' TJBW V1"' '
I I I I 1 1 1 1 M lilt
The Jeffersons, The Rivals, and Their Romances That Winds jj
Through a tenturv and a Quarter
-I I I 1 1 I I I I I II I I I
. ,,. and The KJvaw are bo
'Sited that ho who would
V Kof one must write the
tfftlSSSd The R.yakil For
.6 wars those names nave occn
s j mllv of Thespians have
Miss
MfP11. ftn lather to son the
riTof Richard Brtnsley Sheri-
'Vth cencration presenting it. it
sSf.t erf the Jefferson family.
The Play s
,. in August, 1774. that Richard
LEstandwi, then a boy in his
fefflSeW thb fnmoui old Covcnt
mw'"; . . ..m ntt rriYTirni".iirinrn
jl theatre in Uonaon w wmc a
KSl With the exception of a very
Pcat,..inM. valine Shendan had
r,d whatever as to what should
but" tm comcuv.
SffsrfS
ability ana suuws " 1;--' ""
to work Early in December of
.ine year, he delivered to
the
tho
! r,.irden theatre manager
r . ,,f The Rivals.
rCmasijrp'ccc of comcriy had been
tfl inu ""-' ir ;:":. i j ,,
L,.Jt, a carcui nun. ui. .... .w
? 1 1 tn the world but for the per-
Unce of its boyish author.
First Time Failed.
.. nlav was immediately put
m rehearsal and on Jan. 17th, 1775,
i produced for the first time on
Jlmancc of the actor to whom
jj ailOUCU mc - .
trigger . , ,
His performance was so bad, and
oirred the work of the other artists
.,. an Mtcnt. that tlie play was
Hal hiotcd from the stage on tho
VounR Shendan had faith jn his
K.r and insisted upon its being pre
Kttd the set'iid night. It was pre
KnuJ and failing again, was then
ithdrawn 1 he autnor iook ins manu-
fcnpt, made several minqr ennnges,
ured anoiner acior iu ijuihuj vju
,aau$ OTnggcr and prepared to try
cua.
A Dramatic Triumph.
The pliy, which had received the
nrkst ni'toncty on account ot its
tilt night s hasvo, was ngam presented.
? auJience assembled at tho theatre
nth the one idea of hooting the play
(ran the stage But nothing of the
lad occurred This nicht. the ccniui
d roung Shendan was to be vindicated.
I The new actor, m the part ot sir
Uaui.hnd fully grasped all the doli
nciM of the role and ndded such
SMKe and artistic atmosphere to the
inure. performance that tho audience
m ipellbutind i ney icit cxioiiiug
Kinwits and the talent of him who had
cmtedit
The play bcamo a fad. Tho best
i-! of I. -m'lun beenme ennrnnnd
V it to suih an oxtent that it was
tm Iwif u-uil the fnme of thv )$''
M rech-l tho cars of tho Idug.
ruvl t..nuly wit nested, th prq
dskm an i v ftli the approvrtl of
n:y, Hi Knnli saon developed
iQ the nvst ngtouudint comedy
mom that London had uvor known.
V ndan s fa ue was ostnblishwl and
fctto Rt.i s one finds that inddscrib?
ut societhinj; that. is n combiimtton
.'. bo-.uh charm M youthful uudor-
Utl', U1kkk1 philosophy, and a
i1ige uf lno that is totally different
that exnloited bv the writers
wse vHith. with its optimism, is
Witt i m. and upon whom the jwssim
u of aj;c is steadily encroaching.
A J:erson Enters.
.In 1771. while fcheridan was working
g the manuscript of 'lho Rii!3,
TJiwuaj Je'.i.inin, an actor who was
.wn in 174ii and who waa the iirst of
we distinmghed fu- illy to Adopt a
uge cuwer, became 11 member of
taeconipui, then under tho manage-
Sent of liiwd Garrick, who was, at
t time, considered thu greatest
trof his .la
Mr. Je.Urn was essentially a come
win, ani". about this time Garrick,
ho had a fondness for the heavier
Jtyles of pU.ng, decided to refrain
rorn appearing in any comedies.- This
u the oppurtunitv for Tcfferson. who
i .---.." .
t once assumed the principal comedy
wks in all of the David Garrick pro
ductions It was about 1770 that Garrick
Produced The Rivals for the first
jjne. Of course it was only natural
wat Garnck's principal comedian should
m allotted the part of Bob Acres.
Here it was that the combination of a
Jefferson portraying the part of "Fight
ing Bob began and ever since that
nemorable night that combination has
continued.
A Joseph Jefferson,
, "naa Jefferson, the first, died
10 1507. leaving behind him a wife
two sons, the elder of whom was
fd Joseph He was born in 1774.
j ja y.ounK nian, Joseph evinced a de
wed talent for the stage, and in 1705,
S VtrV mntliv mmmnu K rvnr.
