AME RICAN A CTOR S E RIE S

THE ELDER AND THE YOUNGER

B O O T H

B v AS IA BOOTH CLARK E

B O S T O N

JAME S R. O S GO O D AN D C O M PAN Y

1 88 2

C O N T E N T S .

PART L

E LD E R BOOT H

PA RT H .

YOUN GE R B OOT H

2225207

LI ST OF I LLU STRATION S .

Jvmv s B ums BOOTH

F m ro a Dagu erreo typetaken in 1848.

FAC-S IM ILE O F PLAY-B ILL

‘ ‘ “ ” Jumu s ERU IU S B OOT H AS POST H UMUS

B T B T H as RI H A D II JUes RU US OO C R I.

O F JUN IU S B RUT U S B OOTH

EDWIN

EDWIN B OOT H AS RICH ELIEU

F roma Portrait by j o hn Co llier of Lo ndon.

P A R T I.

E LDE B H T H E R OOT .

— 1 796 1 852 .

And B oot/u werecreated r tbeentertainment o tbeeo e fi f p pl , ” a e nd r V W F N . wer ma c/z esorted to . IE O LON DO

H E LD B T E ER OOTH .

JUN IUS BRUTUS BOOT H was born o n the first day o f

Ma 1 6 St. a L o H is y, 79 , in the parish of Pancr s , ond n .

randmo ther E za W l a o f o g , li beth i kes, was a rel tive J hn W l and i blo o d i kes , through his mother he nherited the of the Welsh Llewellyns . The Booths and Wilkes of Clerkenwell werehon o rably known in their time the ho use o f Bisho p Bur

an o i i the a net, hist rical old bu ld ng, was birthpl ce of

a o f o o o f a m ny the B ths , and the yard the ncient church o f St. John of Jerusalem still co ntains the gravesto nes

a a o f two of their descend nts, on which the n mes the n R and families arefrequently i termingled . uin demo litio n a a o o f h ve been busy, the bl ck m uld years is over the n arrow streets and byways but the little co urt “ ” a o f ra keeps its n me Booth , and the g ves in the narro w slip of church -ground seem likely to last till

a doomsd y . R a ichard Booth , the f ther of the subject of the

was fo r law present sketch, educated the but , becoming

u R n ft co m infat ated with epublica ism , he le home , in

a o B revitt to a for p ny with his cousin J hn , emb rk Amer

ica E a (then at war with ngl nd) , determined to fight in wa a an her cause . Booth s t ken prisoner d brought

E o back to ngland, where he subsequently dev ted him 4 TH E E L DE R B OO T/1 .

self to the acquirement of knowledge and the practice of an his profession . If y punishment was inflicted for his e afllu ent al r i . H disloy ty , it has never t ansp red lived in

circumstances in Bloomsbury, and was a scholar of repu

tatio n a a , though of eccentric ch r cter ; but his vaunted loveof Republicanism rendered him unpopular both as H e G a lawyer and as a man . kept a picture of eneral W - e in ashington in his drawing room , b fore which he

a bo w sisted th t all who entered should with reverence .

u B revitt The other yo ng rebel, , escaped to America, f E i ought against ngland , was made a capta n, and sub o f sequently married a Quakeress Baltimore, readily

r l t ansforming himse f into a Friend and an American . The subjoined copies of letters on the subject of this patriotic enterprise entered into by Booth and B revitt ma i a y be interesting here , the orig nal p pers forming W a part of the collection of the ilkes p pers , now in the

R a British Museum . ichard Booth t the age of twenty “ " r W addressed the first to the g eat ilkes . The De

L a fender of iberty sent it immediately to the f ther,

John Booth , who after perusal returned it with a letter expressive o f his own views o f the conduct of his son r and nephew, vouching for their integ ity and respecta bilit y, but evidently in much distress of mind. The h reply is ighly significant .

T ’ o al mWilkes E s . P n nees urt Co estminste. y , g , , W r

’ A IS O ct. 28th . P R , , 77 Sm— l t , You wil cer ainly be much surprised at the i receipt of this letter, wh ch comes from two persons of TH E E LD E R B OO T i ! . 5

whom you cannot possibly have the least knowledge , who yet at the same time claim the H onour of being of the same Family as yourself. Our conduct has certainly

fo r been in some respects reprehensible , too rashly put ting in execution a project we had fo r a lo ng time con ’ ceived an a . But as it was thro rdent desire to serve

o f o f a in the Glorious cause Freedom , which you h ve ’ always been Fam d fo r being the Stri ct and great De

area a l fender, we trust the request we bout to m ke wil

a a . En ma be p id reg rd to As glishmen, it y be urged that we are not altogether Justified in taking arms

ns a o a a agai t our n tive Country, but we h pe such v gue argument will have no weight with a Gentleman of yo ur well - known abilities for as that co untry has almost R a parted with all its ights , which h ve been given up to G o the present Tyrannic overnment, it must be th ught the Duty of every true Briton to assist those who Op a as pose oppression and lawless Tyr nny . And the peo ple of America are compo sed o f men who have still the

a Fo refathers spirit of their br ve remaining, it becomes all who areEnglishmen to exert their utmost effo rts in

a their behalf, leaving their Country for th t purpose ;

as Ro a being no more ( we presume) than the m ns , in the war between Octavius and Anthony on the one

t and ri a par , those illust ous worthys , Brutus and C ssius, a o f on the other, going from the rmy the Tyrants to serve in that of the latter, and therefore equally justi e fiabl .

Du ceet Deco umest ro a r a mo l r p p t i ri , " S ed ro L beta emo Dulcissimumest. p i r t ri ,

The manner in which we have conducted ourselves 5 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

has been so very extraordinary as to be scarcely cred

ares r L ible , but we a sured the Bea er of this etter will

h . ft convince you of its Aut enticity In short, we le E a a h d ngland , and all the dv ntageous prospects we a to o f S there , purposely go and serve in the Army the ons

L a a . o of iberty , the br ve Americ ns In rder to complete the Enterprise we came fro m London under a pretence of going on a party o f pleasure to the Camp at Warley

o o f o C mmon , but instead pr ceeding thither, we went

a for a and and immedi tely M rgate thence to Ostend,

a a h ve since arrived here, where we c me to wait upon the Gentlemen who areAgents for the Congress in

a o D Americ , in order to the full completi n of our esign

n a o ffi o a S Of getti g ppointed cers in the Pr vinci l ervice, but fo r that purpo se have since foun d it necessary to pro cure a Letter of recommendation fro m some Gen tleman o f L E u in the Interest iberty in ngland , and n tan o Lee ders d fr m Mr . Arthur (who has promised to

m a o ur a a rec m interest hi self gre tly in beh lf ) , th t no o mendatio n o i will be Of m re serv ce to us than yours .

o u Our request therefore is , that y will condescend to

o ne o ur a o a G a give in f v ur, directed to th t entleman t “ H R n Rue E a a the otel de la ei e , la des Bons nf nts , ” a o u as P ris , which y will ple e to deliver to the Bearer

o as here f, soon as possibly convenient. And the favour

a and W will be gr tefully remembered , the name of ilkes be always held in the greatest respect and veneration Sir by, ,

’ ’ Serv ts at Your most and obed command ,

R . BOO TH . HN B REVi JO T r. TH E E LD E R B OO T/f . 7

es E s r To o/in Wilk . y , y

N o v. th 1 s , 777.

IR n . S , I can ot but express the deepest concern when So n N I reflect on the Imprudence of my and ephew, in taking the liberty o f addressing you without your first being apprised of it and your approbation for so

as a doing . My une iness is not little heightened when I consider to what Length their unguarded youth may a and the le d them , various expressions which their ma a tho ughtless Pens y have m de use of. I must assure

o n o to and you , sir, n thi g could be more f reign mine to ’ i a i no r a t their Mother s incl n t ons , could ny hing stimulate them to it but their looking up to you as the sacred o a i o n E i Protect r Of the gre test Bless ng arth , fa r Free

and a o dom , your invari ble struggles for the Prote

tion of it .

fla a I cannot, however, but tter myself th t should at any Time a corresp ondence take place between yo u

eand two o o f . Le and Mr , these y uths be the subject it , that you would speak of them as children Of those who

o fo r o u and who no t sto d foremost in Friendship y , are a little happy in the connection o f Blood with which we stand . sir a These youths , , h ve , as you are pleased to

na o Observe , to lament their not being perso lly kn wn

o u God O f a a to y but I bless , the best ch r cters can be had o f them from Persons of the greatest merit and

Fortune . ’ ’ ’ rv t Your ob dt humble S ,

JOHN BOOTH . 8 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

” u John Booth, Silversmith , f rther adds that he has ’ exerted himself at the election at Brentf ord in Wilkes s behalf, and will use his interest, which he fiatters him

a at no t self is not inconsider ble , a future time, far dis o al tant when he will also aid by a pers n appearance . , e eff r H o e s for his acceptanc a piece of plate , not to obtain favor (meaning the restoration of his so n and a a r nephew) , but in gr teful return for wh t I and eve y lover of Freedo m owe to you as theFriend and Guar ” dian of our rights . These rebellious missives served to keep alive that

o f a i o fire p triot sm which f und expression when , in later

a o years , Booth n med his s ns Junius Brutus and Alger

e a am no n S . H G o r G ydney m rried a Miss ame , who se relatives now living in South America trace their

an o o f descent from old her Agincourt . Mrs . Booth

at i a a died the birth of her th rd child , d ughter .

a a o Junius Brutus received a classic l educ ti n , and

a a fo r r n and e rly showed decided taste d awi g literature .

e a o law H learned printing, but band ned it for the , and ' a his o f a for a time rem ined in father s fice , tr nscribing

o a o i o fr m his dict ti n dry and turg d d cuments . Evin

a a he a cing desire for the n vy , was r ted as midshipman “ " o n a a a bo rd the brig Boxer, comm nded by C ptain ’ a Blythe . The vessel s destin tion being changed from

a a the Mediterrane n to the Americ n coast, his father dissuaded him from going and in an engagement with

a the enemy the Boxer lost all her crew, excepting a c bin bo y. No t possessing that universal genius generally attrib uted ta es to those who at in eminence , Junius Booth D B TH E E L E R OO TH 9

o ne a f sayed art after nother, and, feeling the insu ficiency o f ai and u p nting, poetry , sculpt re , his ever restless mind

t a found its rue element in the art of the ctor . Avow a o a ing his determin ti n to dopt the stage, he left his

o w a and a h me against the ishes of his f ther, m de an

a n w t at D o H e eng geme t i h Mr . Penley eptf rd . began ' “ his professional career as Camp zllo in The H oney

o n 1 D 1 8 1 at a o f moon the 3th ecember, 3, a sal ry

a H e a a ne n . o pou d week afterwards ccomp nied Mr . Penley to the Continent on a professio nal tour of some months .

o f o a The life a str lling pl yer, although beset with

f o a fo r o n di ficulties , p ssessed certain ch rms the y u g a a no w a his spir nt, but he ye rned to try talents in the

H ehad a metropolis . met with encour gement from

a a and n a o n m ny persons of t ste judgme t, and cc rdi gly applied to different London managers fo r an engage

a . H a o f o n Ga ment , mong others to Mr rris C ve t rden

a The tre . All efforts proved useless , however, and he reluctantly accepted an o ffer from the Wo rthn and Brighton Theatres fo r the seaso n commencing in the

o f 1 8 1 a o f . a summer 5, under the m nagement Mr Thom s o o t o Pas Tr tter . The f llo wing let er is from Anth ny

W l am . i Dr. qu n ( i li s) , and not without interest here

B S SELS u ne 1 8 1 . RU , J 9 , 5 — DEA Si R I a . to in R , h ve received your letter As

n and H a a terferi g further between you Mr . rris, I h ve

an a a and w only this swer to return , n mely, th t he is , ill

n a o a be , the gover ing judge of wh t c ncerns his the tre and a o t a can at least immediatel I h ve d ne all h t I y do, DE R 8 0 0 TH . 1 0 TH E E L

by introducing you to his notice . The rest remains n with yourself. In your engagement at Brighton duri g the summer, I would recommend it to you to play some

' a as R te/l ard t/zeTl urd N on /a! o f your best p rts , such , ,

rd Mortimer a R io l/ard S ir E dwa , but particul rly for

as ma man ees your benefit, there y be y y directed to

a o u a o f a a w rd y , in pursu nce the f vor ble report which I a o f n deemed it necessary to m ke your exertio s . I have

o a a not the ho nor to know Mr . Tr tter, the m n ger, but ampersuaded he will see clearly that you arefar above

t r s the co mmon clas s of theatrical y o . You have learning and a proper sense of yo ur present critical situatio n ; then use both to the furtherance o f your dramc reputation but do no t attend to the

o o f fl o a act o suggesti n every tri ing bserver, but r ther fr m your Own feelings with an occasional reference to that

a a a a gre t model of real perfection in m ny ch r cters , Mr .

a all J o hn Kemble . But bove preserve a modest de

a ma me nor, though you y feel internally vain, as all men a a h h ve vanity, with this distinction , th t the block ead renders his weakness apparent, and the sensible man does not . E all l I shall be in ngland, in probabi ity, before the a W announcement of the winter the tres . hen you ar

at fo r icklemar rive Brighton , seek a Mr . S , and present

n a him my ki dest remembr nces , for he is truly a worthy man and a , his dvice and protection may be eminently a to service ble you .

We all a o f are in a st te military bustle, with the com

at a mon enemy our g tes .

and Believe me your friend very humble servant, Wa n /ms J . .

D E R B TH . 1 2 TH E E L OO

ft efit ; but feeling his position intolerable, he le the H e r l theatre in a despairing mo od . had p evious y

r H arleu in been cas t fo o , but was prevented from play ing it by an accident which he met with at rehearsal. H ehad frequently perso nated F itz/ran ting in the com “ ” a and had edy o f Smiles and Te rs, rendered himself f a great favorite in the part . A ter a brief visit to W i Wi o . nds r, Mr Booth once more returned to orth ng, where he was immediately re- engaged by his former

a a m n ger . e r ri H appea ed subsequently at the B ghton Theatre, E when dmund Kean , who was announced for the part

ir iles verreae/z ri f G O . o S , failed to ar ve , and Mr Booth

a s was sked to a sume the character . The audience

a and a a i was sm ll , evinced much dis pprob t on on the entrance of the substitute but he had not spo ken many a lines ere their ttention became riveted, and befo re the clo se of the play he was warmly greeted and re a ceived every mark of their satisf ction . Murmurs of “ “ his presumption and youthful ambition died a a l ai mi w y a together, and he was h led by accla at ons o f delighted surprise .

a B ertram W Mr . Bo o th pl yed at orthing with in creased honors the warmth o f his reception o verpow

so l t n a . ered him , sudden y had the tide ur ed in his f vor

’ H is R ze/za rd 11 a 1 . was cknowledged as a great per fo rmance a , and at last the public discerned th t the

o had young act r genius and determination .

o H o n. a L At the suggesti n of the Mrs . Ch mbers , ord W E i G Dr. i H r rsk ne , arrow, ill ams , and others , Mr . a ris

- was to B o o t . induced give Mr . h a tri al night at Covent TH E E LD E R B OO TH . r3

G a o arden Theatre , and in m re important character

had than he yet attempted there . The letter bearing

i . wa to L n o th s news passed Mr Booth on his y o d n, and much to his astonishment he fo und himself o n his

' arrival announced to perfo rm R ze/zard after hav ing written fruitlessly to every metro politan manager for

a . 1 2 1 8 1 a a an eng gement On Feb . , 7, he ppe red as ’ R ielzara at a and a a o this the tre , e rned the warmest ppr bation and a appl use . A number o f newspaper criticisms of this perfo rm

are a ance here ppended . “ ' a a o f R zelza rd Mr. Booth repe ted his perform nce

a a ra last night with incre sed success, and midst the p

a a n T o all n a turo us pl udits of the udie ce . the pri cip l

a o o and a ff and scenes he g ve m st f rcible m sterly e ect, may be said to have already established himself at the Gu a n height o f his profession . On y M nnering bei g was n al a fo r given o ut fo r this evening, there a ge er c ll

o n . o a Richard again , which Mr Abb tt announced th t ’ the man agers intended Richard the Third fo r per o formanceagain o n Monday night . The h use then rang with plaudits in anticipatio n of the further delight a o to be aff o rded by so exquisite a perfo rm nce . Am ng n n o i the perso nages o f disti ction prese t , we n ticed the r

and o f G o Ro yal H ighnesses the Duke Duchess l ucester, who appeared highly delighted with the fineacting o f ”

o . Feb 1 1 8 Mr . B oth . 4 , 1 7. “ The gentleman who m the managers have cleverly

' ’ ' u to a R ze/zara t/zeTlzzrd at o G a proc red be , C vent rden , ’ is surely o neof nature s duplicates if he be no t Mr .

f is ac- Kean himsel , he as ingenious a f simile as we ever T LD E 1 4 H E E R B OO TH . W e . . beheld . never saw a better imitation Mr Booth

’ all Kean (so the gentleman is named) has Mr . s tem

estuo us a in o a and p ction his passi n te scenes , all and

o o f a a rn o m re his f mili rity in cai nes he has the eyes,

a and a a o f f ce , w lk of Ke n, the same stamp the foot, i the same vo ice , except in its vehement tones , wh ch,

o a and a i are instead of being br ken, ho rse, f tigu ng, ’ Kean s o and . . as deep, loud, coarse Mr t nes in the l t

a are a scenes of Rich rd indeed, as friend once o b ’ ’ a a a at o ne served , like a h ckney co chm n s o clock in ’ areo f the mo rning ; Mr. Booth s the same kind, but W not in so ripened a state . hen we entered the bo x at o a a C vent G rden , the other evening, and he rd Mr .

n L ad A nne a l Booth in the sce e with y , we re l y were had o doubtful whether we not mistaken the h use , and

H e a a a wandered into Drury Lane . le nt g inst the side

as L ad A nnea a a pillar, y dv nced, in the very ttitude

h a a . an t at Mr Ke n dopts ; and all his tones, looks, d o H movements were Drury Lane pr perty . edressed

as . a and the part Mr Ke n dresses it, made due pauses,

and as a a o a starts , stares , th t ct r m kes them . N o w we

‘ o o a n h nestly c nfess , th t never si ce we wielded the criti cal a at an o pen , h ve we y time f und o urselves so puzzled

o o o f an a as in a in our pini ns ctor the c se befo re us . The two houses have lo ng been running a race o f simi larities and no w are and , , indeed , they neck neck . The two Ma ids and the two Magpies were not mo re alike

'

a R zs/za rds . . o o has a th n the two If Mr B th m de Mr. ’ Kean s a a and cting study, has merely given us an imi tatio n o f a o wh t is in itself but an imitati n , then we n utterly give him up, and co sider him no better than TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 1 5

a . if a has the shadow of a sh de But n ture , by way of a

o and j ke , made two bodies alike , given them similar

i and o . concept ons s unds, then Mr Booth must not be

a a a his al h rudely c st side , bec use better h f appened to

’ a . Kean a be seen first . It might h ve been Mr s f te to m . o ne n have been styled an i itator There is thi g,

w a however, that we shre dly suspect, which is , that n ture o ne : has put both souls into body we will not, in the present stage of the enquiry, declare which we think

. had a ffi the unfurnished one Mr. Booth gre t di culties

a o n a to struggle ag inst his first ppearance . The image o f R ick ard has been stamped by o nehand o n the

i o minds of all part es . Any copy w uld be immediately

an a detected , y devi tion be instantaneously perceived

R ickard and o pposed . Every personator of must

a a and o n fight like m dman , fence the ground, and

clisarmed and i a a im when wounded, thrust w th s v ge

a a potence with his n ked h nd,

‘ ’ ’ And s nk o u ea ied a he han o erco me. i tw r , r t r t

Mr . a a law and Kean has p ssed this m nner into a , woe

a N o o ne Mr be to him who bre ks it . but . Kemble

l o to a a o and o can be a l wed p rry like scho lboy, dr p

a . o o was r o f disa like gentleman Mr . B th su e the p

a o f a o - be prob tion a cert in set of these w uld judges , who would hiss him for misunderstanding his part if o o a and him he did not f ll w Ke n , who would hiss like

i o r o w se f c pying if he did .

’ T o bo h th ha em t eir t s us t hebeaccess ary .

’ zz o ur o As we felt so pu led in pinion of M1 . Booth s

a i o f n R ick a rd merits , we m de a po nt seei g again rep 1 5 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

resented by him . On the second night he played i was and au much better, though st ll he Kean , a full

a ari dienceearnestly cheered him . This str nge simil ty between the two tragedians is a great misfortune to them . ’ o r bo h o r o neo f hemthemeis co me. F t t , ti

o f — If they be equal merits , though this we do not at — il all believe, the public w l hate them both, for it

a hates equ lity .

’ ’ T w o at a timehees no mo a can bea , t r rt l r, so said Macketk an d a profo und reasoner on human E ’ actions in the Comedy of rrors ,

’ O neo f thesemen is geni us to theo ther.

