Identifier: autobiographyofj00injeff (find matches)
Title: The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Jefferson, Joseph, 1829-1905
Subjects: Jefferson, Joseph, 1829-1905 Actors
Publisher: New York : Century Co.
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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elligence of my mothers death. I started atonce for Philadelphia, but by some accident wasdetained on the road for two days, arriving toolate to look upon her face. My brother, my sister,and I passed a week together after the burialof my mother, and then separated, they returningto New York, whence they had been summoned,and I remaining in the city to look after aneno-acrement. On the corner of Ninth and Chestnut streetsstood the Amphitheater. At this establishment inthe winter season the circus used to amalo-amatewith a dramatic company and make a joint appear-ance in equestrian spectacles, which were producedunder the stage management of Mr. Joseph Foster.This ofentleman had studied in the best school ofthe highly colored melodrama — Astleys, on theSurrey side of London. He came to America asproperty man with Cooks company somewhereabout 1836 ; in this position he continued for someyears, ultimately joining the Amphitheater in Phil-adelphia. His industry, backed up by long experi-
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CORNELIA JEFFERSON (.MOTHER OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON). OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON 119 ence, made him so valuable that he soon becamestage-manager, and was holding this position whenI called on him to apply for a situation as comedian.He had been prepared for the visit, having heardsomething to my advantage as an actor, but hewas undoubtedly disappointed with me at firstsight. As I entered the managerial sanctum, helowered his bushy eyebrows and scowled at mewith anything but an engaging expression offace. Humph! was all I could catch of his first greet-ing. Then, after a slight pause, he said, Oh, youare the new young comedian, eh ? Yes, sir, I replied. There is no doubt aboutmy being young; but how much of a comedian Iam remains to be seen. Humph! quite modest too. Modesty is a goodthing if it is not carried too far, he said. Humph!where have you been acting lately ? I told him that I had just finished a starringengagement in Cumberland. Starring, oh ! Then you are not so modest afterall, he rep

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