$ytd Bob Acres in one of the smal'
toglwh cities He appeared in the part
"Mvefal performances and. then, for
one reason which is now unknown,
abandoned the play
Comes to America
,?e " to America in 1707, bringing
TZ .im . a carefully constructed
Prompt-book of The Rivals. This he
ver personally used In America, yet
w111 lt and gave it to his oa,
towa born in 1804.
i? yo,unE man was also named
Meph-after his father. This makes
to Joseph !?3erson the second al
H r1 '-esentcd the third gcaeni
Jioncoacer 1 in this narrative.
itus youns man, at a vy early
. showed a decided talent for paint-i2L-
' &ent was. fostered by his
CSr,.nd lt WM not he was
SS,W yw of ae that the
I
HAHiT GAPITXT,
'"""""II II I H-H-U
I M M I I 14-H-H 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 I I lf4
l..nQ)l- IMS nrt !n('l mmtmn
He was i distinguished artist and some
of the most precious heirlooms now in
the possession of the Jefferson family
arc.spcci nens of the artistic handiwork
Ji Joseph etlerson. the second
While still a
lie st 1 a voung man. he married
Cornelia France ThmnJ "
that time the most noted siiiwr in
AmoriM Tllnm tvom Fniio nliiMu. !.
of this union. 'two of whom died 'in
infancy. The other two were Joseph
Jefferson, tlie third, our Joe Jcfi
CrSOn, ffnr
uuu v,urneua jeucrson.
The Great Jefferson.
We an; now down to our own deal
old Joseph Jefferson, the best known
or nit that talented tnnv'v ot j iieapians,
--th beloved actor wiiusc name hs
bt-eii written en every heart.
Joseph Jefferson, the third 'iepn
Bunting the fourth generation), wnc borr.
in Philndalphia on Feb. 20th, 1820, am
at the early age of three years, made
his theatrical debut.
His first appearance on the sUi-;r
was it very unexpected affair, so tm
n thr. nudi,,ve was concrned '
fimt really Ootfun in wnai was men
tlie riige, Living Stntues. The boy
.witnessed many ' of those entertain
ments, and won a itrvetiilo reputation
for himself for hiVimitations of these
statu js. In fact, young Jefferson wus
1. ..:.;.. rr it.rvlifiiir nnd vnrvltolv
,thnt came to his notiac. Genius began to
show Its presence eany in josepn jcuur
son, the third.
Mimics T, D. Rice.
It happened that eventually the
former of that period, who was
creating" a furore as a burnt cork
.....i:..n f.. l).rn'e nprfnnnnnri' was
filled with little mannensms capable
oi imiiation nu vu hiv ouijh w.
everyone, our Joseph Jefferson then
only three years old began giving
Imitations of Mr. Rice that were scrcam
ngly funny. , , ,
Mr. Rice himself saw them and
waxed enthusiastic. Much to the boy s
delight, Rice helped him to perfect his
Imitations, and it was but a few weeks
until this mere baby could accomn ish
nearly every move made by Rice him
self
Rice suggested tho Idea of having
the boy appear on the stage with him
and the father, realizing that the
Thespian mantle was U fail ujion the
shoulders of his son, interposed no
objection and the stage career of
Juscph JclTorson, the third, began.
Thrown on Stage.
It had not been publicly announced
that young Jefferson would appear with
Mr. Rice, and only a few of the actors
themselves knew that the boy was to
appear Those who did. however, were
thrown into consternation when Rice.
In grotesque make-up, and carrying
his old carpet bag. appeared on the
stage without tho boy.
Rice besan his performance as usual
and alter about three minutes, opbntd
the carpet bag to gvt. as he stated. Jus
handkerchief Than cane a gnsp ol
feigned surprise and aer a severe
shaking of the Mg. out rolled young
Joe Jc.TftTSi he audience fairly
shrieked its aop. ival. It may be said
with all truth tlut the gre-test actoi
Amcnca hds eer knuun was fairly
"thrown on te stage."
Rice rec gntzed in the boy a worthy
rival, for his work hat evening was a
clear cut, as distinct, as much imbued
witn pcrsomuuy, aui r--fescional
could have ben.
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JnrnXAT.. RAT.KHf. OWKOOX. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 34, lfHW.
M 1 1 I II j j HI 1 1 M l,M 1 1 1
- .4H4tfr.fl
- . Appears fn attend
in IMS, the biv a father, after
negotiations i mui tiip mnnnwjr t o ,
theatre in C'lionfeo. tlum,Sf?With j
. .. , . ." ,i .
onii ' Y i-ti - ' T& V- '
2(M) ' J0"? e r?li Jch I
,2uZ unll,ant &"ry 'WOcUulw Marlowe, and Fannie Rice was
.....