Weshall perhaps hear Mr. Booth applying the las t two lines o f the same play :

Wecamen o the o d keb o heand b o he i t w rl li r t r r t r, ’ nd no w es o hand in hand no t o nebeo eano h . A l t g , f r t er

mion . 1 Cka Feb 1 1 . p , 6, 8 7

In the course of the present week the managers have performed their full duty in endeavo ring by their

o o and n velties to dispel the dulness of the seas n , to

a o a withdr w us, by splendors within , from the f gs , d mps,

and a o . d rkness with ut In no country in the world , we

a a a o and believe , is the dr m , both as respects ct rs

at a a a o a o a En writers , ne rer ppr ch to perfecti n th n in g

a . G a a n a l nd The erm n st ge is i toler ble . And if the

n a o Fre ch exceed us in levity, th t levity is f unded on passions and feelings which we ho pe will never have

an place amongst ourselves . It is to the praise of TH E E LDE R B OO TH . 1 7

E a and nglish audience , that they comm nd decency

o l a a and a m ra ity in their dr m tic writers , th t even in their lighter moments they never forget their higher inter

and a and ests , the import nt duties of decorum , faith ,

man w ho modesty . But he must be a bold could

r a a hke ventu e to enter the lists with Ke n , in part this , and who could expect anything from an audience have

o a ar and ing Kean bef re their eyes , but b e indulgence

ar . o no t p don . Mr B oth did disappoint the ex

ectatio n o f and a to a p his friends , ppears h ve much a H exceeded the ho pes o f the udience . ewas vigor

l . H is a ous , spirited , and intel igent figure is sm ll, ’ smaller even than Kean s his voice in its natural tones

o and t a mel dious , but husky rough when overs r ined

o a and his c untenance is m nly, full of expression and

o o a and as respects mere l ks , his f ce profile certainly ’ — el s eek s o o f a . B l W Mes en er exceed th se Ke n ly g ,

. 1 6 1 8 1 . Feb , 7 a as o f These c refully written critiques , as well those

ho w an o later date , show vivid impression the y ung as a a o o n as pir nt cre ted, alth ugh c mi g he did in direct

the and a o a o . oppositi n to established elder f v rite , Ke n

’ o o B oth s friends , while rej icing in his success, per suaded him to defer further repetition of his perform ance in consequence of the great excitement and no en fatigue which he had undergo ne . As definite a ement had ff was a a g g been e ected , he dvised to dem nd H a suitable terms ; but Mr . rris reminded him of the

o a salary he received during the preceding seas n , n mely,

o s a o a two p und week , and pr posed to p y him five

. ff instead This o er being declined , a controversy 1 8 TH E E LDE R B OO TH

Mr. i his arose , which Booth ended by des ring to have

. E name taken fro m the bills . Mr dmund Kean of the

at a o f rival the re , he ring this misunderstanding , imme

a l o a . di tey dr ve in his ch riot to visit Mr Booth , over o r o him whelmed him with c ng atulati ns , and told to “ o an fo r jump in he had g t engagement him . They drove at once to the Committee Room of the W r L L E . Dru y ane Theatre, where ord ssex, Mr ilson , ' a and Mr . Lamb were assembled a p per was drawn up which Mr. Booth was hurriedly induced to sign , not being allowed time fo r quiet reflection or the advice of others . These gentlemen in their friendly conversa tion dwelt on the unjust reception of his proposal by

. H n a a dim Mr arris , assuri g him th t he would h ve no a a was r a culty wh tever, as his n me al e dy omitted in his l i bi ls . Mr . Booth considered himself ent rely releas ed from the Covent Garden Theatre and duly engaged at

D L H a a rury ane . Mr . rris , being pprised of this strat as al agem , h tened to the riv house, and expostulated

h a with t ese gentlemen , but in v in , as they considered ’ . a D L a Mr Booth s eng gement at rury ane irrevoc ble .

o n a s are The f llowi g newsp per extract interesting here , and ff explain the position of a airs .

’ o f R The tragedy ichard the Third, in which Mr . Booth was to perform the principal character for the

i o n a th rd time , was Thursd y night announced for yes terda n at Ga y eveni g [ Covent rden!. Instead of this , ‘ ’ a za o however, the pl y of Pi rr was advertised in the bills of the day, without any mention whatever being

a . . o m de of Mr Booth The audience theref re , somewhat ‘ ’ a Rick ard dis ppointed at not finding himself again ,

20 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

s a trea ury of this the tre , than their articles were instantly

a o o torn , and liberal remuner ti n , c mmensurate with their

a ar . a a a . talents , w ded them I am sadly fr id th t Mr

has - a Boo th been ill advised in this business , and th t he demanded in the first instance such a salary as future ’ H eff o rts would no do ubt have entitled him to . ( ere ’ ve D L loud cries of You driven him to rury ane , to the awcett N country Mr . F resumed othing could a be further fro m his wish than th t Mr . Booth should return to the country he should be happy to see him o n these boards again he hoped the door of reco ncil

and iatio n was still open , that all would be amicably ” - n Mornin P ost . 1 1 8 ndo 8 1 . arranged . Lo g , Feb , 7 “ ’ n The circumsta ce of Mr . Booth s engagement at this theatre [Drury Lane! seems to have excited an are universal sensation in the public mind , if we to judge from the extremely crowded and brilliant assemblage

was o a i Ia which c llected l st night to w tness his go . H is l and c unte imputed simi arity in voice , in figure , in o

a to . a a n nce Mr Ke n , ided by his own intrinsic genius, has already obtain ed for him a very distinguished at tention but that attention was heightened to a degree of intenseness seldom experienced before in a British

a a theatre , when both the im ge and the subst nce were

a o was ff pl ced side by side , and an opp rtunity o ered to a comp re instantaneously their every word , look , and

o acti n . It is at such a m o ment that their relative merits can alone be ascertained with correctness ; and it appeared to us that the resemblance so much cele

b rated was no a by means uniform or intentional . N ture has undoubtedly cast both Mr . Kean and Mr . Booth in

TH E E LD E R B OO TH 2 1

a a mould nearly the same, but it is cert in that she has infused a much greater portion o f the divine fire through

o f o ne o f the composition than through that the other. The theatre was filled in every quarter at an early hour we believe that if it were twice as large it would have o n o a been crowded this cc sion . The moment Mr . Bo oth entered he was saluted by a general and most ardent cheering he appeared completely master o f his feelings when he came to that passage in which [ago ’ a z says, I know my price , the pit immedi tely sei ed the allusion and testified their sense of the treatment which he received from the proprietors of the rival house . H is conceptio n o f the character was thro ugho ut per fectl and o f y correct, there was no part it which he a and o f a as did not deline te with the power spirit m ter . H e ’ The lines, who steals my purse, he delivered with

and much emphasis propriety , but the scene in which

and a o he excelled, in which perh ps he cann t be rivalled im l a by any other person than Kean h se f, was th t scene Otkello o f where , while he tells to beware jealousy, he is anxiously distilling into his mind every essence o f which

ri that tortu ng feeling is composed . Towards the c i [a a al onclusion the bus ness of go gr du ly decreases , his r a and schemes all succeed , his evenge is sati ted , the

a opportunities of display become proportion lly lessened .

. i Mr Booth seemed conscious of this , and he w sely avoided bestowing any impo rtance upon that which o f

H is itself deserved none . departure from the scene he marked in a novel and rather a hazardous manner. H e

at tkcllo a a az looked O with signific nt g e , then pointed s to his own wife , as if to expre s that her violation by the 2 2 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

oor rfi H e n M was the cause of all his pedy. the struck s n n a his his brea t in a triumphant man er, mea ing th t

vindication w as co mplete and gratifying . If this pan

to mime a a are had been bbrevi ted , we sure it would be n o f a and more co sistent with the dignity tr gedy, would have reflected a higher lustre o n thejudgment of the

a W . a ctor . hen he (Mr Ke n) first entered , he took

o a . and Mr . Bo th by the h nd An action so generous so amiable could not have escaped the observation of the

a o a o o r udience . Fr m th t moment they took every pp tu nity of showing their admiration of hi s unrivalled genius and surely never was their applause more richly i merited . The piece was given out for repet tion

S a a a a on aturd y night , midst the un nimous acclam tions S a N t of the audience . ever l of the obili y were present, and a few ladies who seemed just to have left the ' Queen s drawing- room were conspicuous in the stage ” Mornin P ost boxes . g .

An E i atri 1 8 2 s ngl sh the cal work of 5, referring to thi ” production of Othello, says ’ Booth s entréeat the very opening of the scene was

o a hailed with the m st flattering pl udits , and by a house ff W a and en cro wded to su ocation . hen Ke n Booth tered a together the pplause was electrical . The cir cumstanceitself is only paralleled by the conjunction of Garri ck and Quin and our modern perfo rmers looked at o nea as uncer nother and then at their auditors , if do a . a had tain wh t to At length , fter Kean bowed at

a a z i o le st h lf a do en t mes, they sto d closely together an d indicated their gratitude by both bo wing very respect

o fully to the whole h use . Kean on this occas ion outdid

H E E LDE R B TH . 2 4 T OO

H o f N a Booth , like omer, learnt ature , which is the bre th ” o f Genius . ’ O xberry s Dramatic Biography thus speaks of the quarrel between Kean and Boo th “ Tho se who areinclined to believe that Edmund are Kean did all this from feeling toward Mr. Booth welcome to retain their opinions but we beg leave to w differ . That Kean ished Booth to have a competent salary we believe but that he also wished and intended to crush any hope of rivalry on his part we are abso

D a . has lutely sure . uring his c reer Mr Kean never suffered any performer to have a chance of eclipsing him in public favor ; he threw up Manuel because Rae

D e! elos no t was so excellent in , he would perform ‘ ’ a a a b in the It li ns, because he fe red to stand eside ’ P a eand no t Da Miss Kelley s g , he would allow vid

a H amlet Fisher to pl y for his own benefit .

E i no w a a xc tement was at its height , and pl c rds were

a Moor and Ancient teeming with admir tion of the his . The rival players were the principal to pic o f conversa

and Keanites he tion , parties were known as the and t

At the time o f receiving the inform ation from Drury Lane that he was no longer to appear in equal parts

a was a . H with Ke n , he lso notified by Mr arris that his

a at a wa a eng gement Covent G rden s not leg lly ended . Suff ering fro m bo dily weakness and long- continued

o f o o worry mind , these new distresses wr ught up n his excitability so as to unnerve him for further struggle .

H e a Ia o and a was induced to refuse to pl y g , note Raeat D L a was despatched to Mr . rury ane to th t TH E E LD E R B OO TH 2 5

’ — c . at in fo r a effe t This was three o clock , full time

a a o r a a a fo r ch nge of perform nce plac rded pology Mr . ’ o -a a n Bo th s non ppe rance in the eveni g. A London j o urnal says A great disappointment occurred at this theatre

D L o n S a n o unex [ rury ane! aturd y eve ing , fr m the ect wh ed a o f . o o o had o p bsence Mr B th , been ann unced to o f Ia o o perf rm the part o g for the sec nd time . The

was an a o a o house filled at e rly h ur, and fter c nsider

a had a and a o a o able del y taken pl ce , much dis ppr b ti n

a a a a and a expressed , the m n ger c me forw rd, re d the n followi g note from Mr . Booth

. o i Rae Mr Bo th presents his compl ments to Mr . ,

n a r x and begs to i form him th t , f om the excessive an iety

f has x a o mind he e perienced during the p st week , he finds himself so extremely unwell that he shall no t be a o n S a and ble to perf rm this eve ing ( aturd y) , he has ’ go ne out o f town to recruit himself.

Under these circumstances Mr. Raeinformed the

a a had o to audience th t Mr . Ke n kindly c nsented per o rm e n Ia o a . Ra f g , and th t he (Mr ) would u dertake the o f tkell a a o a o part O o . To this rr ngement c nsider ble p

o i a a fo r p sit on rose , and there was pretty general call c Kean in Otkello instead of Iago . Amidst the o nfu

o D and D o f si n , the uke uchess Gloucester entered the ‘ ’ and Go d S n was fo r house , ave the Ki g called , and

a ff a r sung with gre t e ect , and midst the wa mest demon stratio ns o o of l yalty fr m all parts o f the ho use . The who le audience is said to have become so perfectly

o o - a g d humo red that in the confusio n Mr . Ke n was per mitted to fo llow his original design o f acting Iago with ” o u e 8 1 t o . F b. 2 1 . further opp sition 4 , 7 2 5 TH E E LD E R B OO TH . “ The following Circular explains itself :

T H EAT E R AL D LAN E R OY , RURY ,

eb . 2 1 1 . F 4, 8 7

In consequence of the disappointment the public

S a i at D L a experienced on aturd y n ght rury ane The tre ,

- o a a by the non appearance of Mr . Bo th in the ch r cter

Ia o and a - l v Of g , h nd bil s ha ing been posted yesterday

S a all o f i . o ( und y) in parts the town , stat ng that Mr Bo th had entered into an engagement with the proprietors of

o a a r a C vent G rden The tre for th ee years , the m nager of Drury Lane Theatre thinks it due from him to the

i a a 1 th Mr publ c to state th t on Mond y last, the 7 inst ., . Boo th signed a written engagement to Drury Lane

a fo r kimse The tre three years , on terms proposed by lf , having previously stated that he had no engagement

o a a all with the C vent G rden proprietors , th t treaties

a a at an a had with th t the tre were end , and th t he re

a o ut o f quested his n me to be taken their bills , which had o a accordingly been d ne . In pursu nce of which

a Ia o o n and eng gement, he performed g Thursday night, was a z ad announced to repe t the character on the , ” a th and 2 th 4 , s inst .

To this Mr . Booth replied

G ENT LE EN M , In an unguarded moment I quitted Covent Garden Theatre (where the most eligible situa tio n fo r the exertion of my professional talents was o pen D L to me) , to go over to rury ane Theatre , where I have since found to my cost that every character which I was ever desirous o r capable of playing was already TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 2 7

was a in possession , and that there no chance of my p W a o pearing in the same . hat occ sion theref re could

ou a an ma y h ve for me , unless to crush y talent that I y possess in its infancy ? a o and a e I h ve seen thr ugh my error, h ve therefore r newed the negotiation which was so unfortunately inter ru ted o f Ga p with the proprietors the Covent rden , and have just signed a regular article with them fo r three years . Consequently I have no longer the po wer o f a ei ai n at D L o u a pp ar ng ag rury ane , and y will h ve the to a a n goodness t ke my n me e tirely out of your bills .

a a a I have he rd, gentlemen , th t your tre sury has ben efi ted co nsiderably from my appearance on Thursday

las . as k no a t I pecuni ry recompense for it . I o nly request that you will not seek to persecute o r molest

o and a a young man just entering int life , who c nnot aff o rd either to be shelved (according to the theatri cal

as at D L a r o r to phr e) rury ane The t e , be put into such characters as must infallibly mar all his future pros c pets .

o I have the hon r to be , gentlemen ,

Your very obedient humble servant,

OO TH . J . B . B

And the following came from Covent Garden

‘ ar a a th D u In reply to the Circul d ted Feb . 4 , r ry ’ h a o o Ga Lane T e tre , the pr priet rs of Covent rden The atre feel it incumbent on them to state to the public the follo wing facts

rst. That Mr . Booth having performed two nights at G o ia Covent arden Theatre , and a neg t tion going on 2 3 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

fo r - D u L Sub a three years engagement, the r ry ane

i a a i committee , previous to their open ng tre ty w th

o o - a Mr. B th , were bound , by long established , honor ble

a to o G o agreement , to pply the C vent arden propriet rs , and learn from them if such nego tiation was broken o ff .

o a i But , c ntrary to such f ir and Open communicat on ,

a o f o a they, in the bsence the C vent G rden proprietors,

. R o sent for Mr Booth to the Committee o m , where he

a a an a hastily signed memor ndum for eng gement , a a o neo f g inst which the Covent Garden proprietors , o n o w ft ar his coming to t n an hour a erw ds , openly and a o a - v inly rem nstr ted with the sub committee . a ri 2d . Th t under such circumstances the prop etors o f Ga r a law Covent rden Theat e , conceiving they h d a . ’ l v a ful c aim on Mr . Booth s ser ices , were bout to take r legal measures against him , when , th ough the medium

o f o f . saw i a friend Mr Booth, who his distress of m nd in consequence of the perilo us situation in which he had s and a dl ra hly ungu rde y placed himself, the nego tiatio n and a o n S was renewed, finally termin ted atur day, when the Covent Garden proprietors would with

a pleasure have permitted Mr . Booth to perform for th t

n at D u L a was l eve ing r ry ane The tre , but he litera ly too a ill to m ke the attempt .

d . a 3 For the truth of the bove statements , and for

o f a the justice their c se , the proprietors of the Covent Garden Theatre areready to refer to any tribunal com petent to decide o n theatrical questio ns but whatever ma o f o o f y be the result the decision , the pr prietors

o Ga a entr t ma C vent rden The tre ea that Mr . Booth y not be made the victim of disputes between the two the TH E E LD E R 5 0 0 7 71 . 29 atres his youth and inexperience alone having placed him in a dilemma fro m which it is ho ped the usual can ” do r E i and liberality of ngl shmen will still rescue him .

o a l A disgraceful riot ensued , and h wever v cil ating ’ l a . o a and inexp ic ble Mr Booth s c nduct ppeared , there were many who attributed it to waywardness and in

and to a experience , were willing ccept him at either

za o f o f house , not cogni nt the design to deprive him

i a s o f and a ef posit on , the me n livelihood , ultim tely to fect his i o a ban shment fr m the st ge . Considering the

o f ffi an network di culties which ent gled him , surely his ff a a as o o ence was p rdon ble , he p ssessed in an eminent degree the desire to redeem his faults but he w as the v o n-b n and a o ictim of a hired mob set y e emies , his p l ogies and explanations were received witho ut credence o r attention . a An excited audience aw ited the entrance of Mr .

ick rd II. o f 2 Booth as R a I on the evening February 5, at Covent Garden ; he was greeted by great applause

a a . nd hisses , and for a time the tumult was de fening

H e a o o a br vely, yet modestly withst d the disple sure

and was a o evinced , when quiet gr dually rest red the

o no t o o f play pr ceeded , without frequent utbursts min a o an gled signs o f disapprob ti n d pleasure .

o Mornin P ost 2 o o . 6 The f ll wing is fr m the g , Feb , 1 8 1 7 “ The singular contest between the two winter the

o ha atres fo r the services of Mr. B oth s occupied so much the attention o f the to wn that it is quite unnec essary fo r us to recapitulate the circumstances under 30 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

which it was commenced . In consequence of Mr .

n a o R ick ard Booth havi g been nn unced for , the house [Covent Garden! was last night crowded to an over flw a a o o had and o in few minutes fter the d rs opened , long before the rising of the curtain the tumult which even at that early hour prevailed strongly reminded us o f the scenes which marked the first opening of this theatre when we were nightly deafened by the shouts ’ o P . s. a of the bo ister us O . The curtain drew up bout

al a and . h f p st six, Mr Booth immediately presented himself to the audience dressed for the character he H is a r was ann o unced to sustain . ppea ance was highly and fo r a prepossessing, promised moment , from the

a o fervent pl udits which were heard, to gain the fervor f

o f a the house . But the voice parti l resentment soon

o a o and burst f rth from sever l pers ns, chiefly in the pit, the m arks o f kindness which he received fro m the maj o ri ty o f the audience were encountered by a noise suffi cient to frustrate all his eflo rts every appeal to their humanity to be allowed a hearing if only fo r a

n exi l was a . Infl b moment in v i y fixed to punish , they wo uld no t allo w o f explanati o n or apology ; his sen

had o no tence been predetermined , and they w uld t

o ne o in listen to w rd mitigation of the stern decree , though in all parts of the house the plaudits were very

a a o an n o f gre t, cc mp ied by the wavi g handkerchiefs and a a and h ts by the l dies gentlemen . After so me

n . o o o a a mi utes Mr B th b wed repe tedly to the udience ,

and . a no w a a retired Mr . F wcett c me forw rd , but the

o a o H e at a upr r c ntinued as befo re . p iently w ited fo r the tumult to subside , but to no purpose . All the usual

32 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

a o f predo minating . Sever l fights took place in the pit, which it was impossible to ascertain the object o r

R ick ard result . In the scene where appears with the ff was a o a children , a new e ort m de to pr piti te the non

a d o . c ntents A person suddenly displ yed a placar , ‘ ’ a o z inscribed Mr. Booth wishes to pol gi e . Applause

a f lo . a a a . nd disapprob tion ol wed Mr F wcett c me on ,

o . and led Mr . Booth to the fr nt The latter bowed

all an o . with humility , d implored permissi n to speak The boo n w as not granted ; ano ther placard was ex ‘ ’ ited an E a ? h hib , C nglishmen condemn unhe rd T is

was o ff u l and a was a t ro als ine ect a , gain it t empted to p a r o o o ecd with the pl y . Mr . Ba rym re brought Mr . Bo th

o ar to a r a f rw d dd ess the house , but this ttempt ended

like all those which had preceded it . The tumult lasted o f a o f i no t o ne to the end the pl y , wh ch word had

a o n . o been he rd fr m begin ing to end Mr . Bo th, in

n a the difli culties ma y p rts , under multiplied with which o he had to c ntend , frequently exerted himself in a

a a ff o as o f a m nner th t a rded the highest ide his bility , and made it impossible not to regret that a yo ung man o f such great merit should have been placed in such a Wh a o . a o situ ti n en the curtain fell , the m lc ntents put fo rt h repeated shouts and groans ; the applause pre

o a and a a o f a d min ted , general w ve h ndkerchiefs and

a o o h ts t k place .

N o w a a awcett a th t the pl y was ended , Mr . F ag in

who - led on Mr . Booth , seemed heart broken on the

a o . S a th occ si n ilence was ag in solicited , but wi out

a a . h o a v il T ey b th bowed and retired . The f rce was

o a then c mmenced . A person in the boxes ttempted TH E E L D E R R O O YH 33

and a to address the house , g ve much offence to some a o ne who were near him . This led to fight ; person

a ai o h and was spoke g nst Mr . Bo t , his conduct very

a fo r man generally resented . A new cry was r ised the a w ho a t was to a ger, f er some time permitted spe k “‘ L G — If at a adies and entlemen, I all underst nd thea a a a c ll m de on me , it is bec use an individu l has ’ a broken in upon the decorum o f the the tre . H ewas interrupted by persons demanding that the

a orator in the boxes should be removed . Mr . F wcett resumed I have been desired to send the peace officers to

o a . remove the pers n compl ined of This , in such a s am a a o f a a ca e , while I m n ger this the tre , is wh t I fiended a do . o o c nnot If the pers n has , it is in your ’ wn a to m u o bre sts turn hi o t.

