Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-17


which she has taken part.
In January of last year Q9OS) London
celebrated the eightyfourth birthday Of
Mrs. Ellington. who began her profess
sional career at an unusually early age.
Her recollections manifestly cover 4
vast and highly interesting area To her
Macready was something more than tho
mere shadow of name. while with many
of the literary giants of the early Vic
torian period she enjoyed more than
passing acquaintance.
a.
With view to asking her to furnish
some particulars of the first performance
in England of RIP Van Winkle,'' a re-
porter called upon therold actress at her
little house in Abbey road and found her
not unwilling to respond to his request.
1T was" she said, lat a dinner at the
Crystal Palace that I first heard of the
projected production Benjamin Web-
ster, Mrs. Stirling and myself were seat
ed together and the former invited US ia
say what We thought of the idea. In
those days an American actor was regard
ed in somewhat the same light as a
Cherokee Indian or an aboriginal savage
would be at this moment. What We
thought OF Webster's suggestion was,
fear, only too clearly reflected in our
features. Nevertheless, Webster stuck
to his guns. and naturally, l was curious
to know whether there was anything for
me in the piece. The answer was that
only two women figured therein. and that
was suited to neither character. Then
shall go off with Toole' | said. But tn
this step Dion Boucicault. who had re-
written the play for Jefferson was wholly
opposed. He always wanted me to ap-
pear in his productons-in 1860 1 created
the part of Mrs. Cregan in The Colleen
Bawn, which proved such phenomenal
success-and it was settled that I
should be allotted the role of Gretchen in
Rip Van Wrinkle
Jefferson has himself told the story Of
the bitter feud then existing between
Boucicault and Benjamin Webster, and
the enormous difficulties he had to over
come in order to carry matters through
to a prosperous issue. So pronounced
was their enmity that when one appeared
On the stage the other might be counted
on to leave it. Somehow or other Jeffer-
son contrived to keep the peace. and 10
proceed with the necessary preparations.
For Benjamin Webster l had the deepest
admiration and the kindest feelings He
was a fine old fellow; a better actor never
trod the boards. But his temper was
quick, ana, W0en ruined. MS HOW OF
choice Italian was inexhaustible. It
was his custom to allow some one else To
rough out a piece with the certainty that
in course of time everything done by his
stage manager would be deliberately UNI
done by himself. Later he would come
down to the theater in a peerless white
wastcoat stride across the stage with
a curt nod to the company and take his
seat in front of the foOtlights. Neverthe-
less, he knew his business thoroughly.
1aa rsyan for ha mo- aryl Sfa
If II could boast more producers possess
ing the resource and the inventive powers
Of Benjamin Webster.
"Trip was instant and emphatic
success. We had five or six curtain calls
after the first act. and thenceforward
everything went as upon wheels. / said
to Jefferson: 1T VIII run a hundred
nights and he answered in his genial
way I'll wager you new silk dress to
a new silk hat that it doesn't There
said Mrs. Ellington, pointing triumphant
ly to a framed photograph on the wall.
lis the portrait Of myself il the silk dress
which he afterward presented to me.
I'VE remained nine months at the Adel-
phi and then went on to Manchester.
During our stay in that city Jefferson
a new play called a Parish
Clerk by Dion Boucicault. 1t was quite
q delightful little drama, winch, III my
opinion-and also / think in Jeffersons-
failed chiefly because of the mistaken
idea of how the leading part should be-
played. Long afterward at Brighton
to mention the piece to our
dear friend Henry Irving, to whom, at
his own request, 1 briefly outlined the
plot So immensely struck was ne with
the possibilities contained in II that he
at once took steps to secure a copy of
The manuscript. But Jefferson had car
red it with him to America. And to this
lay nothing has ever been seen or heard
Of it,
Joseph Jeffersons first performance of
Rip, as stated. took place at the Adelphi
Theater, London. September s. 1860. His
asst performance of the part was given
1t a matinee in Paterson, n. j., May -
1904.
Mr.. jefferson used to say that it was
he fault of the American public that he
lid not retire from the stage. AS long as
hey honored him by such large audiences
hey showed him that they still wanted
lin. He never played a farewell engage
nent Upon several occasions the mani
,gers of the different theaters in which
le acted announced it as his last appear
nee IN their advance newspaper notices.
nut Mr.. Jefferson highly disapproved OF
nd had OF