With him, over that
HMjmdmbte
C7k Vi.1 V&1 FJ&!S
3. t . . i.
" " .-
v w-'i iita twia kiiLi ijiii&ilh v uit i ti
li,..r men,!,, I ,!..:.. .Tli...mlu.r
w. ...... ...oi uj- ..,tjk,.u....
01 en .ertniiitneiits on tlie old, slow
moving boat, ihc, prQceeds,!ofl which
Went to the captain. ."
In Chicago, the children we5 given
eery advantaire twasible at thwftjmc.
The father, with his preat fonUics3 1
lor drawing and painUng, instjUed his
out .
as
ABiigmmaw agmt.
... . . i"
Durinc-ttho awkirnrd ace. .fro'ml 2
to lfi, younc leffcrson Appeared but
seldom. In the meantime, the first
theatre in Chicago burned and on its
site wis erected" K '.v.oru uoaern pwy
luntfri.
la win in thl titrn1f of .nmusoment
that ovr Joseph JojtTomon, whose name is
resoreii.'cu mrougiio'ii mi msii'"'i
first nrPcarcl as n legitimate actor. It
..-.o i,i rUinitn inn tlint lie was 1'iven
the treasured manuscript of The Rivals,
which' the father had brought irom
Kn;lanl. .
Th lwv hnd nfti'n heard his father
talk of the possibilities of the part
of Dob Acres and he remembered
that his father, grandfather, and great
irnnd father, had all achieved success
fn the role. Then came the idea to
follow in tho footsteps of his ancestors
the ambition to again give the world
another lettorson as jiou Acres.
fnn.fiillu - lie rend the nlav and
learned,, with something akin to abso
lute Horror, that it was almost tetany
un'ic tor moaern presentation.
l7l...n Cl.j.n.lf.n u;rnt tlin nlnv rur
f ormances began at 6 30 anlf 0 o'clock
In tne evening ana jastcu uniu nu-
night. uong tanty scenes were, ov
that time, prevailing marks of dramatic
construction. It was on these anti
quated lines that Sheridan had con
structed The Rivals. The original
ending of the comedy was not In ac
cord with modern ideas, -so young
Jefferson set to work to revise the play
pnd make it conform to the demands ol
the modern audiences.
The Graceful Epllrffeue.
With him, this work was a labor of
'ove
Carefully he did his work and won
Jerfuilv well, too. The abrupt ending
of the ild play he changed and. thanks
to his i fort, Ihe Rivals can now boast
of a giaceful and beautiful epilogue.
The All Star Cast.
This voi. on Mr Jcflewm used for
upward of nttoen years, dunng which
ro tho j -Labilities of the role of
;ob appeaRM to him to such an extent
that he was continually making minor
improvements, and studying out ami
pJanjiUiS a generally reconstructed
version. ,, .
About twenty years ago, Mr Jeffer
son tinally completed a manuscript
el ne ivivi. iii iv, " -
every talky scene and every super
fluous word. He gave the play lU pat
delightful ending, an it was tM
verstoH that he used dunng tlie remInj
der of his life, and which he It&sdcd
down to his sc and suuiwsake, Josj
Knov. leuge lnumiiominu ot Hisvn,
a'.v.iys tho loncinK'for'thostaiS w
uppermost mthe bqy's mind. ' ,
II 1 1 1 MM 1 1 M I i i I II HM II 1 1
1 1 I l-M-H-fri I IliHIHIH HIIII
U&flTl&SSl
able tmir nf ihin mntru i. utnn I
This co-npinv, ctftnpusul of Joseph
jeftYram. ...t ticxluin ,m. H.Crane,
"T" w ""'HUM 1
',ra"cis wnson. Joseph-and K M. Hoi
lnd. Robert Tnbcr, Mrs. John Drew
' .,- .,,....1 llJ fill ,..!. . ...1 1 .m ...- .. ....
i I'.uat. uk nunimra, mv gix.lll.5l CU1U-
pany tnnt ever appeared in any one
Ikllll LII11L -k-l lllllll'illl'll !" Hill' IIT1II
p!aV ftn'1 c ff? ,r- Jeffc.p'
:--- "i-!-." """ "" "-J --.w
villi u viironiii ri lira tmin li.nii an
fcvcr way worthy of their ability.
Tho Jcfieron rvor!te.
During the many years that
J'fiTson was bufore tho public
though he was well known for
Mr.
rendition ot several other parts,
.but
0t Bob Acres waa always his favente
lie claimed be found more nlrnmirp in
nortravintr Bob than nnv other elinr-
ntcr in his entire repertoire. Ho played
each performance, found something of
- -. - r. .V....H ....,v ...... ...