H e and a then retired amid hisses pplause . At the ’ o f a i aw conclusion the f rce , K lling no Murder, Mr . F cett a to o a and an was ag in obliged come f rw rd , , in a a had ddress, explained th t he come from his home ,

a a whither he had retired, to nswer this dem nd . And as he apprehended it was Mr . Booth they wished to

n o a a a had re see , he i f rmed them th t th t gentlem n mained in the theatre until a late hour hoping the

o a a had audience w uld he r wh t he to submit to them , as he flattered himself it wo uld have been satisfactory

D a o an to every one . is pp inted d o verwhelmed with af o at n a had flicti n having i curred their disple sure , he o and wa ‘ g ne home s no w in bed . Then bring him ’

a a . a forw rd , some voices excl imed Th t, Mr . Fawcett no t did hesitate to say, would be a cruelty . H arassed 34 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

as his feelings were , to call him from his bed at that

a a was a late hour to ppe r before them , wh t he thought

far as no perso n co uld serio usly require . As respected

to himself, he (Mr . F . ) felt called upon explain the

c o nduct o f the pro prieto rs . The question between them and the managers o f the other theatre was no w

to a n law . a o reduced poi t of Th t decisi n , he trusted ,

o fo r and the public would be c ntent to wait , by it the

i f N h v managers must abide . Cries were ra sed o o s el ’ ’ ’ in N o Wo o o . And g, lves , Bo th f rever, etc , etc . the o was o did l h use sl wly cleared, and not entirely close ti l

’ ” twelve o clock .

a It having become generally known th t Mr . Rae o f Drury Lane Theatre was present in the stage box o f Ga o n o f a a Covent rden the night the riot, his ppe r

a ance there was severely commented upon . In letter

a o to the public , he ckn wledges his presence , but dis claims having go ne there to assist the oppositio n against

o . H ea Mr . Bo th s ys , “ o fli ciall I went there y, by the acquiescence and

i - sanct on of the sub committee , for the purpose (if Mr. Bo o th expressed any intention of retu rning to his duty at D L rury ane, which was not totally unexpected) of and expressing their sentiments on the subject, of gen o a a n n a r lly expl i i g their motives and conduct, in nswer to any attack that might have been made from any

o f a r quarter the the t e . Your humble servant

a ch 2d 1 8 1 . M r , 7

a n The man ger of Covent Garden , in a politely cutti g TH E E LD E R B OO TH 35

’ mmu ic t o o f . R co n a let er, replied to this porti n Mr ae s

Rae his a o Mr . , by own showing, c me int the

w an n to a a an boxes ith inte t ddress the udience, if o o had o fiered o f - l pp rtunity , not his own free wil , but

- o f D L sent by the sub committee rury ane . The

o r n n and t wn must su ely think it i dece t, highly dis

l mf r o ne a res ectfir o to o p to the , the tre send pers ns into

m o the o ther to interfere . I believe no such co missi n wo uld ever be o flered to me by the pro prietors of o Ga am to o n if C vent rden , but I free c fess, such

o l a o an a at all sh u d be ttempted , I w uld resist the m d te hazards fo r if I appeared in the lo wer bo xes o f Drury Lane fo r the purpose o f addressing or disturbing the a i o a o ud ence , I sh uld expect wh t I sh uld be convinced — o u t n . I deserved, to be turned with co tempt

a Your very humble serv nt, “ HN AW ET T JO F C .

a war a t a o A fierce newsp per raged , m ny writ en p lo ’ o na o gies appeared with Mr . Bo th s me surreptiti usly

in o la a and n used rder to al y the disturb nce , evide tly

a m a to pro tect the the tres from the o b . These f lse

a i i prints , with th t cr ng ng style which he would never

a o n to a o n to a h ve c descended d pt , served o ly incre se the i ntensity o f his distress fo r bo th physically and men

a was a o o f a o t lly he wearing the sh rp th rns mbiti n , yet,

When Fo unemeans to men mo s o o d rt t g , heo o u o n hem th a h a en n S l ks p t wi t ret i g eye.

This period of intense theatrical excitement proved 35 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

also a week of vital importance to the interests of the

o at a as c mmunity l rge , it witnessed the suspension of

H a as the be Corpus Act .

a a th 1 8 1 - On Mond y , 4 of February, 7, the sub com mitteeof Drury Lane Theatre filed a bill in Chancery

a u i oo and o ag inst Mr . J n us B th the proprietors of C vent

Garden Theatre for an injunction to restrain Mr . Booth from acting at any other theatre than at the Theatre

Ro a u D L . y l , r ry ane

a a th On Tuesd y , s , upon the humble petition of the

' laintifls p , their bill was dismissed out of the court upon

a their p ying the whole of the costs .

S t a rst a . a a On a urd y , of M rch, Mr Booth g in per fo rmed R ickard to an o verflowing house at Covent

i an a a a Garden . H s entr ce w kened the most r pturous

n s a cheering mi gled with hi ses wre ths and bouquets ,

a him and boughs of l urel fell around , which elicited

o a and ho o tin s a was gr ns g from his enemies . A p per thro wn fro m the pit containing a desire fo r him to

a and a o o z was a re expl in p l gi e . It re d by him and

s o nded to a p immedi tely .

L and G a adies entlemen , I h ve endeavored all in my po wer to ato ne for the disappo intment to which I

a a a i was instrumental in nother pl ce . I h ve apolog z ed

a o a o and a for my conduct on th t cc si n , ende vored to explain the circumstances u nder which that conduct

no a o and was influenced . I w gain m st humbly sin ” cerel a a y repe t my pology .

a o The pl y then c ntinued , frequently interrupted by

and and o shouts hisses , at the cl se he was called for

al a a a a ar by gener accl m tion . Mr . F wcett ppe ed , and TH E E L D E R B OO TH 37 anno unced a repetition of the performance on the

o a . a a o fo llOwing M nd y The dmir ti n excited by Mr .

’ o a o a ara Bo th s unquestioned bility, his y uthful ppe nce , and i a r a to a a d gnified be ring, tended g e tly ll y the storm

io and d and 6th a be of opposit n , on the 3 of M rch

a ick a rd o n o repe ted R to overfl wi g h uses .

London Mornin f f era/d a 1 8 1 The g , M rch 3, 7, said , “ The blockade of all the avenues leading to the n was a o n a a place i which Mr . Booth to appe r S turd y was fo rmed at an early hour in the afternoo n and the in stant the do ors o pened the theatre was filled in every

fo r a was a part. The struggle pl ces desper te in the extreme several perso ns must have been co nsiderably

o o o a and hurt in the c ntests which t k pl ce, hundreds , when they had at last go t sight o f the do o r which they

e fo r all inc nven to desired enter, wer requited the o iences to which they had subjected themselves by the n wa to an o o i telligence that the house s full verfl w . The audience were no soo ner assembled than the cry o f o all Booth f rever resounded from parts of the pit ,

an f the occup ts o which stood on the benches . This ’ was a a o f N o o and a nswered by the c ll B oth , the p rties immediately j o ined issue and tried if strength o r go o d

a a o o f will wo uld g in the victory . As sort of verture

a and w as o a o in cl pping hissing perf rmed , pers n the pit

a a a a o H ehas n u n r ised pl c rd bearing the w rds , bee p ’ i h n s ed o . a e ugh , let us forgive him The fem les in the

an o f n and pit were but few , but m y ladies distinctio fashionable appearance seemed dispo sed to lend their

aid a o . and o in f v r of Mr Booth , they were j ined by 33 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

the great majority of the audience . Several placards ’ ‘ were at diflerent times hoisted with ins criptio ns The ’ ’ ’ o N o Wea o pit f rgives him , persecution , p rd n him , ‘ ’ N o a L n fo r a o has pl ying in ondo three ye rs , B oth ’ ‘ ’ a a o N o done enough to ppe se J hn Bull , Booth , ’ ' o ut W a Booth forever, Turn the olves, Bew re , the ’ ‘ o f D L Ga N o artillery rury ane is in Covent rden , ’ hirelings fro m Drury Lane . These rioto us exclama tions and placards produced a tumult inconceivably

a . a o f gre t . But it was not all noise The ching bones m any a participator in theriot can testify that there was frequently something more substantial as in most

cases , so in this , where

E ach a ke ith ass o n o s li w p i gl w , ’ an r — s W o rds co mefirst d afte bl ow .

’ a r Mr. Booth s printed dd ess had been posted in and the theatre , and copies distributed through the pit

l a was a a a ga lery, so th t there no ttempt m de to spe k

no t a a o f from the stage , but syll ble the opening scene

f R a o ichard could be heard . Or nges and peel were

and . o a a thrown on the stage , as Mr Bo th c me forw rd

a to H e laurels were forw rded the proscenium . bowed

and a to solilo humbly, in g thering himself give the first

a a o o a to quy, the r pid tr nsiti n fr m the modest ctor the

n n a a a n exaltatio of the ster tyr nt , th t str nge entering i to ’ no and a ther s individuality, was eminently striking,

a a a . g ined the wildest ppl use In the next scene Mr .

a to a a s F wcett attempted ddress the udience , but ilence was as far O ff as ever and altho ugh the maj o rity were

ri a eager to hear him, the riotous mino ty were ag in vic

40 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

succeeding night , he merely suggested that he supposed ‘ ’ w as o f such the request, when cries Yes , yes , ’ o R ick ard . Bo th, responded Amid shouts of applause and hisses the fatiguing experience of that ” evening ended . So great a likeness between Kean and Booth was naturally tu rned to acco unt by the detractors of the

n a o a a a you ger ct r . In stature and ppe r nce the resem blance was striking ; the faces of bo th were pre - emi nentl so o f l s a ari n y hand me , c a sic l regul ty and possessi g

a i great mobility o f fe ture . The r temperament was sim ilar na , both being impulsive and energetic, copying h i a ture wit rig d truthfulness , and h ving that intensity o f feeling by which the actor is merged in the character

o a a he represents . This c mplete b ndonment of indi v id ualit a o f a y , the surest tr it inn te genius , was the ri a distinguishing peculia ty of e ch , consequently both

a a o a n n turally d pted the s me style of acti g, founded o n o o a and that of C ke , yet possessing all the ch ste

al o f classic embodiments the Kemble school . This similarity o f temperament can explain that unavo idable a i s meness of taste and production , frequently ev nced

a rs and o o a by poets , p inte , act rs , m re cle rly than any argument which can be used to disprove the charge of

a imit tion .

H az a n a litt, after cknowledgi g that Mr . Booth g ve the tent scene in Richard better than he had ever seen it ” a was and a a a rendered , bec use he himself, n tur l , dds “ a Mr . Booth ple sed us much more as Iago than as ' R ick ard e a . H Mr. w s , it is true , well supported by

as Otke/lo a o Kean , but he ls supported him better in TH E E LD E R B OO TH 4 1 that character than any o neelse we have seen play

a a o n with him . The two riv l ct rs hu t very well in ” “ ha o : . s two c o uples . Again he n tes Mr Booth

o — he o f a a a a o f v ices , is the ch meleon qu lity c p ble ” n a in n reflecti g all o bjects th t come co tact with him .

H ea o f o n o ccuses him p ssessi g his own v ice, which “ he confesses wants neither strength no r musical ex s a a a o pres ion , but we also occ sion lly c ught the mell w tones o f Macready rising out o f the tho ro ugh - bass o f ’ ” a S n and Kean s guttural emph sis . pari gly grudgingly does this critic mete out his crumbs Of praise to him “ ’ Kean s l o and a who m he called fe l opp site ag in ,

r o a as o as a a with a timid se i usness , th t is ludicr us s rc s

o a a tic , he n tices his existence as gentlem n by the

a n me o f Booth .

r les er o o a R icka d III. S ir Gi O v Mr . B th pl yed and reack a ar 1 th altern tely, until M ch 5 , when Cymbeline

o o as P ostk u mu s o as was pr duced , with B oth , Y ung

Iackimo and as P ol dore. o n o n , Kemble y The f llowi g,

o o f P ostk u mu s area o his renditi n , mong the numer us flattering criticisms of the day

Sa u a . o a a a On t rd y Mr Bo th ssumed a new ch r cter, ‘ — that o f Leona tu s P ostk u mus in the play of Gym ’ . a has no t beline As this is a part in which Mr. Ke n

On L a o a o been seen the ondon st ge , c nsider ble curi sity w x as e cited among tho se who o nly give Mr . Booth

fo r u a o n and a was credit s ccessful imit ti , the the tre filled at an early ho ur to witness what was considered

a a n w by them his first gre t ttempt o his o n acco unt . It w as no t o a a a , h wever, with such feeling th t we rep ired

a a a o had thither we h ve been s tisfied th t Mr . B oth real 42 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

s act talent, and as the resemblance between the e two ors was never proved to consist in a clo se copy o f par

ticular a a o f as p ssages , general imitation style was as e y to be transferred to P ostk nmus as to any other char

a a a cter . Th t there is a resemblance , striking resem

a a no as N a bl nce , c n t be denied ; but ture has done

a a a a much tow rds ccomplishing this , we c nnot see th t o neactor in his style o ught to be treated with scorn

t a whilst another is praised o the skies . The st ge has

n . P ostk u mus its fashio ns . Success gover s taste In

o o f a had a Mr . Booth lost n ne the reput tion he alre dy

a a and a acquired . M ny passages he g ve with great p

ro riate o p p energy , s me with much dignity, and several

a a a a ff . o in tone of s rcasm , th t told with gre t e ect Am ng those last alluded to we particularly admired the fo l lo wing reply to l ackimo Your Italy contains none so accomplished a cour

tier, to convince the honor of my mistress ; if in the

o r a o u a holding loss of th t, y term her fr il , I do nothing o f i doubt you have store th eves notwithstanding, I fear ’ no t my ring . In the scene where Ia ck imo convinces him of the

a Imo en a o a fr ilty Of g , he m de some p werful ppeals to

ar o f a a feeling, and was rew ded with thunders ppl use ;

o a a l o was a o rs a cc sion l y , h wever, there c a eness ttend

ant O n o his vig r which it should be his study to dismiss . The want o f importance we complained o f in his Iago

o a to P os tk u mns w ar s metimes ttached his . This as p ticularl as o a a re y felt in the l t scene , fr m the wkw rdly

a w as tired silence he thought proper to t ke , which such as completely to skelvehim (if we may be allo wed the

44 TH E E LD E R B OO TH ceiving hints and remarks from a person o f old expe and W riencein matters of taste literature . ith your

R ick ard I was no t altogether pleased . You got through

a and it with too much bustle , ctivity , and energy, were rewarded with almo st unexampled applause but it ap peared to me a representation rather of pro mise than o f that full conceptio n and meditation I long fo r in a perfo rmer .

o r Ia o ff in Y u g struck me very di erently , I mean

act o f a was . the third the pl y, for the rest not excellent I have seen Garrick and most of the performers o f the

a e a n last g , but I confess th t on that eveni g I saw some o saw i thing new. I never bef re a scene in wh ch two

o a the w male perf rmers f irly divided cro n , and so com letel w as p y kept up the ball bet een them, to produce all ff o f the best e ects of illusion . Your tones insinua

o ar n o f eal ti n , in particul when you i fuse the poison j

n Otkello h a o sy into , were so true t at, by my f ith, I felt “ " a mmedi this tale might h ve won my credit too . I i a a s tely bec me impressed with the persua ion , this Booth will m ake a real acto r ! I set down these things be

a are o man ma c use , as you a very y ung , they y be of use to you . But I should not have troubled you with this letter were it no t for the particular situatio n in

no w a n which you stand . You h ve i curred the dis

s o f o a plea ure the comm n frequenters of the the tre . I

o n ma a kn w not how the co test y termin te , but I write earnestly to recommend to yo u no t to be cast down if a a all the event be unf vor ble . I sh be the loser if this

a o u o L brut l outcry drives y fr m the ondon stage , but ou r i y will not be the loser . The whole B it sh dominions TH E E LD E R B OO TH 45

l h undimin wi l be before you , w ich you may visit with

Yo u an ishod fame . are not driven from us for y defect

o f a i in your profession . The shortness your c reer w ll o nly have rendered it more illustrio us in the eyes of the

a a i nhabitants of distant p rts . You will be wh t in your pro fessio n is technically called a sta r ; and co untry

a in t i pl y g, under such circums ances , is, I bel eve , more

l r profitable than playing in Londo n . You wi l then e

u a a o r tw o t rn to us, after ye r , improved in your pro fessio n a t , and unanimously and r p urously welcomed, even by those perso ns who arenow most eager in ex

lodin . p g you I am , sir, u Yo r obedient servant, W nwrN ILLIAM Go .

a It is a received opinion , but an erroneous one, th t a L these occurrences b nished Mr . Booth from the ondon stage . On the contrary, he successfully pursued his at Ga and a ‘ engagement Covent rden , afterw rd played

W a frequently at other city theatres . hile his f ult was i i in s o f a ns gnificant it elf, it was moment to his detr ctors , as the rio ts m aterially injured him in a professional

a a view, although the result created longing for wider

field o f actio n .

t ff i a a a Mr . Boo h had many O ers , from prov nci l m n

fo r a o W W gers , the P ssi n eek , but preferred oolwich ,

ick r B ertra tk llo R a d III. m e where he played , , O , and

ir il s l rr ack a W S G eOree . From oolwich correspo ndent to a Lo n a ndon morni g p per, the following is taken w a Mr . Booth as received by a full and elegant udi

ar ir ile emi tory . In the ch acter of S G s his claims to 45 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

nence not i were only not equivocal , but fully establ shed . In the last act more particularly his asto nishingly strik ing display o f the variedly agoniz ed and frantic feelings with which S ir Giles is agitated at the failure of his

a o f all and schemes , c me home to the feelings , reit erated plaudits spoke the approbation of a crowded

a the tre .

rst o f a 1 8 1 . o On the 3 M rch , 7, Mr Bo th performed W d r tkello R ick ard III . at o o O lwich on the 3 of Ap il ,

and o n S a r th o f a S ir aturd y, the o April , he pl yed

' E dw a rd Mortimer in three diflerent towns . At eleven e A. . a at at o P . . Glo uc s M he pl yed Cirencester, f ur M in

’ and a a t . a ter, eight o clock in Cheltenh m For this rdu

o u s a a o irt chievement he received b ut th y pounds . This

o n a o o n 1 o f D pr vi ci l t ur ended the 3th ecember .

th 1 8 1 8 a at Stratfo rd o n On the 7 of April , , he pl yed

Avo n .

o so a o This lovely little t wn dmired by the t urist,

so o a o i universally s ught by schol r, p et, and div ne

a o f a to a has ever been spot peculi r reverence the ctor . With mo re than o rdinary tenderness he esteems the priv ilege of standing o n this so il as a portio n o f his birth

t o f ar right . The air o him is filled with images v ious

a o i a a Wal pl ys , m re we rd and f ntastic th n visions of p urgis N ight ; his mind teems with well - kno wn p as a a a t and a a s ges, while quot tions p be utiful f ll from his

o and a a o t ngue , he feels wh t glori us honor has been

a a a a beque thed his p rticul r art, not lone by the life o o o f o ne o al a l ng dev tion imm rt mind , but lso by the pro ud assurance that S k aksperewas an actor ! It was solely fo r the peculiar pleasure of performing TH E E LD E R B OO TH 4 7

a in this place Of rare remembrances , th t Mr . Boo th was as o a la induced ( , d ubtless , Others h ve simi rly been influenced) to perso nate the characters o f R ick ard and

k ck a at a To a S y lo in the little the tre Str tford . mind so u ar a a im pec li ly ttuned to mel ncholy as his , how pressive must have been the solemn grandeur of that sacred edifi ce where the Immortal Poet lies

Weenter theho ly o f ho lies ausehee P r , Fo r h s is theh h- es of N a u e t i ig pri t t r , S haks perei Wecanno t definethefull feeling O u r nnemo s s reea n i r t pirit v li g,

And baffling all art o f co ncealing .

N o t thesanctity p ower has left ’ O er the ace pl , D us t will all grandeur despo il And eas e r , B ut thecrea ures his enc has ro u h t p il w g t, And the sdo mhis en us has au h wi g i t g t, W eh ethemnd ho ds a ho u h ill liv w il i l t g t.

’ M an s heart w as theb o o k N aturegave T o her so n ; And timehas attes ted thewo rk

N o bly d o ne. T ho u h a es ha eassed s ncehis b th g g v p i ir , T w o o ds areeco u nt n his o h w rl r i g w rt , ha himthemo na ch f And il r o earth.

a fo r S ir d Mr . Booth appe red the first time as E w ard

Mortimer o at o in the play of The Ir n Chest, C vent Garden Theatre ; the subj o ined criticism records the

1 th 1 8 1 event, under date of 3 April, 7. 48 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

Relieved from the necessity of making a com a ar o a n parison , which might ppe invidi us , we h ve o ly to

o a o f . o i all remark on the perf rm nce Mr B oth , w thout at

o f at s . referring to the exertions his rival , the other hou e

o areso r o o f n These , h wever, f esh in the mem ry the tow ,

a o o as completely successful , th t it requires no c mm n skill in the acto r to gain a moderate portion o f public

a o . o n f v r But the genius and good f rtu e of Mr . Bo o th

all o o n fo r triumph over comm n bstacles, and ope him

as a a W an e y p th to f me , where the steep ascent ould de ter others from the attempt . H is exertions las t night as S ir E dw a rd added largely to the reputation which he had previ o usly acquired ; and if in the opinion of some they proved him to be master o f great imitative

o a a a p wers , they s tisfied every imparti l judge th t he was

a na the po ssesso r of gre t origi l talent . The fierce emo i a r t on , the ng y suspicion , the terrible remorse of the i murderer, who aspires to rise superior to gu lt, and

a a w claim spotless n me , were depicted generally ith

a a an a f fidel gre t felicity , and in some inst nces with w ul

' H is Wi ord ity to nature . scene with lf , in which he

a o f was r effec reve ls the secret his shame , pa ticularly

n a tive . The e ergy , resentment, and desp ir which

o prompt this discl sure were finely marked, and the stern reso lutio n consequent upon it was portrayed with

a o f a o a the h nd master . At the cl se of the pl y his o eff rts were not less fo rtunate . The confusion and horro r growing o u t o f the fatal discovery which results fro m his new but imperfect crime were happily blended with the remo rs e and agony which returning love for the innocent o bject o f his persecution failed not to in D E R B TH TH E E L OO 49

e l spire . H happily imagined and successful y executed the conflicting emo tions which riot in the bosom o f S ir

E dw ard and a o f , obtained the sympathy commiser tion ”

d and a a . the au ience , retired midst thunders of pplause

1 8 1 8 . o a his a a In July, , Mr Bo th m de first ppear nce G as and E i i a in l gow in d nburgh, in wh ch cities he pl yed H e all successful engagements . visited nearly the prin ci al l and a ar Lo o p provincia towns, re ppe ed in nd n in o f a Ga the fall the ye r at Covent rden Theatre , where

a R ick ard Ia H eim he repe tedly performed and go . i tated the attempt of a fo reign actor and played S ky lock

a al o w in the Jewish di lect and th ugh Mr . Booth as

l a H no t o fami i r with ebrew, it is p sitively known now whether he spoke occasio nally in that language o r played

H ea his part in H ebrew throughout . g ve this perform 1 th o f S a men ance on the 7 eptember, during the utu n

a ement at G mn o n g g Covent arden , which ter i ated the

th N o 1 8 1 8 . ft f 4 of vember, A er acting in several o the E D n nglish towns he proceeded to ubli , where he played

a eight nights most successfully, notwithst nding it was

Le H is a the nten season . share of the receipts mounted e and . H o n to one hundred four pounds visited, his o N S return , Bridgen rth, ewport, carborough , Beverly,

o at Y rk , etc . ; and some of the towns included in this tour the receipt of o nepo und is marked fo r the per fo rmance ir E d rti err nek of S w a rd Mo mer and y y S a . The Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres for years had possessed the exclusive privilege o f pro ducing

S a a a haksperian pl ys, by p tent conferred upon them

o . l o by the cr wn The minor theatres , a though c nducted

a a o ls with as much liber lity as their more f v red riva , were obliged to confine themselves to melodrama. 50 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

But the exclusive mo nopoly of the Immortal Bard by the patent theatres was often disputed by the

a o f Tr nspontine houses, which in their production

’ Shakspere s plays resorted to the introduction o f melo

a a and a a and u il dr m tic music , sundry lter tions c rta ments ,

o f law . thereby avo iding the strict letter the . Mr Booth bro ke through the established rules by perfo rming

