Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-02

G1 E TFERSONm

Bedford to play Nick Vedder-and when Mr..
jefferson came to his entrance in the first the
old actor exclaimed "Ah that's me, my lad; that's
mer
The company laughed and enjoyed the humor of
the play and often wiped their eyes at the
pathos, which followed so closely upon the comedy.
Between the reading of the third and fourth acts
Mr. Bedford said-"rm told there's twenty years to
elapse, so I suppose I'm not alive in this act"
"No" Mr.. Jefferson replied, you cut off in the
flower of your youth"
At the end Of the reading John Ellington re-
marked-"There's hundred nights in that play,
and taking the actor by the hand he said with great
soemnity, MY transatlantic lid, I welcome you TO
the classic precincts of the royal Adelphl"
AS the time drew when the American ACTOR
was to appear for the first time before an English
audience Mr. Jefferson grew very nervous, and the
night before the opening he stood before the looking
glass in his boarding house trying on the last act wig
Of long white hair, and becoming inspired he began
acting the lines of the part and gesticulating-
he was interrupted by a knock upon his door and
frightened voice inquired, IT'S there anything wrong
inside sir?' NO." Mr.. jefferson replied nothing
wrong at all. Go away!"
But SIR" persisted the voice through the door.
there's crowd outside ablocking up the street
and the bobby do say there's crazy man in your
ROOM"
Turning to the window Mr.. Jefferson discovered to
his horror that he had forgotten to pull down the
blind and that goody number of the population of
London was taking in his performance without having
paid any admission.
Mrs John Ellington, who is still living in London
and who took the original part of Gretchen in this
production, relates that in those days American
actor was looked upon in the light as Chero-
kee Indian would be at this time. When she was
told there were only two women in the play and that
she was suited to neither part, she said:-'Then
shall go through the Provinces with Toole" But to
this Bouccault objected he always wanted her to
appear in his productions, she obliged to play
the part of Gretchen.
The play was great from the very begin
ming There were five or six curtain calls after the
first act and Mrs. Ellington said to Mr.. Jefferson,
ut will run for hundred nights" Mr.. Jefferson
nodesy replied that he willing to wager that 1t
would not.
what will you bet? said the actress.
81 am willing to wager new silk dress to silk
hat" was the reply
The piece ran 40 nights and to this day Mrs Bill
ington points to photograph taken of herself in the
very silk dress she won in her bet with jefferson
So sure was Bouccault of the failure of the play
that he refused to represent at the first performance
and it was several nights before Jefferson knew him
to be among those present in the audience recognizing
him by his shiny bald head. After the performance
the author went around to the actors dressing room
and congratulated him.
But" he said, Joe, think you are shooting over
their heads"
1T am not even shooting at their heads,' was the
reply 81 aiming at their hearts,
After the first week in London it Joe Jeffer-
sons rip Van Winke," not Boucicau1ts although
the playwright at that time popular that the
name of Boucicault alone sufficient to draw
large house, and the of Jefferson did not appear
in big letters, nor was it even featured