.now interest
When Mr.
Jefferson and W. J.
Florence
formed their famous torn
Mr Florence found ir. the
bination,
part ot bir Kui m JM: as i winy tun. i
to interest hint us Mr. Jefferson found
in Bob,
The Boyi Follow.
And now comes tho most peculiar
coincidence of tho ontire romance of
Tho Rivals and tho Jcffersons.
Two of Mr. Jefferson's sons, Joseph
and William, each considered tho play
tho finest oxamplo of theatrical litera
ture i:i existence They have never
abandoned this idea, and even to-dny,
either of those two young actors ad
vance argu nont after argument in
support of their contention.
When Te:Tnrson and Florence were
at the height of their fame, the two
young JcfTcrsons never missed a pro
duction of the old play Joseph, the
older of the t.vo, from the time he was
a lioy hail but one ambition, the ory
desire to pl.iv the part of Sir Lucius
O'T rigger in his father's company.
The younger son had just as great
ambition, only his dream was to live
out again ths life of Bob Acres, as h:s
ancestors, for generations back, had
lived it out for the dvlight of thousands.
Joe Resides Ambition.
After Mr. Florence died, young Joe
Jefforsoa was chosen to succeed, him as
Sir Lucius. He claimed at that time,
that his li'fc's ambition had been
realized, for, at last, he was Sir Lucius
lluu tlinmiinhlv nrtfatif WHS 11 IS !
first performance can be attested by
the tremendous ovation he received
on his first appearance. Both press
and public, the country oyer, had
been fairly imbued with the Idea that ,
Sir Lucius OTnggcr had virtually ,
died with Mr Florence. How erroneous
was this idea can be appreciated when f.
the younger Jefferson fairly elcctriticd .
the theatre-going -nM vith his per-,
formance of that role In his fathers
company.
Critics attended the first night to ,
ridicule the y ung Jefferson, to kill
limn by comparisons oi nis wk wim
that of Florence Nothing awful hap-
Rtned. Those who were prepared to
i;l. !,. attnrit of the VflllTll' tlllVOr
cnanged their ridicule to praise and he
was unanimously pronounced a dis
tinguished success.
I Once again The Rivals hail changed
ridicule to praise, as It had done away
J back' there in England, more than a
.century before. As loag as the elder
1 Jefferson appeared upon the sUge, his
ton was prominent in his mtffon and
suk hut pnuM feu Vmhi sfcewrt4
tMMM hit eJfo
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Tl I 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 i j I I I 1 1
111 l-M-t-H-H I 1 1 1 1 I I I II I I
Willie Jefferson', Daring
Meanwhile, the votirisrcr
son. Wil-
liam. was'beeeinK. tor the onptirtunitv
to phy' Iidb Acres, his father's role,
lie knew, every line, cVcry gesture, of
tho entire' play, He had faith in his
ability and ins father shared it with him.
In 1808, when the father was ap
pearing int Pittsburg, Pa., Willie
went to visit him. Ihat trip to the
Smoky City is nil epoch In the boy's
li.'o. The father was taken suddenly ill.
It was impossiblo-.for the old gentleman
to appear that evening, and, with every
lent in tlie house sold, disaster seemed
imminent.
Willio begged for the opportunity
to play the part; to take the place
of him who stood foremost on the
American stage. It wns tho height of
taring, but finally tho father, believ
.ng in his boy, and his boy's faith,
consented that Willie should appear
as Bob.
A Pronounced Success.
What dreams were his that night
'i;'.'o leffcrson atone can tell. He
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It I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
IJ I I Ml I II HI 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 :
drensca lor tnu part, -una, wrm vast
audience waiting there to see the great
Joe Jefferson Cipr the substitution wa
not announced), he stepped out upe
the stago as Jlojj Acres. For him, too,
ambition haiubtscn realized.
so masterly, was his performance J'
so accurate .was it in every detail;
60 closely did it resemble tho work
of tho elder Jefferson j that few In th
audience were nVare that a change had
been inacfo, Voice, eyes, gesture, every
movement of .t)x body( were identically
tho same, The long years of waiting
and patient Btudy had borne fruit,
The nc.xt day tho .change was an
nounced to the Pittsburg papers and
with ope voice, the critics sounded
the praise of another, Tcfferson. Willi
Jefferson, playing in his father's Very
shoes, had jumped into fame. Another
Jcffcrsoniad been given to tke world.
So faithful waa his perfbnnance
that from that night Until dear old
Joe Jefferson closed his cyet forever,
Willie always went with his father's
company as his father's understudy.
(Continued on pago 11.)
wsiiaoui rut MUrt m, ke sever