R ick ard II! . at a D the Coburg The tre, in ecember,

1 8 1 fo r and H oratius 9 , six successive nights , on the o o n f ll wi g seven . The run Of this piece was interrupted by the death o f D the uke of Kent, in respect to whose memory the

a o o n an . 2 1 8 2 0 . o re the tre was cl sed J 4 , Up n its

o o B ru tus l opening Mr . Bo th perf rmed in the Fal of

a ui fo r all a T rq n five consecutive nights , when muse ments were again interrupted by the death o f George D n o a the Third . uri g the m nth of M rch he visited

and u L en Aberdeen, ret rned to ondon to resume his a ement at o a o n g g the C burg, which the tre opened

E o a d aster M nd y, April 3 , with the Crusaders and a oth H o f pantomime . On the , Mr. arris , Covent

Ga a a Mr . rden The tre , negoti ted with Booth to play

Lea r fo r six nights .

a o f L l The tr gedy ear was in especia requisition , a m h ving lo ng been remo ved fro the stage by royal

a as a o f Lear was a comm nd , the m dness simil r to the o f o a . o f . G dis rder the l te king The consent Mr lossop, ” a a was o L a was the Coburg m n ger, btained , and e r

o o n 1 th i 1 8 20 accordingly pr duced the 3 of Apr l, , with the fo llo wing cas t

52 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

“Le L ” performed , a scene from ar in Private ife , and ” the new pantomime of Fortunio . H evisited N o r

Ro and a a s wich , chester, M idstone , pl ying a few night in each place and o n the 2 5th o f July he opened at

a a and o ne Cheltenh m , where he cted five nights, night

H e a - o fo r Lud at Glo ucester . then took the st ge c ach

a a a o w n low . H is memor nd of this date cont in the f llo i g no te A lady alone and apparently friendless expired in the c o ach ; the scene was very touching we carried her for six miles ; the remembrance sadly aflected my a t n a fo r o f a c i g th t night, the suddenness de th com

l cta vian B r m pletey unnerved me . Played O and ert a " badly . “ In August Edmund Kean personated a round of ” a a o a fo r and ch r cters previ us to his dep rture America,

o a at D L Mr . B oth ppeared rury ane with him , enacting

Ia o his Otkello E d ar to Lear and P ierre g to , g his , to

ier . o . o a R a his y afi In Oct ber Mr Bo th pl yed in e ding,

o n to W and o a a a g i g thence eymouth , ther pl ces , re ppe r ’ in D L E a g at rury ane, under lliston s m nagement, on

ea ea r th o f N o . H L the 4 vember cted several times, as

as O eek ancanou k an m well p g , an Indian chief, in A eri can dram a ; and went through a range of characters “ ” a f successfully . The pl y o Julius Caesar was also

s W W l o as Cassiu a . pr duced , with Booth , J mes al ack as B r utus and n Ma rc Anton o f , Joh Cooper as y , all

a a fo r i a them ppe ring the first t me in these p rts .

h o o n 1 T is engagement cl sed the 3th of January, 8 2 1 1 . On the 1 8th o f this mo nth he married Mary

H at H o n . Anne olmes , the residence of the Mrs .

had a a a a Chambers , who alw ys m nifested gre t interest TH E E LD E R B OO TH 53

’ a and who o n in Mr . Booth s c reer, presented his wife her wedding - day with tho se well - kno wn jewels which ’ afterwards deco rated his Rick ard s crown . i and . a to a Mr . Mrs Booth m de a brief v sit Fr nce ,

n at a a and o and o n to stoppi g C l is Boul gne , their return England he decided to visit the West Indies pro fes

sio nall . a l D at a y They s i ed from eal , which pl ce he al a a purchased a pieb d pony n med Pe cock, to which he had a and a t ar become much ttached , who in f er ye s was clo sely identified with him in his o ccupatio n as a

a f rmer . The vessel was obliged to stop at the island o f Ma

and a i o f deira, , attr cted by the lovel ness the scenery, he was induced to pass a po rti o n of his time in survey

a fo r a ing its be auties . They rem ined sever l weeks at Madeira ; and as ho rses were exceedingly rare o n the island (o xen and mules being used on the mo untains

to a a . carry freight ) , Peacock cre ted gre t excitement

o f o o ff fo r . o Sums m ney were ered him , but Mr B oth

a a declined to part with his new f vorite . In scending

ai a a i o . o the mount n to visit C rmel te c nvent , Mrs Bo th

a a la a set o was c rried in pa nquin by n tives , who d wn

at H er their burthen the so und o f the Angelus bell . surprise w as great at o bserving her husband cro ss him

and a o o self pr y with them . At the convent Mrs . B th did no t u nderstand the conversatio n between her hus

a and a La a b nd the f thers , it being in tin , but she fter ward learned that he was invited by the Prior to attend

a a Carrnelitefo r o the midnight buri l of , which purp se

a he ascended the mountain again and lone .

a fo r In April he took p ssage himself, wife , and pony ”

Tw o o fo r a . in the schooner Br thers , Americ 54 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

As Mr . and Mrs . Booth were the only passengers on

a a the vessel, the c ptain resigned his c bin for their a a o and af a o f t ccommod ti n , ter tedious voyage for y

o at N o l V a. o f f ur days they landed orf k , , on the 3oth

1 8 2 1 o o June , . On his arrival , Mr . B th introduced h ert R . a Gilf imself to Mr Ch rles , manager of the ich

o a and an n a was ia m nd The tre , e g gement immed tely e ff . H o n 6th u R e ected opened the of J ly in ichmond , ick d Va. a R ar III . , in the ch racter of

' The eflect of a long sea-voyage and the excitement of playing before a new audience rendered him some

a a wh t tame during the first cts , but his fire and energy in the clo sing scenes delighted the manager and elec trified N a n the house . otwithst nding his comi g thus

a t as unheralded into s range country, in the sultriest se on o f a and a all a a the ye r, ppearing with the dis dv ntages

o of strange surr undings , he won the most eloquent praise from critics and audience .

ick rd R ickmond E x aminer Of his R a III . the said , Gentlemen who have seen Cooke in this part d o

a to o k im not hesit te pronounce Bo th superior to , and others who have lately seen Kean in the same charac

a a ter ver th t in some scenes he is equal , and in others ,

o in a a the m st try g of the pl y, superior to th t celebrated ” actor .

H e o o i a perf rmed f ur n ghts , and proved decided

i o f a at acquisition , as the bus ness the the tre was a very

. a R ickard low ebb The characters he person ted were ,

Lear S ir E dw a rd Mortimer and B ertram L , , . ater he

a t i ilfert a entered into con ract w th Messrs . G and Gr ham TH E E LDE R B OO TH 55 to act throughout the Union for a specified nightly sum . In a recent publication Manager Ludlow gives the ’ o f a a following account Mr . Booth s first appe r nce in

r V a Petersbu g, . D o o f 1 8 2 1 uring the m nth August, , one of the ’ brightest stars in the Western dramatic hori zon pre

n o sented itself in the person of Ju ius Brutus B oth, tkeo a o i a B oth, who , cc mpan ed by his wife , arrived t

N o ia a a a rfolk , Virgin , in vessel from the island of M deir . Why he came to the United States at the time and in wa n a and the y he did, u her lded unknown , I have never n e o . H ilfert been i f rmed presented himself to Mr . G ,

R o a and a to o the ichm nd m nager, s id he wished perf rm

o in that city . I understo d he had no letters o f intro

o ducti n , and there were some doubts whether he was the a a h n re l Booth or some impudent dventurer, who , avi g

o a a heard that Mr . Booth c ntempl ted visiting Americ ,

a wa o f n n took this peculi r y i troduci g himself, and, if ’ o n a o l p ssible , humbuggi g the Y nkees bef re the rea

R n a a a Booth should arrive . The ichmo d man ger, lw ys

a fo r o o and a n a a re dy s me b ld unusual dve ture , rr nged

o o fo r o nen and a o o with Mr . B th ight , c nditi nal exten

n . a sion of the engageme t Mr . Booth m de his first appearance in the United States there and at that time

’ R a R who w as act R a . . in ich rd III Mr ich rd ussell,

an o f a a n ing as m ager the Petersburg the tre , in the bse ce

l a a a a o f . a Mr C dwell , h ppened to hear Of the ppe r nce o f a oo R and a to Mr . B th in ichmond , went to th t city

n who was a a a ascertai the person , ssuming th t n me , and

a a is a had c me b ck highly pleased with th man , s ying he 56 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

engaged him to play one night in Petersburg , then

a R and to finish his eng gement in ichmond , return to H ehad Petersburg fo r a number of nights . selected ’ f r a a . Richard III . o his first ppe rance in Petersburg

a and - o The pl y was cast, put up in the green r om , and w the night on which it as to be perfo rmed stated . On o f da a a a the morning the y set p rt , the l rge bills posted ‘ on the comers o f the streets announced the first ap

earance . . p of the great tragedian , J B Booth, from the — ’ Lo o Ga D L . nd n theatres, Covent rden and rury ane ’

w as a A. . The play called for rehe rsal at ten o clock, M

o At the pr per time the rehearsal commenced , but with e ut r . H a o M . Booth had not arrived but the m nager

n and o a . said the rehearsal must go , he would h ve Mr ’ a Booth s scenes rehearsed fter he arrived . I think

had u and they reached the fo rth act of the play, I was sauntering near the head o f the stairs that led up to the stage , when a small man that I took to be a well

a grown boy of bout sixteen years of age, came running

a a a up the stairs , we ring roundabout jacket and a che p hat and fo r straw , both covered with dust, inquired the

- n a . stage manager. I poi ted across the st ge to Mr R at a had ussell, who th t moment observed the person

was and ri a with whom I conversing, hur ed tow rd us , a a n a o f a and, cordi lly gr spi g the h nd the str nge man ,

a . o a s id , Ah Mr B oth , I am gl d you have arrived we ’ were fearful so mething serious had happened to you . I do not think any man was ever more astonished than

o I was just then in beh lding this meeting . Is it possi

a a . R ble this can be the gre t Mr. Booth , th t Mr ussell says is ‘ undoubtedly the best actor living and I be TH E E LD E R B OO TH S7 gan to think Russell was trying to put o ff some joke

all. o a a upon us I bserved , however, th t when the sm ll man a n came upon the st ge to rehearse his sce es , he ‘ ’ at o and a n was quite h me , showed k owledge of the business o f the character that a mere novice or pre H tender co uld not have acquired . eran thro ugh the

a s a a a o r a rehe r al very c relessly, g ve very few speci l peculi r

i a o f act o direct ons , tried the comb t the last ver twice , ‘ ’ do and and a a . H e s id, Th t will , the rehearsal was over

R a had a then told Mr . ussell th t he been few minutes too late for the stage - coach that had left Richmond

a o a o a e rly in the m rning . And th t he s on fter started on

o and had a all wa — - five f ot , w lked the y, twenty miles that his wardrobe had been sent to the stage - o fficebe

was u had a a and fore he p been t ken by the co ch , , he

w as a fo r o a supposed , re dy in the city the pr per cl imant . “ W a at all an hen the curt in rose night, the comp y were on the alert to see the supposed great actor make

a n W o his entrance before the udie ce . hen the pr per l o n a a scene opened, Mr . Booth wa ked the st ge , m de

o o f o a a and an no rec gnition the recepti n ppl use , , in a a o f pp rently meditative mood, began the soliloquy ' ’ N o w W o f o ur disco ntent deliv is the inter , which he ff and l an ered with seeming indi erence, with ittle if y a a a re point, something fter the m nner of schoolboy

eatin a o f had p g lesson which he learned the words, bu t ~was heedless o f their meani ng ; and then made his

o an a a a . exit, with ut receiving y ddition l pplause I was no t where I co uld ascertain the impressio n made upon

a o n the udience , but the stage , at the side scenes , the

n at a all actors were looki g e ch other in kinds of ways , TH 53 E E LD E R B OO TH .

expressive O f astonishment and disgust . I was stand

. an o ld o K in H enr ing near Mr Benton , act r, the g y o f and as to a a the evening, I turned go aw y, he s id,

’ ’ W i o f L a . ? h t do you th nk him , Mr udlow Think, I ‘ i as o a repl ed , why, I think, I th ught before, th t he is ’ ‘ ! W a ou rn ? Wh an impostor h t do y think of hi y, ’ a o o f R ick ard sir, s id Bent n , if the remainder his

a should prove like the beginning, I h ve never yet , I

a a fo r n i an suppose, seen the char cter pl yed , it is u l ke y ’ saw o I o an I ever ; it may be very g od , but d n t f cy

’ o a a a l a it . I f und th t mong the comp ny , genera ly, like

f a man a R i a o . estim te the gre t prev iled, Mr ussell be ng

’

a . the only exception he , h ving witnessed Mr Booth s a at R o a cting ichm nd, still persisted in s ying he was the

r a a H is L ad g e test actor he h d ever seen . scene with y

Anne o and , where he enc unters interrupts the funeral

o K in H enr VI . w as as processi n of g y , tame and point as G less his first solilo quy . I had seen eorge Frederick

o R ick ard III . a Cooke perf rm , bout ten years prior to a saw o the time th t I Mr. Booth first, at which peri d I was

are a youth Of sixteen years of age , when impressions

a and reco llec vivid and l sting, I had retained a perfect

ff o a tion of the e ects Mr . Co ke produced on the udi

and a ence , myself included ; it seemed to me th t no great acto r wo uld pass through these two scenes with

a a a Mr o . th t c reless indifference th t . B oth evinced It a has ever rem ined a mystery to me why Mr . Booth ’ a a a and lw ys slighted the first tw o acts of Rich rd III . I can o nly account fo r it o n the suppo sitio n that it was with the view of reserving his powers fo r the remaining

h as three acts, in w ich considerable physical well as

60 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

’ a is a seat in this distracted glo be . In the pl y there a scene where S ir E dw ard attempts to disclose to Wil f ord a secret which he had kept securely fro m the o fo r a — a fo r w rld ye rs , murder which he had been

and a and a tried cquitted, at the tri l the course of jus ‘ ’ tice had been disturbed by cries o f Innocent ! ere the verdict had been declared . In this scene the neces struggle between his pride and shame , from the sit Wil ord — y of making this youth , f , his secretary , a - the cre ture of his bounty, the depository of this s terrificall a tounding secret, was so y wrought up and so magnificently po rtrayed that I was brought to a

’ o f standstill upon the stage , in wonderment the man s

a and o - gre t tragic powers , only rec vered my self posses ‘ o . o an Go o n si n when Mr Bo th said, in undertone , , go on I never had such an eff ect produced on me ’ by any other person s acting in the whole course of my

am Mr. o a dr atic career . Bo th had at th t time the finest stage face I ever met with ; its splendid contour had not been marred by the breaking o f what is commonly ’ and called the bridge of the nose , his eyes , of which

a a l a he m de gre t use in acting, were bril i nt and exp res

H amlet a sive , as says, an eye like Mars , to thre ten ’ a and comm nd .

o . o On his sec nd visit to . Petersburg Mr Bo th acted six nights to numerous and delighted audiences, then retired to a country-place to enjoy a respite from fatigue H elived at a roadside inn between Rich and mond Petersburg, where many travellers were in

o f . the habit tarrying over night . One evening, Mr Booth overheard the landlord commanding the waiter TH E E LD E R B OO TH

’ o o r a to get the new l dger s b ots , refe ring to fresh arrival who had retired early and thereby caused sus picio n in the mind o f the wary host . The bo y returned a a has no with the answer, The gentlem n s ys he

o at i a o and o . G bo ts up once , repl ed the l ndl rd, demand his skoes The bo y came back and stated “ in a a has no o . dism y, The gentleman s ys he sh es

o a The landl rd now bec me much excited , upon which

i w as a to Mr . Booth inqu red why he so nxious obtain ’ ” o Wh l co n the lodger s bo ts . y, sir, the host rep ied “ fusedl a an a a o y, we h ve str ge ch r cters st p here some

a a wa a n times, who h ve y of rising e rly in the morni g and walking o ff befo re any o f the family areastir so

a to o and I m nage get possession of their b ots, they are

a compelled to rem in until their bills aresettled . The host and his family assuring themselves o f the ” v a e il intentions of the footp d, as they designated

o o a x o the unc nsci us lodger, were exceedingly n i us in

a w tching his movements . In the morning the person who had been the cause o f so many dark surmises a his a a k s and to m de ppe rance at the brea fa t table, , the

s n o f o o o a tonishme t Mr . B th, he pr ved to be the dis tin uished a o o o g tragedi n , Th mas C per .

. R in S and Mr Booth returned to ichmond eptember, fi a n a o ln ful lled seco d eng gement, which pr ved more crative n tha the one of the preceding summer .

2 d o f 1 8 2 1 r New On the October, , he a rived in York , where he was immediately engaged by the manager o f

a at and o to the P rk The re , ann unced play R ickard on

th. o o f the s From the numerous allusi ns the press, the following is copied 6 2 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

L The notoriety of Mr . Booth in ondon (and from the various reports of our friends who had seen him

had r a r o u there ) g e tly excited public cu i sity . In co se

uencea a a a a at q , full and f shion ble udience ssembled an a n to é H e e rly hour on Friday eveni g, witness his d but .

was in n s o f a au welcomed by three long dist ct rou d ppl se , and we could perceive he was embarrassed and sensibly

’ ff W o o a ected . hen we reflect up n Mr . Booth s y uth ,

ff o a a and the e ect pr duced by his cting, we c nnot with

m ur a hold from hi o highest pr ise . In the tent scene

o na n he showed much rigi lity risi g from the couch , he

a to w an a d shed the bottom of the stage , and ith ttitude

x o a a o and and e pressi n of counten nce we c nn t describe ,

n t o was o f o will o f rget, but which neither that C oke ,

a W an Cooper, Ke n , nor allack, he made extraordinary

and most sensible impression on the audience . There was at a a o o first p use , which suddenly burst f rth int

o a o a a x o a l ng and r ptur us ppl use , intermi ed with l ud n a n R expressio s of pprobatio . In the contest with ich

o and i a a m nd , the dy ng scene , he was loudly ppl uded, and fell amidst the cries o f Bravo Bravo At that time there were but two regu lar theatres in “ ” N e o a o w Y rk, the P rk and the B wery . Stars were generally engaged by managers fo r the limited space o f

n and a six ights , r rely prolonged the engagement beyond o f a twelve . The repetition standard plays for a gre t

o o o ur number of nights consecutively, so c mm n in “ was n w ar a age , entirely u kno n by the Old P k p trons

a a nearly h lf a century go . ’ New On the occasion of Mr . Booth s first benefit in

o a H amlet err S neak Y rk he ppeared as and as y y , in TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 53

” N ew York the o ld farce o f Mayor o f Garratt . The P ost o f the ensuing day contained the fo llowing no tice At the close o f the afterpiece there w as an unani

i a a n o fo r . a an m us cry Mr Booth, sc rcely indiv du l le vi g

a fo r a o f r either pit or boxes, but w ited his ch nge d ess he then appeared amid the sho uts and huzzas o f a de l a an w ighted udience . The young str ger as so evidently

a a at o li emb rr ssed the unexpected c mp ment , that he w as l o a to a and a i a m st un ble spe k, addressed the ud e nce in a vo ice so lo w that we were unable to hear all We . o to sa he he said understood him , h wever, y that was overwhelmed with gratitude he knew no t how to express the feelings which their kindness and liberality had inspired he was unaccusto med o n such occas ions to address an audience he did no t exp ect the ho nor wo uld have been extended to him; he never sho uld and a never could forget it. This gitation evidently in

as to a and a cre ing, he bowed the udience retired midst

u a n him o s th ndering pplause , leaving behi d impressi n not a little impro ved by the mo desty of his deport t men .

Mr a n r New o . So B al F om Y rk Booth went uth , cti g in

‘ N o o a N ew an and S a timore , rf lk , Ch rleston, Orle s , av n nah ; his travels thro ugh many o f the So uthern States o a o o a being an v ti n. It is rum red th t he frequently expressed a desire to retire from public life and keep

a o u o a a lightho use . Th t he seri sly c ntempl ted such a step is sho wn by theannexed co py of a memo randum

1 2 1 8 2 2 of his own dated February , .

S o . o o o f and p ke to Mr Blount, c llect r customs, one E E LD E R B TH 64 TH OO

s H L e. of the pa sengers , about Cape atteras ighthous

e to the in - o and H offered it me with dwell g h use , twenty d 0 0 acres of land attached an a salary of 53 per annum , f r o il o keeping the light, government providing and

- o f . G cotton, a quart oil per diem rapes, water mel

ns a o , c bbages, potatoes , carrots , and onions grow in

- w r a abundance there . Rain ater the only d ink cistern

a o f o n the premises fo r that purpose . Abund nce fish — o fi nd and wild fo wl pigs , cows , and h rses good pas

i fo r a . r ture . Soil too l ght whe t or corn Flou bought

fo r o a . ff i f ur or five dollars barrel The o ce is for life , L and only taken away through misbehavior . ighthouse seventy-fivefeet high ; light requires tri mming every ’ 7 A O tax es wk at er. night at twelve o clock . eu Fire wo od is procured from the pieces o f wreck found o n

a a da the sho ls . One doll r per y is the charge for men

a . S who ssist in cases of wreck trawberries , currant

and a - bushes, pple trees should be taken there also

a a and t . P ine plough , sp des, ches of carpenter tools tables the best. Mr . Blount is to write me word if the o ffi can h ce be given me in April next, from is seat at ” W N a ashington , orth C rolina . It may hardly be necessary to add that he did not “ o a o f - i btain the situ tion lighthouse keeper, ow ng, as was eventually disclosed , to the timely interference of

a ri a o a ff the t cal m nagers , who were l th to su er the total a eclipse o f so brilliant star . Although his disposition was

and i n a ever humble ret ring, it is si gul r that in the zenith o f a and o w o f his f me with such gl ing prospects fortune, he sho uld have contemplated a life of hardship and

a compar tive poverty as more conducive to happiness . TH E E LD E R B OO TH 6 5

e a his and H now m de first appearance in Boston , ’ the event is thus spo ken of in Clapp s Record of the Boston Stage z The r a a o o first appea ance of this gre t ctor in B st n , where for so many years he has attracted those mo st o i and has conversant with the different sch ols of act ng, delighted elsewhere the most critical audiences in the

o as t n u o n w rld by his m terly impersona io s , occ rred the

em a aran R ick th 1 8 2 2 . H as 6 of May, ade his ppe ce ard a a is n , a ch r cter which he ide tified with wherever H is a a he has perfo rmed . cting then received the p

lauseo f and to his s a a p a Boston audience , up la t ppe r in a a ance this city , prior to his de th, he ret ined the

D n a positio n he so eminently deserved . uri g his eng ge

o S ir E dw ard Mortimer S ir Giles ment he perf rmed ,

verreack cta vian his H a mlet O , O , and for benefit, , on t r which occasion the receip s we e eight hundred dollars .

