The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson . eene had taken anantaeonistic stand towards me, and that I felt thatshe would not appreciate a favor even if I mightfeel disposed to grant it, and would treat any con-cession that I should make as weakness. He saidthat Miss Keene had begged him to urge thematter, as she did not know how else to get and myself into the cast. Very well, saidI ; if that is all, tell her I will play Bottom, andlet Mr. Blake play Puck And so we course I did not suppose that he would carrythis absurd message, as Mr. Blake would haveturned the scale at two hu
The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson . eene had taken anantaeonistic stand towards me, and that I felt thatshe would not appreciate a favor even if I mightfeel disposed to grant it, and would treat any con-cession that I should make as weakness. He saidthat Miss Keene had begged him to urge thematter, as she did not know how else to get and myself into the cast. Very well, saidI ; if that is all, tell her I will play Bottom, andlet Mr. Blake play Puck And so we course I did not suppose that he would carrythis absurd message, as Mr. Blake would haveturned the scale at two hundred and fifty pounds,and looked about as much like Pnck as he resem-bled a fairy queen. But, not being familiar withShakspere, and having no idea what the charac-ters were like, he gave her my suggestion wordfor word. This put the fair lady in a high temper,and she did not speak to me for a week. But Istood on my rights, and was cast for Bottom,Miss Keene essaying the part of P^tck herselfAfter three or four rehearsals I discovered I. W. K. BLAKE. OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON 205 should fail in the part of Bottom, and thereforedeemed it wise to make discretion the betterpart of valor, and resign the character, which Idid upon the condition that I might take the playof Our American Cousin upon a starring tour,and give the management one-half of the profits forthe use of the play. I have thought that perhaps it is scarcely ingood taste that I should touch upon the little mis-understandings between myself and Miss Keene;but as these quarrels were not of a domestic orprivate nature, and as the public were made fullyaware of them at the time, there is nothing sacredabout them, and they may serve as lessons in thefuture to younger and as yet inexperienced then, too, Miss Keene and I were friends inafter years; we had long since shaken hands andburied the hatchet — had talked and laughed overour rows and reconciliations, and had continued toget as much amusement out of the recol
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectjeffers, bookyear1890
