferson was chosen to succeed him as
Sir Lucius. He claimed at that time,
that his life's ambition had been
realized, for, at last, he was Sir Lucius
How thoroughly artistic was his
first performance can be attested by
the tremendous ovation he received
on his first appearance. Both press
and public, the country over, had
been fairly imbued with the idea that
Sir Lucius O'Trigger had virtually
died with Mr.. Florence. How erroneous
was this idea can be appreciated when
the younger jefferson fairly electrified
the theatre-going world with his per-
formance OF that role in his fathers
Critics attended the first night to
ridicule the young Jefferson, to kill
him by comparisons Of his work with
that Of Florence. Nothing awful hap
pened. Those who were prepared TO
beittle the efforts of the young player
changed their ridicule to praise and he
was unanimously pronounced dis
success.
Once again The Rivals had changed
ridicule to praise, as it had done away
back there in England, more than a
century before As long as the elder
Jefferson appeared upon the stage, his
son was prominent in his support and
naught but praise has been showered
upon his efforts.
Willie Jefferson's Daring.
Meanwhile the younger son, Will
liam, was begging for the opportunity
to play Bob Acres, his fathers role.
He knew every line, every gesture, Of
the entire play. He had faith in his
ability and his father shared it with him.
In 1898, when the father was ap-
pearing in Pittsburg, Pa, Willie
went to visit him. That trip to the
Smoky City is an epoch in the boys
life. The father was taken suddenly i'll.
1t was impossible for the old gentleman
to appear that evening, and, with every
seat in the house sold, disaster seemed
imminent.
Willie begged for the opportunity
10 play the part; to take the place
If him who stood foremost on the
American stage. 1t was the height of
iaring, but finally the father, believ-
ng in his boy, and his boys faith,
that Willie should appear
Is Bob.
A Pronounced Success.
What dreams were his that night
Willie Jefferson alone can tell He
lressed for the part, and, with a vast
audience waiting there to see the great
Zoe Jefferson Qor the substitution was
lot announced), he stepped out upon
he stage as Bob Acres. For him, too,
had been realized.
So mastery was his performance;
o accurate was it in every detail;
o closely did it resemble the work
{ the elder Jefferson; that few in the
udience were aware that change had
'een made. Voice, eyes, gesture, every
1ovement Of the body, were identically
he same. The long years Of waiting
nd patient study had borne fruit.
The next day the change was an
ounced to the Pittsburg papers and
nth one voice,-the critics sounded
he praise Of another Jefferson. Willie
eferson, playing in his fathers very
hoes, had jumped into fame. Another
efferson had been given to the world.
So faithful was his performance
hat from that night until dear old
oe Jefferson closed his eyes forever,
Willie always went with his fathers
ompany as his fathers understudy.
A Strange Contrast.
Heredity, strange law that governs
0 much in this universe of ours, has
layed a wonderful part in the life
tory of the Jeffersons. But the story
, not yet complete, for, aside from
his handing down of talent from
lther to son, Of the passing Of the play
rom generation to generation, there is
mother side, side as intensely in
il not even more so, than that |
,hich has been related6
Tho aIJar TaHargo, r,a, ,oeca,,ad |
what might be called a dual per-
onality. To his intimate friends, he
'as more like grown up schoolboy
han anything else. Always fond Of |
practical joke and with a merry
reeting and a joyful demeanor, he
as the embodiment of all that one
'ould expect of the worlds greatest
omedian.
To the stranger he would casually
,eet. he was the identified and sincere