’ a a L E Booth s cting lways evinced genius . ike dmund

a a o his o f S Ke n , there was inspir ti n in embodiment haks

a a a and o o peri n ch r cters , even when the w rds were l st to a no fo r the he ring the eye needed vocal interpreter,

o o a an a t n o s B th , more th n y c or we have ever see , p sessed the po wer o f combining a meaning in every

and a i a to a gesture , s lent gl nce was equivalent dcliv

n n As o o W ered se te ce . a s lil quist he excelled . ith many acto rs all so liloquies seem like so man y titlepages to the succeeding acts ; b ut Bo o th avo ided all strai ns a n n and a a fter startli g poi ts , g ve to such p ssages , both in H amlet and R ick ard i r , an nte est without destroying ” o f a the unity the pl y .

1 8 2 2 - In the summer of , while the yellow fever was 66 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

i in al i . rag ng B t more , Mr Booth purchased a farm

- five H o twenty miles from that city, lying in arf rd

o n . a C u ty , Maryland This place bec me his constant o resort when free fr m the excitement of his profession ,

a n a a d was the birthpl ce of his children . It was alw ys “ ” w as a was a kno n The F rm , but in reality dense

o a i o n a a wo dl nd, merg ng one side into gre t forest , ” l Wo a fr cal ed the Big ods, which served as ee hunt ing- ground o n moo nlight nights when the whole place w as rendered musical by the baying of the bo unds

s a s and the call of the sportsmen . H i uncultiv ted po sessio ns lay three miles equally distant from three

a a a H sm ll vill ges, Bel ir, the county town , ickory, and

— a o r Churchville , which were merely h mlets , stopping places for travellers in the great wilderness o f the dis

ct - a a tri . The rough coach ro d to the F rm was made picturesque and delightful in summer by the massive

t a a rees which rched it . Along this stony highw y the

- bo a post y used to ride once week , sounding his horn , and tossing the ever- welco me letters and papers over

a . o a a o o r a a the g te From the r d cr ked , na row p thw y

o o l n was a w und to the B oth dwe li g, which set mong the

a o f a a - trees , quarter mile dist nt . This was a log cabin , plastered and whitewas hed o n the exterior ; the small

a n - a an d a a squ re wi dow fr mes, bro d, pl in shutters ,

o o f which , like the do rs , never knew the innovation

o a . l ck or bolt, were p inted red Four rooms besides

t and D the lof , the kitchen , the Old ominion chimney,

a a a a m de up picturesque and comfort ble bode , standing

a a o a in cle ring enc mpassed by huge oak , bl ck walnut, beech, and tulip trees .

68 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

ft come visits . This grand old gra ed tree was very tall

a and a . and str ight, sh ded the entire lawn

a was i The F rm belted by a thick , unbroken c rcle of n ative trees as far as the eye could reach it was co m letel o was p y is lated, and the chief delight of its owner

was so a a o . that it perfectly shut in , and w y from the w rld An extensive o rchard was laid o ut barn and stables

and o - were erected, a clumsily c nstructed cider press

was a — put together, which worked by the bl cks , nearly w all the labo r o f the farm being done by them . It as

fi i and the period of picturesque farming, when a ls sieves were used instead of the noisy threshing- machine and

fan o a o f the . Mr . B oth advoc ted the use lime on his

and o - o fields , f resaw the time when bone dust w uld be applied for manuring purposes: Substantial negro

ar and a a a a qu ters were built, valu ble viney rd pl nted a

o a wil swimming p nd, with its little isl nd covered with

- and a a low trees , a stre m for fish were m de by turning the numerous bran ches of a neighboring broo k into their respective beds ; the directing mind as well as the readiest hand in all these achievements being the ’ ” Massa s .

a a In a few years little graveyard was r iled in , where the Jewish althea bushes had their places among the

- yews and weeping willo ws . In country homesteads

a r and these priv te g aveyards are common , the duty of reading the burial service devo lves upon the m aster of the ho use when it is impracticable to obtain a clergy to o fficiateat man . Mr. Booth was often called upon the interment of members of his ho usehold here (the blacks being buried outside the rails) . D E B TH E E L R OO TH 69

no w in Mr . Booth , a farmer earnest, took a weekly

az o r a a a l n mag ine , p per on f rming, which he c refu ly hu g

- e o n as his a i s . H o file , he did pl y b ll imp rted fish for his f a a an lakelet, but a ter brief time they degener ted d

a a n a passed w y, like the Algonquin I di ns , whose war trophies and small arro w - heads o r elf - shot were thickly embedded in the so ft earth of the fo rest . The delights o f the new strange world to which he had come were minutely described in an old no te - bo ok (the pencil a writing sc rcely legible now) , interspersed with pas

a o an a o f o sages from pl ys, mem r d dresses, pr perties, and a di o a o f r st ge recti ns, births and de ths child en , time

a o o a o a and dur ti n of mete rs , stron mical data, fast d ys , ” and as a a So n o f Alkno mo ok l tly few verses c lled The ,

o to which it is now imp ssible decipher, but which were learned from him in childhood by the writer . “ ” H is l a a ibrary was pl ced upon few shelves, and i S o cons sted of volumes of helley, C leridge, and Keats , a az o f Wo an E and a Dic G etteer the rld, nglish French

’ tio nar R Alfieri Da y, acine , , Tasso, nte, Burton s Anat ’ o m a ar L y of Mel ncholy, Plut ch s Morals and ives, Milton , ’ the a Lo E a o n H Shakspere , Kor n , cke s ss y the uman

’ i and Pale s o o . Understand ng, y The l gy Three engravings adorned the walls of the single p ar “ ” o o f Ro a a o lor, Tim n Athens, The m n M tr n show ” “ in H ho w Die and D a o f g her usband to , the e th ” o na a o in B p rte , with these w rds written the clouds, ’ ” 31:d Ar mée r T . The simple fu niture o f this humble

w as o f as fo r home the roughest kind , but such would

a a its antiquity be thought v lu ble and desirable now. It consisted of a corner cupboard filled with quaint 70 TH E E LD ER B OO Ti l .

h n - c ina, a narrow looki g glass with the upper half bear o f o rere ing a picture the sun and mo n , human faces p

r s a senting each , tall b a s andirons, a high br ss fender, and

’ a spinning- wheel ; for it was the farmer s pride that all his blankets and woollen go ods came from the backs of

o wn and An o ld H er his sheep , were spun at home . balist hung by the side o f the amusing and instructive Almanack o n the wall an ink - ho rn and a bunch of l neces quills , together with ittle bags of seed and other

a a sary sm ll articles, were r nged on little hooks around

i - the look ng glass . The round Dutch oven that baked

a and s the wholesome bre d, the immen e heavy pewter

h m a an d platters from w ich the si ple meals were e ten, which served in later years as covers to the milk-croo ks in a - a the dairy, also the wonderful cr dle b skets for the

and a o dd a babies , many sm ller wicker baskets of sh pes , a i as would now be re d ly secured as curiosities . B ket weaving in the long winter evenings was the favorite ” a occup tion of Old Joe , young Joe then , a faith r him ful t usted slave to an indulgent master , who hired

to . a l had r Mr Booth year fter year ti l both g own old . L had as a o ld o e ong after the actor p sed aw y J , until his

a a in o f am own de th, rem ined the service the Booth f ily . There were some sternly enforced rules in this house

a n . hold . One was the entire bstaining from a imal food

al was o n — Anim life sacred the Farm , even the black

a a snakes, the d ngerous copperhe ds , and the destructive

a and o a . nighth wks op ssums , were sp red The loss of many sheep and ho gs induced this merciful farmer at las t to have his stock branded ; but farming was less

o a n s had pr fit ble tha plea ant, and the actor to leave his TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 7 ,

i n u o plough, like Cinc n at s, and go forth at the call f

a and duty . Very necess ry , though, were the calm rest and congenial labor on that secluded farm after the strain o n brain and nerves and the long wearisome

a travelling o f tho se d ys .

o a In the year 1 8 2 2 Mr . Booth welc med his f ther

R ar o o ar to his country home . ich d Bo th fr m his e ly manho od had regarded America as the desideratu m o f all and to s i men , he wished pa s the rema nder of his

in n a e n i a life the U ited St tes . H was e erget c in m nag ’ ing the Farm in his son s frequent and pro lo nged ab

and o o i sence , he empl yed his leisure in c py ng memoirs

o was o f eminent men . At the cl se of his life he ocen ” a a a o o f f Eneid i pied upon tr nsl ti n the , with a v ew of

n a adapti g it to the st ge . T heplay -bill announcing the first appearance of

o in a a at no w o Mr . B oth Phil delphi , the house kn wn as S a w l o n the Chestnut treet The tre, i l be f u d in full o n l a a o Ed the fo lowing p ge . Three ye rs previ usly mund Kean made his debut befo re a Philadelphia audience under the same m anagement .

a l a o H u Mr . Booth usu l y tr velled fr m arford Co nty to Baltimore and to Richmond in his carryall with two ” a a n a ar a a and fa horses, C pt i , very l ge nim l , the “ ” vo rite i H e en but dim nutive Peacock . frequently

o o a a who a a countered Mr . C per, the tr gedi n , lso tr velled his a a 1 8 2 . by own convey nce . In the ye r 5 Mr Booth s efo r E a o a am and an ail d urope , cc mp nied by his f ily,

o f a extract from one his letters to his f ther, quoted an al u here, refers to accident meeting with Edm nd

Kean . N EW TH EATRE .

T hemanagers respectfu lly info rmthepublic that

B T H MR . O O

f theT hea res Ro a D u Laneand o en a den is en O t y l , r ry , C v t G r , ef o r a f ew n h s and makehis s gag d ig t , will fir t appearancein this city o n

Monda E venin Februar 1 02 1 8 2 y g, y 7 , 3,

In theT ragedy o f R RICH ARD T H E T H I D .

hard Dukeof G o ster Mr. B oo th . Ric , l

Wm. arren . King H enry theS ixth Mr. W

rin o f a es Mr. H athw P ce W l ell.

ukeof Yo rk iss H . w l D M H ath el .

uk eof B uckin ham. Mr D . B . g W. Wood. H enr E ar of Richmond Mr . H . al ack. y , l W l eo f N or o k Mr uk hea t . D f l . W ly r e r T es s M . T . l Jefferso n.

ata b Mr. ar C y D ley .

Ratclifi Mr S n r. . crivee

f rd . M . efler n . Earl o Oxfo r. J j so ent f T o wer t B i . L ieu na o Mr. gnall rd S Mr H athw . Lo tanley . ell

rd a o r Mr. urk Lo M y B e.

T rr l Mr. u y e M rray .

unt r Greene. B lo M . een E izabeth M u . Q l rs T atnall . '

u f Y rk efi r n. D chess o o Mrs . j eso nne Lady A Mrs. Darley .

' ewhich a a o i eFa ceca ed the Aft r , f v r t r , ll S PO ILE D CH ILD .

O n Wed nesd a theI o n hes S ir E dw ard Morh mer y, r C t ,

h. Mr. B o o t O n Fr da N ew Wa to Pa Old Deb s S ir - iles Over i y, A y y t G

rear/z . B oo h. , Mr t

L TH E E D E R 3 0 0 771 . 73

L IV E P O L Se. 20 18 2 . R O , pt , 5

DEAR ATHE s are ri t a F R , At la t we ar ved af er pas ’ o f - a a o h a o sage twenty nine d ys dur ti n , w ich is l ng one

- L o from America at this season . To day we go to ond n

L an a d a a to - o o through eicester . Ke s ils the y fter m rr w, ‘ ’ ew o a a S a R a fo r N . S by the il s ich rds , Y rk tr nge th t

a ar and he should meet me here he re dy to emb k, to that very country I have just left H ehas been quite an o ill, and looks wretchedly . I passed h ur with him

at o ur a last night his quarters , and reconciled ncient

u o N ew mis nderstanding . The vessel he g es in to York

a will most prob bly be the co nveyance for this letter . I a H e really wish he my meet with success . has been a a and fiatterers all long victim to sharpers , who buoyed

o o no w him up with the noti n of omnip tence , which he and o o f awakes from , perceives the h llowness those on

a a o whom he mostly relied . M cre dy is sick, Y ung is

al and E l to gone to It y for his health, l iston is reported be dying .

a at D L Mr . Booth ppeared in London rury ane The “ ” r o fo r at e , opening in Brutus . Being l udly called at al o f n o the f l the curtain , he persiste tly refused to g

a a a o forw rd , urging as his re son th t the custom sh uld

a o n a at be b lished . After this e gagement he pl yed the

R a and o n his oyalty The tre , opening night after the per ” fo rmanceo f Richard the entire building was burned

o was an a to the gr und . It the result of ccident by

a a n n a which the m n geme t lost eightee thous nd pounds,

’ all a a n o a o while th t rem i ed of Mr . Bo th s entire w rdr be

h a n o f o ar were t ree ch rred li ks his c ronation coll , which

a a o n a n he fterw rd f u d mid the rui s . 74 TH E E L DE R B OO TH

1 8 2 6 From one of his letters dated February, , the following extract is taken

so x o f The distress is e cessive , in consequence the number of banks failing and the full weekly list o f bank

ru ts a p , that men look upon e ch other doubtful if they ’ a o wn a o o sh ll defend their , or ste l their neighb r s pr p

ert . a n all E a y F mi e stares ngland in the f ce . As for

a o f a the tricals , they are not thought , much less p tron m a w iz ed a io . The emigr t n to A eric ill be very numer

as fo r l ous, it is hardly possible the midd ing classes to ” o and o keep b dy s ul together .

an f r Mr . Booth received offer to per o m in rivalry W a D with . C . Macre dy in ublin , but not considering a sufii cient l the pecuni ry inducement , he dec ined and

li an e a at after fulfil ng ng gement Bristol , under the man

a ement a a H an . g of the elder M cre dy, he visited oll d At Amsterdamhe played Mamet/1 several times by special

o f an who at request of the Prince Or ge , was present

a o f a and e ch repetition that char cter, witnessed also

o a Ia o Mr S . his perf rm nce of g , on which occasion .

a a t/z llo Ch pman en cted O e .

o R a . After perf rming in otterd m , Brussels , etc , Booth

ai a a s led from the former pl ce for Americ , in the ship “ ” D a a a H illiert. o a o f r per, C pt in P ssessing facility

a had a acquiring langu ges , he m de himself master of a n L and m ny to gues . Greek, atin , French were the a o o f o l a G a and S a cquisiti n his c lege d ys , erm n p nish he

- in a and a a studied m turer years , Ar bic he ende vored to a o a a 1 8 2 cquire in age . On this h mew rd voy ge in 7 he

was his a was occupied in the study o f Italian . It h bit to set himself a task consisting o f a certain number of TH E E LD E R B OO TH 75

l words which he had previously written on s ips of paper, and as , he walked the deck of the vessel, to commit them to memory . An unfortu nate passenger who was allowed free ac

all and who i cess to parts of the vessel, , although nsane , was o o a a not c nsidered danger us , conceived the ide th t

o was a o and a a Mr . B oth c njurer, pr ctising the bl ck art

da o o upon him . One y, while the unc nsci us student

a in x ai n was in his c bin , his black girl rushed , e cl mi g, The craz y man is coming with an axe H eturned toward the do o r just in time to catch the W glance o f the intruder. ith the unflinching gaz e of

- o o o f a a self p ssessi n , he fixed the eye the mni c , who

a a l o a and a h gr du l y l wered the we pon, , letting it f ll be ind

a o a a . him , w lked sl wly w y

u ri a Mr . Booth, on his ret rn to Ame c , made his first a a a o n 2 th a 1 8 2 at a ppe r nce , the 4 of M rch, 7, the P rk

' a New and a R ze/zard The tre , York , pl yed successively ,

ir iles oerreae/z S ir E dw ard Mortimer P ost/za S G O , , mus R eu ben Glenro and S elim , y , , for his benefit, , in the ” e f n k o f and S ea . Bride Abydos, 9 m In the month

a o at a fo r of June he gain perf rmed the P rk, appearing ” as P esca ra in a h r his benefit , the Apostate, c a ac fo r S ter written expressly him by heil , and which he

o a had at first declined . The elder C nw y represented

as H emey a o n this occ ion . “ . Go in a a er Mr uld , The Tr gedian , s ys of the p “ fo rmance Certainly in the perso nation of P escara

o Ia o Bo th drew off some of that spirit which filled his g ,

a S ff a adulter ted it with hiel, and o ered it with gre t a a cceptance to the rank palate of popular audience , 76 TH E E LD E R B OO T/I.

’ h t n as sub e Darkeni ng is power o led b e j cts light .

a and Yet the fl shing magnetic eye the crisp, resonant , and changeful tones ; the n atural attitudes o f easy

t a a power ; the lithe streng h in ction , lways character

l o f ist e Booth, lent their wonted charm to this per

fo rmance P escara also, and made yield a transitory ” delight . In 1 8 2 8 he consented to undertake the stage man a ement o f a t a r N ew g the C mp S reet The t e , Orleans ,

n i o f fii end . u der the lesseesh p his , Mr . Caldwell

H e a i /z rd 1 pl yed R ea 11 . for sixteen nights to densely crowded houses . During his leisure hours he had per fected a a a himself in several French dr mas , pl ying, mong

’ ” Fa ie/ a De Tanered other parts , in G brielle Vergy, , “ S /zaksperein Shakspere Amoureux and being a n a u proficie t in the French l ng age , he was solicited by

’ Da i o f ea d O rlé ans Orestes Mr . v s, the Th tre , to play , in ’ ” H i a Racine s tragedy o f Andromaque . s accentu tion

t a was so perfect, and every peculiari y of French cting was him a so minutely observed by , th t the astonishment and delight were universal . At the close of the perform “ n was a a ce he loudly c lled for, and cries of Talma !

l a Ta ma saluted him , mid every sound of applause and approbation . “ H is copy o f the play of Andromaque is profusely i marked with stage d rections , and is accentuated in his

wn o a o handwriting . A n te of reference is m de to the “ fact that the role o f Orestecost the life o f the cele brated a Mo ntfleuri ctor , who enacted it with such force ” a a th t he exh usted his powers .

’ o The f llowing is a copy of the bill of Mr. Booth s perfo rmance TH E E LD E R B OO TH 77

’ L r n fi fi r n n D O R E A N S . H ! MR . BOOT

’ Au o ui d hu i ard 1 F ie 1828. j M i, 9 évr r,

Unerepresentatio n

D A N D R O MA U E Q ,

een actes et en es deRa c ne T a d e dans a u ee r g i 5 v r i , l q ll ’ . Bo o h o uea leo ed O r t M t j r r l es e.

D rs'rnrmrrro n

’ estefils d A amemnon Or , g ’ ’ rrhu s fils d Achillero i d E irc Py , , p ’ P lademi d Ores te y , a hoenix o u erneur de rrhus P , g v Py ’ ’ ndro ma u eV ved H ector A q , H ermio ne ’ Cléo neoo nfidented Andro ma ue , q ’ ehiseoonfidented H ermio ne C p ,

’ L administratio n a an ens ueles talens de . B o o h y t p é q M t , ' célébre a d en n a s sera en a reables au ub c do n tr gé i A gl i , i t g p li , t ’ e ees emress era o u o u s de eni les desirs a en a cet ll p t j r prév r , g g ’ a t stea o uea an so n d a decee eleo ed O reste r i j r, v t ép rt tt vill , r l ' ’ d ans la belletragedied Andro maqu edeRaci ne. Mme. Cho let ’ a bien vo u l u secharger d u roledifficiled And ro maqu epo ur ne pas fairemanqu er cetterep resentati o n . “ A New Orleans paper said : A spectacle of deep interest — o neas n o vel as it was pleasing — was o f fered a a a to last Tuesd y night in the Orle ns The tre , the lo vers o f dramatic talents . Yielding to the solicitations

a o f . o of sever l gentlemen this city, Mr B oth consented to present himself befo re a French audience in the part

o f Orestes . f o o and This e f rt , peril us in the extreme , which no thing but a wish to give to Frenchmen an o p 78 TH E E LD E R B OO TH po rtunity of judging fairly o f what is termed the E ng lirfi st le tra c ctin l y of gi a g cou d have urged Mr. Booth to risk , has been crowned with the most flattering success . The ever- increas ing interest excited by the warmth of ln a a n and im his fee i gs, the e rnestness of his m n er, the

etu o us a o o f an d a all p rd r his delivery, , bove , whenever

o o a Ores/es passi n rose high, when the furies g ded to crimm and w , criticism was merged in admiration , ith onevo ice all wondered that a stranger should thus feel ” o f R and express all the beauties acine .

a ff Mr . D vis o ered him three hundred dollars per

fo r a night a period of twelve nights , but prior eng ge ments would not allo w him to remain fo r so long a

a term . An arrangement was however effected for rep

etitio n o f r a z rst. an And omaque on Thursd y, The no uncement is taken from the M 20 Orleans Courier o f that date h Mr . Booth, highly gratified for the manner in w ich he was received by the audience of the Orleans The a o f tre , has yielded to the request the administration, that he would again play the part of Orestes~ before his

aff o departure , in order to rd those who could not pro cure boxes for the first representation an opportunity of witnessing his performance .

’ B h s n . Mr. o o t Seco d Appearance

AN DROMAQU E ;

T o befo ll owed by

T H E W T E R O RT ER’S F A P AMILY,

” by S cribe.

80 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

f l is ne sages read by firegrea t actor. fi f eatures gunned

w it/z t/zeireo eniu s a s beoured ou t ltis ric/z melodi j f g p , l c mletel absorbed b Mes ub ect ous tones a arent o . , pp y p y y j

Lateas it w as I could ha vesa t t/zemlzt t/zrou /z lis ten , g g

' in to el uencetill t/zen unhea rd and o w/ uclz beore1 g oq , f f

[sad no concep tion.

R t al . ri e urning to B timore , Mr Booth met his old f end, E m a . Tho as Flynn , who had recently arrived from ngl nd had a to a a Mr . Flynn rranged Open the Ann polis The tre ,

o and to to then in course of erecti n , proposed him play an ff a ar o f a engagement there , o ering cle third e ch

’ night s receipts . In due time Mr . Booth proceeded to Annapo lis ; but instead o f taking the usual mode o f

a a - and convey nce , he went in wood sloop, did not a i f a rrive unt l a week a ter the time nnounced . The

n and a e gagement proved a profitable one , the the tre o was nightly filled by the most fashi nable people .

S 1 8 1 In the month of eptember, 3 , he accepted an

o ff o . S act er fr m Mr impson to two nights with Mr .

o at a N ew o F rrest the Park The tre , Y rk . On the first “ a o o P ier re occ si n Booth perf rmed , in Venice Pre ” and er o served , Forrest yafi ; the sec nd night Booth

Ot/zello and o Ia o — a i acted , F rrest g , the the tre be ng co mpletely crowded to witness the great favorites in

two o . the producti ns Mr . Booth frequently expressed

’ a o Ot/zello his dmiration of Mr . F rrest s rendition of both

o had a o f Abo ut this time Mr . B oth obtained the le se

a and had a . the Adelphi The tre , Baltimore , eng ged Mr H e o Flynn as his acting manager. had designed pen r S 1 8 1 as had ing it ea ly in eptember, 3 but the building THE E LD E R B OO TH . 3I

n i and was a been undergoi g extensive repa rs , still in n

n o H l a u finished state , Mr. B oth rented the o lid y Street

a wa The tre until his o wn s completed . The princi f o a . pal members his comp ny were Messrs Flynn , D Wa R D ff Cooper, uff, rren , oberts, Finn , Mrs . u , and

Mrs . Flynn . During the season Charles Kean made his début

o a a a R iclza rd [I am bef re B ltimore udience as ! . H ” was o i o l let produced with the foll w ng p werfu cast, Mr. Booth accepting the part o f S econd Actor :

: . H amlet Mr C . Kean

Ghos t Mr. D uff .

Po l o ni us Mr. W arren.

h . Laertes Mr. Arc er

King Mr. Is herwo od .

H az ar . H o ra tio Mr . d

o . O s ric Mr. J . Seft n

- F nn . Firs t GraveD igger Mr. ly

- S eco nd GraveDigger Mr. Mercer .

in . First Acto r Mr. McK ney

B o h . S eco nd Acto r Mr. o t

F . O phelia Mrs . lynn

Queen Mrs . D uff .

’ ff Booth gave the actor s speech with great e ect .

a en masse to The udience rose , and cheered him the

as fo r a echo, much the be uty of its delivery as the modesty which induced him to select a subordinate a a n ff r r ch r cter, thus bringi g into e ect the enti e st ength o f o a his c mpany, and extending every adv ntage to the ” distinguis hed stranger . D o was uring the seas n , which a very prosperous o ne , he played several new characters , among which 8 2 TH E E LD E R 190 0 TH .

eR oderick D i mSeli mR icka rd IL P enruddock wer , , ,

Falkland R H ots u r and L uke , in the ivals, p , , in “ ” H is uk Riches . L eand other characters are thus criticised

H is o f L uke a representation is original and be utiful . The assumption of the lowly penitent after a co urse of extravagance and folly is among the most lifelike scenes o rna e Wh ever p y d by this master of the passions . o that has witnessed his representation can ever his hypocritical plea fo r mercy when discovered in his a r - f find tre che y, and his sudden , tiger like spring a ter ing it disregarded, and the bold transition from the

a a ar rufli an i f wning suppli nt to the d ing , defy ng, even in a n ? H is a h defe t, his i jured brother represent tion of t is character alone wo uld stamp him superior to any actor

H is Reu en lenro a on the stage . b G y is also much d

o r an a a mired f its chaste d be utiful perform nce . In

mo umful a tender passages, the and touching c dences o f his vo ice appeal directly to the heart ; and in the

o i a o xi representati n of sterner passages, his act ng ppr

a m tes to the sublime .

R ickard t/zeT11ird P escara S ir G iles ver As , , O reack S ir E dw ard Mortimer S /z lock Ia o , , y , and g , he is without an equal . H is fifth act o f Iago was a most exquisite portrayal l of character although Ot/zello in this scene usually em

o a and Ia o gr sses the ttention of the audience , g has but few lines to utter, yet with Junius Brutus Booth as the

a a a all v cr fty vill in , cowed , entr pped , with his e il pas

a a sions glowering in his f ce , we h ve seen his auditors a as t u f scinated it were wi h horror, oblivio s of all other

84 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

glance have disclosed to an instructed eye the H er

art a cules in his . This m nual eloquence (if we may a as a o n venture such phr e) esc pes imitati n , even in pai t

and io ing sculpture , by med crity, but, if ever studied , as equally precio us and difficult by tho se who know how i L s . to excel . a t even ng Mr Booth displayed it with surpassing skill .

a E . o i i Mr. J mes Murd ck, in his very enterta n ng book , ” a a ac The Stage , recently published , gives gr phic

a a . o count o f his first ppear nce with Mr B oth . H e says : Of all the men with whom my professional duties i o ne made me acqua nted , no , perhaps , impressed me so strongly as the elder Booth . There was something

ar a a a i a peculi bout him th t cted l ke charm , and com manded the respect and won the esteem of all whose a o dvances he enc uraged but he was, nevertheless ,

o n a and generally undem str tive shy . A morbid ten

eo f n a and a den y feeli g, which g ve rise to wild defi nt

o at a a m ods , led him at times to things v ri nce with the

o i o f c nventional ties society, and entirely Opposed to his well - known gentlemanly character ; and these eccen tricities caused coldness and reserve both with himself

ri . and and his f ends But when the cloud passed , his

a a was a o f n true n ture sserted itself, Booth cap ble wi ning the love o f many and the esteem o f all. H is literary as and o f a o t tes abilities were high rder, while his men

a fo r a tal qualities were rem rkable cle rness and range . I remember the first time I was brought into direct con tact with the magnetic influence by which he ruled the

an a w dramatic scene d sw yed his audience . I as quite TH E E LDE R B OO TH . 35

o n a a a lad , and had not been the stage more than ye r o r two when I was selected to play l/ Vilf ord to his S ir ’ e d r rtimer fo r . a b E w a d Mo the first time Booth s f ce ,

a o fore he met with the ccident which disfigured his n se ,

u as i a and o f was of s rp s ng be uty, , speaking in the spirit . ’ s s i z enthu ia m , to my m nd s eye it always reali ed the ’ ideal grandeur represented in H a mlet s lines

S eewhat a gracew as seated o n this brow ’ H yperio n s cu rl s thef ro nt o f Jo vehimself ; ’ An eel ke ars to threa en and co mman d. y i M , t

Such was the impression made on my youthfu l mind in ’ gazing for the first time on Booth s features when

ir E d ard ortimer o f dressed for S w M . The sweetness a in a i ar settled melancholy was his f ce , wh le his l ge ,

was l lustro us eye fu l of gentle tenderness . But I was

a f destined to see that f ce and eye in a dif erent light, and to realize a very different feeling fro m that of quiet a o dmirati n . On the morning of the rehearsal I found the great

a an and a an d as tr gedi pleasant communic tive , I was anxio us to learn the business o f the scene and to exe

to a a o o f a cute it the s tisf cti n my superior, I was ttentive and deeply interested . My readers will call to mind the relations o f S ir E dw a rd Mortimer and his young

a was a secret ry . The latter t ken fro m an inferior po si tio n in life and elevated to the co nfidence and friend

o f a o a ship his p tron , ver whom hung that fascin tion to o — a W a the y ung profound mystery . ith th t mystery was co nnected an iron chest which S ir E dw a rd was

a known to visit often , and alw ys alone , returning from 86 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

such visits with evident marks o f the deepest agita

tion . “ [V i/ ord a One day f , being eng ged in the secluded a m part ent where the chest was kept, with surprise

a the o erc observed th t key was in the lock . After v o m

‘ ing ho nest scruples in a lo ng struggle with fatal curi

o sit o o s y , he knelt bef re the mysteri u chest and tu rned the key then hesitating for a moment he searched the apartment in order to be satisfied that he w as secure

a o N o w a n from observ ti n . the st ge busi ess Mr . Bo oth was so particular in teaching me was this : I was en n a o f joi ed to take time , and after a c reful survey the

to a premises kneel on one knee , place my left h nd on

o f Ohest a n o the lid the , then , gently r isi g it, to h ld it

a and o o to a a o n b ck , , lo king cl sely in , pl ce my right h nd

a o the p pers which it c ntained , turning them over as if seeking for something hidden beneath . The strictest in juncti o n was given to pay no attention to what was to

l o n a S ir E dw a rd a ho w o fol ow the p rt of , no m tter l ng a the suspense might last, but when I felt his h nd upon u t a n lid o f my sho lder to urn bruptly, letti g the the chest

a a and o n a a fall with sl m , , still my knee , hold firm tti

was a o f . tude till I w rned , by a sudden pressure Mr ’ and a o . B oth s hand, to rise to my feet st nd before him On the night o f the perfo rmance I was nervous and ill at eas e from the want o f a firm and assured hold

a had a at upon the words of my p rt , which I m stered sho rt n o tice and with mo re attention to the sense than to a H o speci l expression . owever I c ntrived to keep n o n up with the actio n o f the play . At le gth I f u d

myself in the presence of the mysterio us chest . I was

88 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

u a Thus was I , an unfort n te tyro, saved from disgrace by the coolness and kindness o f one who had every reas o n to be moved by a very different state of mind ’ r a fo r n fo it was evident th t , but the actor s readi ess i o f o ne and skill in improvis ng the business the stage , o f the most important and interesting scenes of the

a play wo uld h ve proved a mortifying failure . The

i d o f act w as o wn a s k n ness the its rew rd, for my pre ent recollection is that the audience never evinced the slightest indication o f the presence o f a disturbing a o f element, but on the contrary g ve evidence their satisfaction by applause at the critical moment to

newa which I have alluded . In more than o y Booth w a an a H eal as true poetic genius d dr matic artist . ways seemed to grasp the ideal beauty and intellectual

’ o and o o power of the poet s th ught , w rked out fr m the

’ author s language the full force of the emo tio n o r w as o passio n which the r ot o f its mental growth . Thus

as and o f ih m tering the intent purpose the words , he vested their utterance with the graceful foliage o r the more vigorous strength of branch and limb from the power o f his varied and wo nderful forms of expression . This he seemed to do apparently with so much real

’ enjoyment of the poet s innermo st feelings that the

o o f a iz r ferv r a gr tified sense se ed upon his hea ers , and established a congenial and sympathetic communion ” a with the enthusiasm of the ctor .

a 1 8 2 o at In J nuary, 3 , Mr . Booth pened the Chestnut

S a i a a a treet The tre , Ph l delphia, in Sertorius , new pl y

a D a . written by the eminent l wyer, avid P ul Brown This performance is spoken o f as being exquisitely TH E E LD E R B O O TH . 39

f and beauti ul, and the tragedy one of great interest na o o f a sublimity . At the termi ti n this eng gement he o a l N ew a o L l visited pr fession l y Orle ns, M bile , ouisvi le ,

o was a and Cincinnati . In 1 833 the f llowing letter d

a H is a a dressed to his f ther . letters gener lly present o f curious combination theology, metaphysics , hygiene , and farming . F ID v R AY E a.

DEA ATH E — was bad R F R , The weather so that the o o n W a managers closed the h use ednesd y evening . I

1n o f and to had to play on Thursday, lieu it , again “ ” e a an night . As Jo will w nt F ny to finish the

o Let n a ploughing, I send her h me . the ge tlem n who

a a a t a o bears this h ve Pe cock to ride b ck o B ltim re . w a Let Joeso the timothy in the me dow . Tell Junius n t to o i a - a o go op ssum hunt ng, or setting r bbit tr ps, but

o ff o f to let the po r devils live . Cruelty is the o spring

l a a an d id eness of mind and be stly ignor nce , , in children ,

o as to o sh uld be repressed and not encouraged, is often

a i o . the c se , by unthink ng beings who surr und them A

i ak o an has th ef, who t es property fr m other, it in his

n a a i power, should he repe t, to m ke a restor t on ; but the robber o f life never can give back what he has wanto nly and sacrilegiously taken fro m beings perhaps

o n a l a a o f n a r o r inn ce t , and equ l y c p ble e joying ple su e o i suffering t rture with h mself. The ideas o f Pythago ras I have ado pted ; and as respects our accountability to a a o a m nim ls hereafter, n thing th t an can preach c ' n a make me believe to the co tr ry . Every death its ” o wn a . E o f venger breeds nough this . I think there

- a a a oo is some parsnip seed h nging in p per, by the l k 90 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

- a a o . Let o eso w ing gl ss , in the p rl r J some , on manure ,

a - o r u in sm ll trenches; in the garden , say three fo r rows . “ ’ R a D Israeli. e d the wondrous tale of Alroy, by

H ewas a , in the twelfth century, the Jewish Messi h , ’ and a a o f a o , but for a wom n , the d ughter r bber s

a a us n o re d ughter, would h ve given , perhaps, a ther li io n as all i a g , were obl ged, by the theocr cy , who were

an a H his ministers d supporters , to embr ce the ebrew

a t o r a bo and a a f i h , die . Junius is good y, will m ke

o a . o sch l r of no mean capacity I h pe you enjoy health , and u o n i take my theory fo nded posit ve experience , as Ri respects going to sleep . se early, walk , or use some

air exercise in the open , and , when going to bed, drink a w arm — a r liquid , either we k grog, g uel, or even

a n a a w ter ; dri k ne rly or quite pint at one draught .

Lie a nd n down directly, in fifteen minutes you will si k a a a ff tea into comfort ble leth rgy . Co ee and , however,

as o f must be avoided , they prevent sleep . A slice

a - and - and an o o bre d butter, ni n or lettuce for supper,

to — o prior this potation , is good, much pium , and o f a a a h rmless qu ntity, being contained in the latter

a veget ble .

G o d a bless you . I hope soon to see you gain .

' o aflectio nateso n Y ur ,

. . oom J B B .

. n Mr Booth entered i to an engagement with Mr . H a fo r o f amblin , to pl y three nights a week the period a a ye r . The Richmond Theatre was taken for this

a o f a purpose , and part the company proceeded in

9 2 TH E E LD E R B OO TH . immediate return to the sick -bed of another of his H e in i s children . arrived only t me to witne s her

was l death . The loss of this child the cu mination of

a s fo r his sorrow, for his mind bec me entirely un ettled a time and a painful illness fo llo wed . While the bereaved mother braced every nerve to

ai i a nurse her rem ning ch ldren , and the f ther had quite ffl H a l n a a succumbed to his a iction , Mr . mb i , un w re

had l and how grief settled over the ittle farm , unable

' by theheavy snow- storms to eflect any communication a had a with that retired pl ce , brought a lawsuit ag inst

n his H is a Mr . Booth for breaki g engagement . f ther,

R o mi o ro ichard Bo th, deter ned at this crisis to st p p i a i ceedings by going at once to Ph l delph a. Distressed and was o ut infirm as the old gentleman , he set upon i the tedious journey with alacrity , not heeding the n clement weather . Old Joe accompanied him as pro tector and waiting- man such confidence was placed in

n slaveor li e a a the i tegrity of this f f by his leg l owner, th t consent was readily given for him to acco mpany his m as ter ; the fact being well kno wn to all parties that the slave could as sert his freedom as soo n as he o a W t uched the soil of Pennsylv nia . ith laudable pride

’ the old man used to tell how he repaid his owner s o H e c nfidence by returning home . died in slavery, a - o ld man true hearted , faithful , good , enjoying the respect of all who knew him; he never murmured at

o wn o a his b nd ge , but with his small earnings he bought

o f a o the freedom his wife , so th t of their numer us a o f mily only f ur of her children were born free , the

’ o thers being slaves to his wife s master until theageof

- twenty four. TH E E LD E R B OO TH 9 3

a u was a a d The thre tened laws it mic bly adjuste , when ,

o n o a l n . o recovery fr m severe i l ess, Mr Booth c nsented to perfo rm three nights a week during a period o f three

o at o a N ew o . m nths , the B wery The tre , Y rk This

a at a in a a the tre th t time was its p lmy d ys under Mr . ’ H amblin s a was a man man gement , and conducted in

o ar o o o ner superi r to the P k . Mr . B th pened with “ ” Richard III . to a house yielding thirteen hundred

a do llars . H eeng ged to play o n the intervening

r S at la a un nights at the A ch treet The re , Phi delphi ,

o f . D fo r a o ne der the direction Mr uffy, the sp ce of

o . o o a i a m nth , Mr B th pl y ng altern tely in the two cities and travelling the intermediate distance by stage s f co ach . The la t night o this engagement in Phila

a a Oroonoko and as was u n delphi he cted , he h rryi g thro ugh the performance he fancied some di ssatisfac e f was . H a tion expressed by the audience rose, a ter killin kimse n to o o a g lf , and walki g the f tlights excl imed , ’ ’ ” I ll serve yo u as General J ackso n did I ll veto yo u . At this period the celebrated veto messages of General Jackson were creating great excitement in po litical

circles . n N ew New a Mr . Booth we t from York to Orle ns , and a W thence to Mobile , afterw rd through the estern D n o a a cities . uri g this t ur the c l mity which seemed to

as a incre e in strength and frequency with maturer ye rs , a o f as sumed many singular ph ses . In the records his

o o r y uth , when his professi n held eve y incentive to

a i and a a — mbit on , energy, indef tig ble labor, when his a a a — weo c h bits were most temper te and bstemious , casio nally find those slight aberrations o f mind which 9 4 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

mark that exquisite turning- point between genius and

a madness . T o those ccustomed to the intense excita bilit ia i y of pecul r temperaments , who see how the bra n of the actor is wrought upon by the assumption o f har

o r wing, though fictitious scenes, and who feel how

i a o a o a frequently the del ne t r of the p ssi ns thinks , dre ms ,

exists in a sphere of ideality , it is neither strange nor diffi cult to co mprehend how such minds are over

r i and n th own by the react on , oftentimes rui ed utterly

L kes eebes an ed o u t o f uneand harsh. i w t ll j gl , t

Thus from early youth his children learned from their mother, the devoted and unwearying nurse of

al o n him who endured these periodic t rtures of mi d, to regard these seas ons of abstraction with sad and reverent forbearance .

. o at o o f i u Mr Bo th, the conclusi n th s to r, com menced an engagement in New Yo rk on the 2 9th o f 1 8 6 at Na o a o n August, 3 , the ti nal The tre, situated the o o f L and S c rner eonard Church treets , under the man a ement o g of Mr . Flynn . The first night he perf rmed

S k lack do l y , when the receipts were sixteen hundred lars and he played eight nights to houses almost

l as h o f equa ly crowded . The intellect and f ion the city

l a H ei a a nightly fil ed the the tre . v sited Philadelphi nd t and Bal imore , in October sailed with his family for E urope . H ewas engaged on arrival to play three nights at

D L r - five rury ane Theat e for twenty pounds a night, o i ick ard H e Ia o o pen ng as R . played g the sec nd

k rd e R ic a o e . H evening, and repeated n th third after

TH E E LD E R B OO TH 9 5

d at S war played a brief engagement the urrey Theatre, W going thence to Sadlers ells . While perfo rming in Birmingham he received news o f at o f a a so n H o o the de h f vorite , enry Byr n Bo th ,

had t a in whom he left wi h his f mily London . The grave o f this so n is in the churchyard at Pento nville

a a G l . (ne r th t of rima di) On the stone erected by Mr . ’ Boo th are the beautif ul lines taken from Southey s “D ” octor,

O h een in s eo f death et s i m cho ice , v pit , y t ll y , Of t h then ard all-beho din ee wit i w , l g y , I hink I s e e a I eh e nd hear th o ce. t t , y v i

The following letter refers to this bereavement

EN T N V ILLE an . 28 1 8 . P O , J , 37

DEA ATH E — We at as a and R F R , have l t c use , severe

E a . a a it is, to regret coming to ngl nd I h ve del yed writing till time had so mewhat softened the ho rror o f H r a ea the event . Our dear little en y is de d H c ught

ml - o x and a the s a l p , it proved f tal he has been buried

a in a r . bout three weeks , the Ch pel g ound, close by

a his has u s — so as Think wh t loss been to , proud I w f n as o him above all others . The i fernal disease has

c a E w and pla ed H agar [a sl ve! in the hospital . d in ‘ l the baby were inoculated and aregetting we l . I

T hebaby all uded to in this letter was no t named until shewas nw l two ears o ld it bein a matter o f d scu ssio n whether to ca her y y , g i ll w M man who was a ter theacco mished o un S dneCo e rs . B ate f pl y g y y ll ( ),

w Mrs B oo th o r A esha in o n o f ri te ith Mr. d rec ecti a reat a o an . o g f v , y , ll ’ n mt Fina thedecisio n was madeb Mr. B oo th o eo f Maho es wives . lly y writin to his i e Ca thel1ttleo neAs a in remembranceo f that g w f , ll i 96 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

a a L E shall pl y few nights more in ondon , and at din

’

o . a r burgh bef re I return Forrest won t pl y any mo e , H so areB ar at leas t he says so now . amblin is here

o f a R rett Boston , Ternan of Philadelphi , and ice ; the

o ne a a has a only , it ppe rs , who re lly bettered his for

e in:Crow o ne h in L k . tunes ondon is y , would ave

o th ught , the Cockneys could not understand , but con

a a o a a trary to all c lcul ti n it is the m ni amongst them . H are al oping you in he th, and may long continue

rav er o f so, is the p aflectionate Your son ,

oom. J . B . B

After this melancholy lo ss he started with his family for America on the ship Ontario . On his arrival in

New o a at o r a Y rk , he cted the B we y The tre on the night

th o f 1 8 i of the 4 July, 37, receiv ng two hundred dol a r an l rs for the perfo m ce , which closed the season . In the fall o f the year he fulfilled an engagement at the

m in N ew a Oly pic York , and on the third night he p

k r W eare as ic a d III. a a ick d R . R . R p , Bl ke en cting

nd a ueen i etk as mo . E l zab L , Mrs Bl ke Q , and M ter ouis

a D u ke Y rk a was Bl ke the of o . The the tre brilliantly illuminated in commemoration o f the evacuation of ew N York by the British .

was a N o a Mr . Booth eng ged to perform in ew Y rk t

o o n 1 8th 1 8 8 o n ar the B wery the of February, 3 , but riving in the city was as tonished to find the building in

co un r hereGod rst a ked with man and E n a becaus eshe t y w fi w l , gg , cameto us o n Frida which da is consecrated to theN orthern y, y ” V enus .

9 8 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

ears feet features and the resonant tones of former y , the sight and sound were indeed pitiful . The head

o f hu tones were scarcely perceptible . But instead moring this vocal infirmity he spoke with all the o ld

a and a . m stery of motive , let the result t ke care of itself

o a ft By this persistent meth d , in less th n two years a er the accident his voice had co mpletely recovered its

as can a original scope , variety, and power, we ttest by ”

and a a o . close , solicitous , compar tive observ ti n During the last ten years o f his life the elder Booth pas sed a considerable portion of his time in themidst

o of his family, occasionally making professional t urs

a a ac with a careless disreg rd of f me , which may be counted for by the depressing conscio usness of the

a had a a o . ccident which m rred his f ce and v ice It was ,

a t o f n a a however, a m rked peculiari y his e tire c reer th t he would consent to perform at any theatre regardless

n and was al a of its prete sions, equ ly unconcerned bout

a o f a as the costliness or gr ndeur his w rdrobe , so long it

o f and a H e a was correct in point fashion of d te . pl yed

l N ew n a annua ly in Boston and Orlea s , in which pl ces

a a a he was an est blished f vorite , and , h ving removed

to o d a his residence Baltim re , ma e periodic l visits to the u Farm d ring the oppressive heat of summer . H eindulged his philanthropic inclinations unre

and a o f a i strainedly, the p rticulars some ch ritable v sit o r do natio n would frequently be disclosed to the fam il a y by the gr teful recipient .

’ a l o f a The writer s e rliest reco lection her f ther, when

o f i she was four years age , is see ng him upo n his knees

o a o bef re a rough sailor who had sked aims at the do r . TH E E LD E R B OO TH 99

T hepoor fellow had a bad wound on his leg which was

and . himn suffering from neglect, Mr Booth brought i to

o as and a a u the h use , and w hed b nd ged the inj red limb a with thetenderest c re . These little deeds o f kindness were o f almost daily H e occurrence . thus sought to impress upon the minds of his children the lesso ns of humanity to man ea o wn a H e and b st more by his cts than by precept .

i o u a and del ghted to seek out the destitute and unf rt n te ,

to aid a them by his symp thy as well as by his bounty . It was on o neof these errands of mercy that the

o rs o ntaine L o ut h e thief, F , alias ovett, was pointed to

L w as . him . ovett then confined in the Lo uisville j ail It was remarked that he had no means of obtaining

and . o a counsel, Mr B oth, although assured th t his case

a and a was hopeless , sent him a l wyer defr yed the ex his ri al Lo penses of t ; for which kindness , when vett “ a o f n he rd it, he bequeathed him his skull, desiri g that

i a a it should be g ven fter his execution to the ctor Booth , with the request that he would use it o n the stage in ‘ ’ H a a o f mlet, and think , when he held it in his h nds , ” n the gratitu de his kind ess had awakened . The skull was accordingly sent to his residence while

was o he absent from the city , but Mrs . B oth , finding t a had im wha horrible thing been left in her house , mediately retu rned it to the do ctor to whom it had

fo r a a and been intrusted prep r tion delivery . (In 1 857 had to the doctor, who retained the skull, sent it E w d in Booth , who used it in the graveyard scene in ” H a o n a a a mlet sever l occ sions , and afterw rd had

it buried . ) 10 0 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

In theyear 1 850 the elder Booth played several Na a h S t engagements at the tional The tre , Chat am tree , ew h a r N York . At t is time the Bro dway Theat e , now a demolished , was the only establishment on Bro dway r misunder stri ctly devo ted to the regular d ama. A

a Mr. rs standing h ving occurred between Ma hall , the

Mr . a . lessee , and Booth , he was prev iled upon by Mr N a Purdy, of the tional , to accept an engagement with

H ewas o R . S H . . him . supported by J hn cott, A was Perry, and a superior company . The house

hi s . nightly crowded with admirers Subsequently, he r New r made his last appea ance in York at this theat e ,

n r S 1 8 1 i Sk lock o the oth of eptember, 5 , play ng y and

Wa n t 1 8 0 . In shi g on , in 5 , Mr Booth performed

rutus 50 11 E w Titus . o B , and his d in, The author, J hn

a . R H oward P yne , witnessed the performance In ich

Va. a mond, , shortly afterward the same play was repe ted , father and son assuming the same characters . In the m i R sole n nterview between them , where the oman n n m a Consul is condemning his so to an ig o inious de th, a f his counten nce portrayed an agony of su fering, and tears streamed from his eyes as he took the head o f his

a a w recre nt boy to his bosom . The udience as breath f i w less rom ntensity of feeling, when the silence as sud denly broken by an exclamation from a drunken man

. . a in the gallery Mr Booth, still bsorbed in the part,

z a l raised his eyes and, ga ing fixedly tow rds the gal ery, l said stern y, Beware I am the headsman , I am the executioner . The effect thus produced was shown in

o f a a the continued silence the udience, which gre tly

[0 2 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

i S k lock The much dreaded t me arrived , and y had

not appeared . Messengers had been despatched to i l r var ous loca ities, and the theatre had unde gone a redericks thorough search . Mr . F was in a most unen

a and a w as vi ble state of excitement, the pologist ready i his at w th speech , when the exact point of time the door of a dark scene - closet was quietly opened from

n S k /ock h the i terior, and y mysteriously emerged t ere redericks from , gently pushed Mr. F aside , and walked slowly and in deep reflection upon the stage .

a - a ri a z The st ge m nager, st cken with ma ement, van ished i - o nto the green r om , where he related the aston ishin n g behavior of Booth , vowi g that he was always ” a — an enigm , that he never could understand him . As he had not recently appeared in the character o f S k /ock was i y , he consequently more than ord narily had r nervous on this occasion , and dressed ea ly and retired to the most secluded spot he could find , in order e to go over his part without interruption . H was quite n a f innocent of havi g cre ted any uneasiness or con usion , and n l co sequently wa ked out of the darkness , com let l ro p ey eng ssed in the part .

ri 1 8 2 In the sp ng of 5 , Junius Booth , his son , who a i had been for several ye rs a resident of Cal fornia, a a to i inten c me home on visit the fam ly, and with the tion o f taking his father back with him as he had been earnestly solicited by the Califo rnians to induce him r New to go to that count y . They left York in June ,

a - accomp nied by Edwin Booth . In thirty seven days a San a a a they re ched Fr ncisco , h ving lost eight d ys by detention in Panama . TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 10 3

h n L r Mr . Boot Opened at the Je ny ind Theat e , and

a attracted crowded udiences for two weeks , when the a engagement was imperatively termin ted, the site of the theatre having been previo usly purchased fo r the H H e erection of a City all . then went up the river to l at S a fu fil an engagement acr mento, where the patron o f ar l age the public was comp atively sma l, and his

h d al and reception , t ough cor i , was not so rapturous enthusiastic as that which greeted him in San Fran cisco . In September he again performed in San at Francisco , and attracted overflowing houses the

a Adelphi Theatre . In these Califo rni a eng gements ’ E a all o f his a dwin Booth acted in ne rly f ther s pieces,

R ickmond Laertes emea an er H d . appearing as , , y , yafi n to S Mr . Booth sudde ly resolved to return the tates, and insisted on his son remain ing to pursue the pro

n a ha fessio he had chosen . Of l te years he d frequently l expressed his intention of retiring from active ife, and i as a sad int mation that the idea had weight with him ,

’ he gave his R icka rd s diadem — an ornament that had been for years a treasure of co nsiderable care — to his

n a o no t . eldest son, sayi g th t he sh uld need it This resignation of the crown was painfully remembered in connection with that final event so soon to distress

o a them , yet he parted fr m his sons in excellent he lth

and o a to a n o . spirits , looking h pefully forw rd re chi g h me “ H ehad engaged his pas sage o n the Brother Jona ” a o n i a n i th n , and the morn ng of st rti g, while anx ously superintending the transportation o f his baggage to the a a o at a a boat, he was somewh t nn yed the dil tory m nner

o of a rough , surly sail r who was executing the work, 10 4 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

man l and kindly urged the to show more a acrity ; but , i a observ ng th t he obstinately moved slower, and was “ ar W disposed to be insolent , he inquired sh ply, hat ” areyou employed for ? who are you ? “ a a t o r l The se m n wi h a vicious lo k g t rep ied, I ” a tkie am f . o a a im Mr . Booth, with a quick intuiti n of ch r cter, G mediately exclaimed , ive me your hand, comrade I am a pirate man o z The lo ked abashed , yet, evidently recogni ing

ri the spi t of kindliness which prompted such a response ,

extended his hand in silence . New a N On his arrival in Orle ns in ovember, feeling

a at well and vigorous , he accepted an eng gement the

e o t . H S . Charles Theatre perf rmed six nights , and w and as greeted with thronged enthusiastic audiences , but could not be prevailed upon to extend his engage

as o i . H is a ment, he was desir us of reach ng home l st appearance was as S ir E dw ard Mortimer in the Iron ” oka u m Chest and as f L p .

a a t a Being greatly exh usted f er the perform nce , it is

o a a a supp sed that he contr cted cold , which r pidly grew “ e n a o . H S . w rse took passage for Cinci n ti on the J . ” and b a Chenoweth , ecoming in a few d ys very feverish ,

a a a he dr nk freely of the Mississippi w ter, which gre tly

was no increased his disorder . There physician on

a and no t a o bo rd, he would trouble the c ptain to pr cure

a a a ha one , but with all th t p tient endur nce which d ever

a z ff unmunn urin l ch racteri ed him , bore his su erings g y H e and alone . kept his stateroom almost entirely , to

a avoid remark , and by this means incurred still gre ter

10 5 TH E E LD E R B OO TH .

a neglect . H is dise se turned to consumption of the o th N bowels , of which he died on Tuesday, 3 of ovem

1 8 2 2 P . . o f re ber, 5 , at M The steward the vessel as a ar a ported his l t words to have been , in sc cely udible “ ” a ! ! ! i voice , Pr y pray pray On reaching C ncinnati the Mas onic fraternity had the body embalmed in a

o metallic coffi n and dep sited in the Baptist vault .

o and Mrs . Bo th was telegraphed for, arrived in Cin cinnati i — expect ng to find her husband very ill , the

a an o n a second desp tch, n u cing his dece se , not reach l o a he ing Baltimore unti her departure fr m th t city . S as o returned home as soon p ssible , bringing the body with her for interment . For three days the house in which his remains lay l was thronged with people of every clas s . The wa ls

a and of the parlors were dr ped with white , pictures

o and all o a re mirr rs were covered , the rn ments were

a ar S moved , excepting m ble figure of hakspere , which was a a ff i and z pl ced ne r the co n , seemed to ga e down s upon the fo rm beneath . The face under the gla s plate

a a and was very c lm and be utiful , the brown hair more thickly strewn with white than when his family had seen it last ; the gray eyes were partly visible between

al - i l the h f shut lids , and the lips , reta ning their life ike

a a an e o . S d r col r, were smilingly closed uch pl cidity pose pervaded the whole countenance that it was felt

' how easy the transition must have been from sufler H ow ing life to this calm sleep . often had his chil dren fo und him at rest with thi s same look upo n his

a and had no t N o w f ce , stepped softly to disturb him

a its perfect naturalness occasioned doubt in m ny minds, TH E E LD E R B OO TH 10 7 and physicians were sent for to satisfy his family whether H was this was really death or a trance . ope futile and

a a a v in but while it nim ted the hearts that suffered , it had o as o as bec me p werful life . The family and attendants proceeded to the ceme ter o o o n o o o y, foll wed by a long processi n f t, comp sed

a o a of members of the the trical professi n , priv te citi z and a ar o f o a ens , l ge concourse c lored people , m ny

o as o a of wh m , as well thosemc nnected with the the tres , a o n ar a . wore cr pe the left for thirty d ys Mrs . Booth had requested that no music sho uld be played as the u o h o at and f neral m ved t r ugh the streets , or the grave ,

’ with respectful o bserv ance of her wish V o landt s full t band removed o a distant part o f the cemetery. As the pro cession toiled slo wly up the hill and entered the

a o o f D a grounds , the f int thr bs the ead M rch broke mournfully upon the ear ; the co ffin was placed o n a

w at a o f a o bier, and set do n the g tes the m us leum .

a a o and m The music died w y in ech es , the inister, with

a o a his long bl ck r bes fluttering in the wind , beg n the m R ” o a o L . s lemn service , I the esurrecti n and the ife H undreds o f men stoo d bareheaded in the bleak even in air was i no g the ground thickly crusted w th s w, which o a and su n no w began fluttering d wn ag in , the threw its last gleams over all as it was slo wly sinking behind the hills . n n had o In the spri g , when the s ow entirely g ne , the

and f a o a o grave was dug, the co fin , t ken fr m the m us

w as . was n to a leum , buried It subseque tly removed

lo t G a . larger in reenmount Cemetery, B ltimore ’ On Edwin Booth s return from Califo rnia he erected 10 8 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

’ a a monument over his f ther s grave . The sculpturewas

executed in Boston , and completed in the spring o f

1 8 8 and a 5 , the monument was pl ced over the tomb o n

’ rst Ma a a . s the of y, his f ther s birthd y To thi plot have

i o f R ar a been removed the rema ns ich d Booth , f ther of

n u o who 1 8 0 Ju ius Brut s B oth , died in 4 aged seventy i six , and the bodies of five ch ldren .

o n t o o w The foll wi g letter o Mrs . B th as written by the manager of the N ew Orleans Theatre

N EW O LEAN S Dec. 6 18 2 . R , , 5

Mrs . . . T H J B BOO . DEA ADA was R M M, It with deep regret and sorrow a a o n that we re d here a telegr phic paragraph, the morn i n 2 d . o f u ing of the nst , announci g the decease yo r late

o rt n a worthy husband . It was the m re sta li g bec use the

D ri a leas t expected . u ng his eng gement with us in the

a a a l a St. Ch rles The tre it was gener l y rem rked how well

o o and ho w o . he l ked well he perf rmed For myself,

’ who remember him since his first week s perfo rmance

n S and a a a in the U ited tates, h ve been well cqu inted

nal was a a with his professio career, I gree bly astonished at the vigo r evinced by himduring the six nights he

and a performed with us , the conclusion of his eng ge ment seemed a cause of regret to the public generally .

a a o f o a i o a As m tter inf rm t on to you , I w uld state th t we paid him ten hundred and eighty - four do llars fo r H e a his engagement of the six nights . spoke of h ving

o his o no t been r bbed o n route thr ugh Mexico , but I do

a a a a recollect of wh t amount . Trusting, m d m , th t you will find consola tion in the reflection that the dispensa tions of Providence arealways fo r wise and merciful

H E E LD E R B n o T OO T/I. m it must be ad itted , and a very natural outgrt of a disposition we can but wish was more common in a

cruel and selfish world .

Wea a o n h ve been told th t once , when living his

H a o fo r all farm in rford C unty, he sent his neighbors and and a o an d a friends, far ne r, to c me to his place t W a . o tend funeral hen they arrived they f und, to their a i a was ar a o f gre t d sgust, th t it the c c ss a favorite horse a a m th t he wished to h ve buried with all due sole nity .

o The cr wd retired, some in disgust, others laughing at

o a . H is the strange perf rm nce family, however, under n i stood the meani g of the th ng. A physician was sent

and a o and for, the chief mourner p ssed thr ugh a long

a l unusu l y serious attack of disease . One night when

was act no t ar no r o he to he did appe , could he be f und H e no t o at his lodgings . did c me home that night .

N o ext m rning he was found in the woods , several miles a H e from the city, w ndering in the snow . was taken

a H is a o c re of. der ngement pr ved to be temporary,

a and his reason returned in few days . Wehave the best authority for believing that this tendency in Booth to disappoint audiences before whom

was a a and fo r so he to ppe r, which he was much cen sured (mo st people being inclined to attribute it to a a o n ar h bits of dissip ti ) , ose far more frequently from

a o ha o W at c uses ver which he d no contr l . hen home he would sometimes disappear in a very strange and

a o a a fo r un cc untable m nner, remaining aw y hours at

o a time , and return silent, th ughtful , and completely

a a an abstr cted, either un ble or not inclined to give y TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 1 1 1

H is a s account o f himself. f mily were not di posed

at to question him closely such times, but were fully convinced that these strange freaks were not in the n remotest degree connected with i ebriety . Anything

ri h al u occur ng suddenly, w ich was c c lated to rouse m a o his str ngly sy pathies, would c use him to forget entirely his engagements ; and many times large au iences a n a ara o n d , imp tiently waiti g his ppe nce the

o and stage , were do med to disappointment, left mut tering their imprecations , while he himself was quite unconscious of any impropriety till reminded of his neglect . Wecannot close this very imperfect analysis of the moral and intellectu al character of o nein whom the elements were so strangely mixed as to lead the world

o o f o i t doubt whether they were go d or ev l, without a glance at his religious convictions .

These , as was to have been expected, partook r and a a a la gely of his native mental mor l ch r cteristics . a b c and n They were bro d, li eral, omprehensive , fou ded W i upon love . ith him , ndeed , love was the fulfilment

and of the law, without it all loudly proclaimed pro fessions were but sounding bras s and a tinkling cym ’ bal.

H e man H is was emphatically a devout . last words in ear a a uttered the of the stew rd of the ste mboat, his ‘ a ! a ! sole ttendant in his dying hour, were Pray pr y ’ a ! a o pr y and thus p ssed fr m earth this troubled, but

i and lov ng, sincere , humane spirit . i If to possess the most lively humanity, and a ch ld l confidin ike , g faith in everything that is good, noble, 1 1 2 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

a l is and pure , in whatever sh pe it presents itse f, accept able on high ; if to cherish fo r all animate nature the

to law to most tender love , is fulfil the and cause much o who o o s d be f rgiven if he c nsidereth the p or is ble se ,

ma a man a then y we not hope th t this , after his we ry o o f l f n a o f toil in the j urney i e, beari g his he vy burden a at the o f a d dise se , last found rest in kingdom th t Go ‘ ’ o h ri and an d he tried to w rs ip in spi t in truth , that R at a o edeemer in whose footsteps he , le st, str ve to ha was himand walk according to the light t t in , the

a was power th t given him . So ceased to beat on earth that gentle and unselfish

rt W a had hea . h tever errors controlled his judgment , or obscured that penetrative sense which renders men so

o a o all worldly wise, it was h nor ble to him that thr ugh the changes o f a varied life he retained an almost child

i o f a o o cred l ke faith in the honesty human n ture . T u o f o f was lous , perhaps, the universality this quality , he easily swayed by that unquestio ning philanthropy which

s a formed the ba is of his ch racter .

l and In disposition he was mi d unobtrusive , yet his

was ali a fi kindness qu fied with undevi ting rmness . H is idea o f komewas a sacred circle wherein few were ad mitt d e save the immediate family . In the youth of his children everything co nnected with his profession

ar as a o r was c efully avoided, if he fe red , by intercourse

l o a o al a lusi n, to throw th t glamour ver its re ity which might delude the senses and engender romantic desires fo r excitement . For his two younger sons he had a workshop erected in ar c the g den , and stored with lumber and the ne essary

1 14 TH E E LD E R B OO TH

that innate dignity which would exalt him as a peer a all a at i bove the herd, and check ttempt undue fam l awea h i his iarity . There was an bout him t at ne ther

deep learning, age , nor position elicited, but which the

natural demeanor of the man inspired .

One . o f the most beautiful qualities of his natu re was k u milit — li man y , that low ness of soul which e ates from l i i s a disregard of se f, and, wh le elevat ng its po sessor, causes himto appreciate in others all that is tru ly great

' aflecte n un d . and good , by the meaner passio s Per haps it was the daily exercise o f this self-abnegation that rendered him so childlike yet so noble in the eyes

all him i of who loved , wh le, in the pursuance of his himr al profession, it left f ee from the petty m ice and ’ i and him jealousies of an actor s l fe , enabled j ustly to

a i aw rd praise to the meritorious, and d scern true worth in any garb . All forms of religion and all temples o f devotion were

t his sacred to him , and he never failed o bare head i e reverently when pass ng a church . H worshipped at

a a and his m ny shrines he admired the Kor n , in copy o f i are that volume many beaut ful passages underscored . i D and ays sacred to color, ore , metals were rel giously

observed by him . In the synagogues he was known as

a a Jew, because he conversed with r bbis and learned and doctors , joined their worship in the H ebraic tongue . H e a l h re d the Ta mud, also , and strictly ad ered to many

of its laws . Several fathers ofthe Roman Catholic Church recount

s o a d s plea ant hours spent with him in the logic l iscour e , and aver that he was o f their religion because o f his TH E E LD E R B OO TH . 1 1 5

knowledge of the mysteries o f their faith . Of the nu mero us i o ne houses of worship to wh ch he went, the s to fi' eu ent was a he mo t loved q a flo ting church, o r ’ Sailor s Bethe! The co ngregatio n was of the hum r no t at blest kind, and the minist y all edifying . The writer remembers kneeling through a lengthy im

ro mtu a n a ri f p p pr yer, which co t ined no spi t o piety to her childish ears ; but loo king aro und wearily at

a a so a her f ther, she beheld his f ce e rnestly inspired

a with devotion, that she felt rebuked, and it bec me pleasant to attend to that which was so devoid of interest before . H is reverence for religion was universal and deep

was a a o f i a and rooted . It d ily shown in cts ph l nthropy a misdi hum ne deeds , which were, however, too often cte no t a a a re d . H e was a sectari n, but m de m ny creeds his study and although the dogmas o f the Church might

a n a have yielded him more e during pe ce , yet the ten

a a his i derness of his heart, from which em n ted lov ng

' n and r aflo rded kind ess g eat charity, strength to his declining years .

Wh hen d o h flesh a b ubb e- ass o f b ea h y t t , l gl r t , H un a eho no and ad ancemen a n t ft r r v t v i , And rea a t o h f o r defio u rin dea h r r p y g t , W th s o rea abo and o n - as n ain i g t l r l g l ti g p , As if his d ays fo rever sho uld remain ? S h all ha in h s o d is rea o r a it t t t i w rl g t g y, ” D a h o th as a v po r vanis and decay .

E G B TH TH YOUN ER OO .

EDWIN TH OMAS BOOT H was born at the Booth Farm H o n 1 th N in arford County, Maryland, the 3 of ovem

1 8 n a a a ber, 33, a ight rem rk ble for a brilli nt meteoric ' a s a i shower. It is t lea t ple s ng to think that from an to so a errant planet came earth bright star . In negro

h a o E o o was a to a p r se logy, dwin B th s id h ve been born ” and ft to a o f lucky gi ed see ghosts , bec use the me teorie phenomena and of his having been born with a ’ H e a o f a r caul . was n med after two his f the s friends,

E a o dwin Forrest and Thom s Flynn , alth ugh the former acto r was always somewhat piqued that Edwin did no t

Forrest h had retain the , w ich he insisted been bestowed upo n him. ’ Edwin Booth s earliest reco llectio n o f his father was in connectio n with so mbre wo o ds and darkness ; they had a o da a i a travelled wh le y together, re ch ng the F rm

at man who had a a late night ; a ccomp nied them , to take back the saddle - horses hired at a distant co untry

a was a o a a a o o pl ce , he rd g ing w y in the d rk, as Mr . B th , a i l so n in a l ft r is ng his ittle his rms , i ed him over the

a - a o o wn o and crooked sn ke fence r und his wo dland , , l “ p acing him securely in the grass, said, Your foot is ” a a on your n tive he th . 1 20 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

i w In a very nteresting book , called Shado s on the ” W h a - z all, by t at t lented and well beloved citi en of

o H . H oc Baltimore , J hn ewitt, the following passage curs

N o t i a f wa less dist nguished, but in di ferent y, stands o ut the name o f Edwin Bo oth before his countrymen

o H e as and the w rld . was a comely lad, I remember r a him , d essed in a Spanish cloak ( mong the first to

vi man display that sty le) , gi ng promise of the he has ’ o ut a turned to be . Inheriting his f ther s genius for the

has a a mimic stage , he chieved the first r nk upon it, and it has been his good fo rtu ne to have lived in an

o f ar o a era l ger prices and m re numerous udiences .

H e far iff a in is so d erent from his f ther, style and exe cutio n a a a , th t his gre test successes have been chieved in different rOles ; and while he stands unsurpassed in ’ H a l a o ld mlet, he wi l not find f ult with an friend of Junius Brutus Booth fo r standing by kimas the great

R ick ard S ir iles and Ia o est , G , g , that ever trod the

a a H e o a Americ n bo rds . is still young en ugh to h ve a H is long career of success and usefulness before him . fame is already the property of his country and cannot be taken from him . Edwin Booth ’s education was commenced under the

o f S a H a o a care Miss us n yde , y ung lady whose c pa bilities were unanimously acknowledged in the neigh “ ” rh was o bo o o d o f Old Town . H ers one of th se o ld - fashioned schools for girls and boys now almost

u a unknown , where the rudiments of a so nd educ tion . l a i were we l inculc ted, and where the gentle m stress H presided as the Minerva o f her little circle . Miss yde

1 2 2 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

H e l played the violin wel , which he had learned under

o Picio li a Sign r , and he amused his f ther by thrumming

was o a a o the banjo , which bec ming f shi nable instrument and had a been taught him by clever negro musician . H eaccompanied the banjo by singing the native melo i o a a S d es in the br d ccent of the outhern negro . H ewas envied by his co mpanions because of these trips with his father ; but their novelty soo n lost all o f f charm for him , and the monotony school li e would have been preferable to the arduous tas k o f watching

a i for a the he lth and car ng the s fety of his eccentric ,

- though kind hearted sire . It was a duty requiring the

a patience and endurance of a wom n but Mrs . Booth ,

a no longer young or strong, was compelled to pl ce the ’ an charge into her son s hands ; while he , excitable ,

o z to a nerv usly organi ed youth , was often unequal be r

half that was required o f him. Sleepless nights and

a areno t o lo t lonely d ys the pr per of boyhood, yet m any such painful experiences were wo ven into the

W ri early life o f Edwin Booth . hile conside ng the love

a and a i he bore his f ther, rec lling his sl ght figure , with

a a al his im gin tive mind sensitively ive to the horrible , particularly impressed perhaps by the great respo nsi

ilit v n b y devol i g upon him , we can enter fully into the a o S o painfulness o f the anecdotes th t f llow . t pping at e H n o ne o once the Pemb rton ouse in Bosto , of th se Old hotels built with a square courtyard in the centre

o f o i after the manner some ancient C nt nental inns , a

o o ne curious incident ccurred . Around part of the

o a a o and o ground flo r were st bles ; dj ining these , pen

’ in was il g into Mr . Booth s room, a dark, unvent ated TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH 1 2 3

unfitted cupboard , for use , because of the powerful sta

o o i a ble d r, wh ch the ctor, however, firmly contended was co nducive to health . i r s all a One n ght, retu ning to his rooms phy ic y exh usted

a a and n by a he vy perform nce , he could not rest, i sisted

a a E w o o n go ing into the streets to ro m bout . d in rem n

' ed a o flered and strat with him in v in , to play sing for

a o o f him , tried to interest him in other topics th n th se

n i ffo a o o the stage but , fi d ng every e rt defe ted , he st d “ ” l ai Yo u not o . up bold y and s d , shall g out Trem

at his bling own temerity , for he knew his feebleness in

o his o f h - a comparis n with p wer ul, t ick set f ther, he was

a asto nished at the result . Mr . Booth g ve him one long

a a a rin st re , then v nished into the d rk closet, secu g the H e door o n the inner side . remained in darkness and

fo r no i o r r a silence a long time , entreaty , coax ng, th e t

n a to a o i E n bei g ble elicit s und from him , unt l dwi , who had a o f ar endured the gre test distress mind, fe ing a i that he could not longer exist in th t airless, stifl ng n al a was a chamber, if i deed he were not re dy dead, bout

to fo r a o and run help when his f ther pened the door, a f walking sternly cross the room undressed himsel , and o n with ut speaki g went to bed . ’ Lo i o n o as ft In uisv lle , an ther occ ion , a er the night s “ performance o f Richard which he had acted

fo r o o splendidly , Mr . Booth started h me but, m ved by

a sudden impulse , he changed his mind, preferring to

i E w a walk the streets alone . In va n d in persu ded him d o to an . . a to g the hotel rest Mr Booth , finding th t so n u a him o ff r his wo ld not le ve , darted in a cont ary i l direct on , and wa ked rapidly until he came to a long 1 24 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

covered market, which he entered, and began pacing

an end a up d down . From one of the pl ce to the o ther

was a i a i their walk kept up without p use unt l d yl ght .

E a his dwin soon became exhausted with f tigue , but

a i at f ther, seemingly unt red , would times slacken his

a a o ff a a p ce bruptly, then start with incre sed r pidity,

E lli in i as o i dwin fa ng with his ga t it changed, s met mes a and a a n a a o o f ngry, g i re dy to l ugh at the ludicr usness

a N o t a the situ tion . syllable had been spoken by either, when the elder pedestri an was at last silently impelled

to go home to his bed . n a Other occurrences , partaking more of the pai ful th n

o no t o o f the ludicrous, c uld fail to cl ud the youth one l as as ff who felt his responsibi ity great his a ection . William Winter says “ Between them there existed from the first a pro

a found and fervent , though silent and undemonstr tive

ma . E wi an sy p thy As d n grew up, his close comp ion ship seemed more and more to be needed and desired

a . by the p rent As a boy, he is represented to have

a an d been gr ve beyond his years, observant, thoughtful, his rather melancholy, but wise in knowledge of sur

- e and . H roundings , and strong in reticence self poise was accustomed to accompany his father as attendant

a was o and and dresser, but in f ct he the chosen monit r

a i influ guardian of th t w ld genius , and possessed more

ence over himthan was exercised by any other person .

n o This association , operati g up n hereditary talent, wro ught its inevitable consequence in making Edwin

o a a Bo th n actor . The strange life th t he saw and led

a influ a life in which fictitious emotions , imagin tive

1 26 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

H a ? ve you done well he asked .

E i . I think so , replied dw n ” G a o e ive me my spurs , rejoined his f ther ; and b diently young Tressel replaced the spurs upo n Glances ’ ter s feet .

1 0 a In the summer of 85 Edwin nd J . S . Clarke gave a dramatic reading at the Court - H ouse in Belair at the solicitation of a number of collegians and resi o f a l As dents th t vi lage . the request for the enter tainment was a o un nim us , it was cordially responded to, and the two youths mo unted their ho rses and rode twenty- fivemiles over the roughest of country roads under an August sun to obtain printed programmes and w as tickets in Baltimore . Mr . Booth as elated as

a and a ex ec themselves with the undert king, , h ppy in p tatio n a da im , the two friends rode b ck the next y, and mediately commenced arranging a large room in the

o - h had o flered fo r county c urt house , w ich been their

o o and n c nvenience . The d ors windows were i stantly

an a h o f aux besieged by e ger t rong rustics , who were

o a a a i us to witness the prep r tions for the gre t show, evidently expecting that a circus or some wonderful

a a was i a m gici n to exhibit, as noth ng more elev ted than such performances had ever been given in Belair so

and n o a publicly o s grand scale .

o ld o An negr was sent out to post the bills , and as the young men rode in from the Farm on that eventful

o a a evening they disc vered, to their intense ch grin , th t every bill had been placed upside down . The house was a o a full and f shi n ble , the audience observing the decorous regulation of their meeting- houses by sepa TH E YO N E R B U G OO TH . 2 7 rating at thedoor and seating themselves in perfect si

o n o ne o f a lence , the gentlemen side the room , the l dies was an d on the other . Order strictly observed , the per fo rmancewas allo wed to proceed to its conclusio n with

n o o f a a o r out the slightest i terrupti n ppl use dissent . l o o n i The programme wi l be f und the follow ng page . During the evening they sang a number o f negro melo dies with a i a a . blackened f ces , us ng ppropri te dia and a a lect, ccompanying their vocal ttempts with the somewhat inharmonious banjo and bones .

’ In 1 851 his father s being announced fo r Ricka rd ew III . at N a a a N the tion l The tre , York, led indirectly ’ E w a a ara . Mr ha to d in s ttempting th t ch cter . Booth d a parti ality fo r the o ld theatres in which his first suc

had a i cesses been ch eved , and his preference was n o ld i d exte ded also to the , d ngy, incommo ious hotels , wherein he submitted to every inconvenience rather o ne than patronize new establishments . On particular a to night , as he and his son were prep ring to go the

an o and theatre , he suddenly ch ged his m od refused

a n a was ill a . to start , s yi g th t he and un ble to perform Edwin suggested that he should rouse himself fo r the

' eflo rt at as at a , le t present himself the the tre , thinking that when within the building he would fo rego this H e n his a ho w strange resolve . remi ded f ther well he had rehearsed and ho w well in health he had been all “ W a l day ; but no argument co uld mo ve him . h t wi l ” i o o u a ? so n they do w th ut y , f ther the exclaimed in “ Who can u at as mo despair . they substit te the l t ” act o w as . ment ? Go it y urself, the curt response After so me further altercatio n the father insisted that G RAN D D RAMAT IC FE S T IV A L

T E R -H O U S E IN E L R AT H C O U T B AI ,

atu rda A u ust 2 . S y , g

In m ance h theeu es o f seea en emen co pli wit r q t v r l g tl ,

MR D W N B T H . E I O O

es ec u in o ms thenhab an s o f B ea and c n ha r p tf lly f r i it t l ir vi i ity, t t he eo neen er a nmen as abo eI will giv t t i t v , n co nj unctio n with

L A R . s . C K M . J R E .

Theperf o rmancewill co ns is t o f

H K ERI N RE D IN S ETC . S A S P A A G ,

R FIR T PA T S .

S electio ns fro mRIC H AR D Il l .

Mr. E. th. Richard III. B oo

o S electio ns fromME RC H AN T r V E N IC E .

ke. S hylock Mr. J . 5. Clar

T hecelebrated Dagger Scenefro mMAC B ET H . Macbeth

’ Selections fromKotzebues S T RAN GE R .

. S . TheS tranger Mr J . ’ mt s i o u on Death Mr. E B oo th. H a le So l l q y .

twa s ra f V S elections fromO y t gedy o E N IC E P R ES E RVE D .

Jafi er .

S e tions ro mc lec f nE u E u .

ardina Richeieu th . C l l Mr. E . B oo

Therea uarreS ceneromULIUS g t Q l f J CE S AR .

Mr . . E:B oo th

Mr . C ke. . 5 ar J . l

1 30 TH E YO UN GE R B OO TH

” i sotto oce worthy scion of a noble stock, add ng, v , ’ ’ ” a a I ll wager they don t know wh t th t means . ’ On Edwi n s return to his hotel he was questioned coldly by his father as to his success . The elder Booth w as fo und by the so n apparently exactly as he had left him in o r l , unchanged mood position but it is be ieved now by Edwin that he had witnessed the whole o f the

a R ick ard as as ressel perform nce of , well that of T on a s and previous occa ion, was not dissatisfied with the l resu t . Edwin Booth soon after entered into an engage ment with Theodore Barton of Baltimore to play any s him r o f part a signed for a sala y six dollars a week. d Although he had acted in trage ies with success , con siderin his and i i g youth want of train ng, yet in m nor

i a characters and in nferior plays he proved awkw rd, d a arentl o an a ai . H e a c nfused, pp y f lure once ttempted a part in pantomime with Madame Ciocca had grace ful pose to as sume and airy tri vial manners to simulate

did i ro l a but he everyth ng w ng, fil ed the French ctress

his auckerieand al with horror at g , c led down upon

l a o E ar himse f her buse in br ken nglish . In the ye

1 8 2 New 5 the elder Booth went to York, intending to

a i a a start for C liforn , accomp nied by his son Junius , but in co nsequence of illness he returned to his ho me in i H e a fi o mNew Balt more . sailed in the next ste mer

o E w Y rk, taking d in with him , whom he had previously

a arranged to le ve at home . In one week from the date o f start ing they arrived at Aspinwall then pro ceeded up the Chagres River to Go rgona on a flat boat which conveyed the passengers and their luggage . TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH 1 31

o ne G n They slept night at orgo a, and proceeded to

a cro ss the Isthmus o n mules . At night they slept in

o n - and o a hut, wine casks trunks , c vered by their bl n

o n a o f a o kets the ly l dy the party occupied hamm ck, and a i o e ch man lay with a hand under his p ll w, holding a o E a a pist l . dwin , sleepless , watched the n tives sh rp enin mackeetos o r n g their , long k ives which they used to cut the tall gras s in fro nt of them as they j o urneyed o n — n ri to n an co n foot, and vai ly t ed u derst d their

o n in . versation, which was carried low whispers The a s and r t ran about undisturbed during the night , the

in o n r whole party rose the m r ing, unref eshed by their rest, and proceeded on mules . The elder Booth prophesied that there would be a railroad across the

a a and o a a Isthmus before m ny ye rs , c nfidently nticip ted

al o the time when a can would c nnect the two o ceans .

ft an a two n a A er eng gement of weeks in Sa Fr ncisco ,

. o S a in Mr Booth pr ceeded to acr mento, which city, on

s o o f a R icka rd III. the occa i n his benefit, he cted

eo o wi kis Th . . o fo r f ll ng night J B Booth, Juni r, benefit, a tkello a Ia o and pl yed O , and his f ther, g the following ’ E i a er to night being dw n s benefit, he acted 7 fi his ’ ierre r a fo r a f a father s P . A r yed in black his p rt o j7 f

er E his a a fi , dwin perceived f ther se ted on the steps of

i - a o a o Yo u his dress ng room , who at his ppr ch bserved, look like H amlet ; why did you not act H amlet fo r your “ ? E w l benefit d in careless y replied, If I ever have w it another, I Disappointed at finding no theatre in San Francisco

u fo r d io o f — s itable the pro uct n his plays , the new the tr in n o f a e progress g o ly in the imagination the people , 1 32 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

and the state o f the country being discouraging in — Mr. o every respect, Bo th determined to start for New ssu a E w e York ; and, being a red th t d in had r

an solved to become actor, he would not consent to o allow him to acc mpany him home , but advised him to remain in California and perfect himself in his

o l profession . Although pr verbia ly lavish o f money in

s o f ar fo r ca es need or ch ity, and never pressing ready

a a a or even just p yment of lo n, it seemed harsh that

so n u who he should have demanded of his J nius , had l u not profited greatly by the transaction , the fu l amo nt fo r a his services , according to their greement ; but he

a his had gre t regard for the law of equity, even with as own family, his severity therein being a principle, with H otsp u r :

’ I ll givethriceso mu ch land T o any well-deserving friend ; B ut in thewa of b a a n ma k eme y rg i , r y , ’ ” I ll cavil o n theninth part o f a hair.

The prosperous state of theatrical business in Califor nia was most encouraging when the off er had been made and a a o f ccepted between son and f ther ; but, by one those sudden reverses in financial matters that occur in

a o newly settled countries , an un ccountable depressi n had changed the whole as pect o f aff airs almost upon a a ar arrival of the veter n tragedi n . The h d times so long threatening now burst in terrible earnest . Men who had been wealthy a few weeks previous, ready to a to o r no w a sus i squ nder, lend , to give , bec me hard , p

cio us i . E wi a a , and grasp ng d n , in this dilemm , ccepted W W o o D . . a pr p sition of Mr . aller to accompany him

1 34 TH E YO UN GE R B OO TH .

al lad seemed to detect the fat truth, either by the ac in cent or hesitation of the old actor, for terror he “S ? G exclaimed , pear, is my father dead ently as was possible the sad story told him , and the old man ,

a who had come out to bre k the intelligence , now led

- a the half distracted son to the hotel, where the w iting

a a e group of friends ende vored to c lm his sorrow. H was stunned by the blow, and they could not under his him stand how deep grief was , or how he blamed self for having allo wed his father to undertake the homeward journey alone . “ Poverty and utter hard times settled upon the

a actors in desper te reality . They were helpless , and dreaded the day when they should be unable even to obtain credit ; the cold had become intense, and the

al w i snow continued to f l ithout ntermission .

E man ruffIan a very , g mbler, laborer, and scholar was on terms o f equality at that time in Nevada for as

. r eo n a n . L. a o f Mr B F j rem rks , in his interesti g story ” S S Ra l mat The hadows on the now nges, so sma l a ter as one being born a gentleman and another a com ” a w as o f mon l borer here no account . be A hopeless group stood at a street corner one day, l was s a wai ing their condition , when it ca u lly suggested

a o a that they should w lk to Marysville . The w rst th t could befall in the adventure wo uld be no worse than a o r ac the misery waiting them here . Two three men cepted the pro po sition o f o newho immediately consti “ tu ted a a a a and himself le der An ctor n med B rry,

a a o o Burridge , musici n , wh se vi lin had comprised the

i t . ent re orchestra at the theatre, decided to join the par y TH E Y N E R B T OU G OO H . 1 35

E n hi dwi , sauntering leisurely up to t s group, was told o i o f the r intention , and c nsented to go with them with out reflecting upo n the fatigue and exposure o f the undertaking . Altho ugh o f an age when meagre fare and privation might seriously have undermined a con stitu tio n never robust , he ventured to tramp a distance f a u i of fi ty miles cross the mo nta ns , the foremost man

n a breaki g the road through the drifts . Two d ys of walking through heavy snow brought them at night to

a . Marysville , where the pedestri ns disbanded

E w o f a a d in borrowed ten dollars an cqu intance, with

s S . a which he secured pa sage to acramento On arriv l, he fo und that the city had been destroyed partially by

a s had fire , and th t later flood set in and swept away

a a nearly everything th t had escaped the fl mes .

L o San a etters from h me awaited him at Fr ncisco ,

had a i i where he gone at once , cqua nting him w th the ’ o f his a a i his o a details f ther s de th, in wh ch m ther dvised himand his bro ther to remain in California if they co n sidered fo r ri t i a it best their theat cal fu ure , add ng th t their coming home would no t be of any avail ; their

and a father was buried, the f mily intended to live at the

at a co J . B . Booth, the younger, th t time was

w . a a manager ith the Messrs Ch pman , and was ble to E a give dwin an eng gement, but could make no agree l a fi l ment a lowing him xed salary, business being sti l

W o o f em in a precarious state . ith this po r prospect

v his s ing a li ing, and present penniles condition n i weighing o his spirits , he met an acqua ntance who opportunely remembered that Edwin had once lent 1 36 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

l ho him twenty do lars , and w was now eager to cancel a affa a the debt. This st te of irs ought to h ve sharpened ’ a E a any m n s memory, but dwin f iled to recall the loan until circumstances related by his debtor brought it to had a his mind for it been made in those d ys of plenty ,

a a o not long departed , when no one asked f v r or a loan E in vain . lated by the possession of so much gold, he thought how pleasant it was to be able to send part of

and it to those who had befriended him , in whose debt

was ho w to o he , and sumptuously he would fare for a

a Wal a time on the rem inder. king way with an elas ticit a to at a o f o y in his g it, new him th t time depressi n , he met a companio n with who m he turned into a gam l o o o neo f o b ing sal n, th se crowded and conveniently

a a loc ted pl ces so numerous in those days . Carelessly

a o and o ne w tching men thr w down their gold, in sweep o f a a a had at the h nd m ssing hundreds, he who never a o and was a f tempted game bef re , ignor nt o the mys teries vin t-et—u n - of g , staked his twenty dollar gold piece only to see it deftly swept away with others to fill the i pockets of some luck er man . In despair he left the

has a place and never since been tempted to g mble .

S - a airchild everal months later the scene p inter, F ,

was who to have a benefit, obtained from him a i k act R c a rd III . . promise to J B . Booth tried to a n dissu de him from the undertaking, advisi g him to o a a i bec me better cqu inted with the publ c , and to play

a rt a eand a more rom ntic pa s suited to his g ppearance, a a e rOl . E r ther th n undertake so arduous a dwin , how

o a ever, res lved to make the ttempt . A crowded house and an enthusiastic audience received him ; he acted

1 38 TH E y o UN GE R B OO TH . “ ld na S a . the o world, desig ted colloquially the t tes

l a and They wou d push onw rd to Australia distant parts , but rarely turned homeward even to better their co n dition hence it is not so remarkable that no enter ’ i a a had at o f E pris ng m n ger , the height dwin Booth s

i a o f a l a popularity , w th the n me the f ther sti l w rm in “ ” o f a o in S a him the hearts pl yg ers the t tes, induced to retu rn and establish himself at o nce in the position

a t . o f was he afterward t ained Instead this, his name “ ” put in the bills when the business was on the de

ar o ineflecmal ar cline , and it very r ely pr ved to draw l ge a l n i udiences ; . but meanwhi e he was drifti g into a k nd — ar a ar . of stock st , on pittance of sal y

a o a Mrs . C therine F rrest Sinclair c me from the Eas t and a o n E opened the new the tre its completion, dwin

a a pl ying secondary parts to her . Mr . J mes Murdock L u a a ri and a ra Keene followed, the l tter tt buting her

’ failure to Edwin Boo th s bad acting There sprang up between this lady and himself a mutual dislik e which culminated in something like hatred ; but the duties of theatrical life exacted that they should appear a upon the st ge together .

D . . a a an Mr . C Anderson , kind, geni l gentlem and

a and E actor, congr tulated himself dwin , whom he

o o learned to l ve as a son , upon their good res lutions to

a and o . be temper te , virtuous , d mestic They bought a

o f o - five two r plot gr und, seventy by hund ed feet in ex ” i a a R tent, wh ch they satiric lly c lled the anch , and in l o f o o o a sma l house two r ms they lived, d ing all their

and a . a a o wn work , domestic meni l This veter n ctor

ar a E rem ked recently, in spe king to the writer of dwin TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH 1 39

l to o Booth , that he be ieved him be the n blest speci ” a a an a men of man Go d ever cre ted . Ye rs d ch nges had not diminished his admiration fo r the bo y whom o o he had so lovingly taken under his pr tecti n .

a 1 8 a S a a an In the ye r 54 J mes tark, f mous tragedi o f a had u o a o w Californi , ret rned fr m Australi with gl ing

a u o f and . n cco nts its prosperity wealth Mr . A derson urged Booth to make a pro fessional visit to that coun tr a a a y , and eventually rr ngements were made to th t

' fl a a eect. The ide prevailed th t there were no actresses ha as . d in Australia, and Mr Anderson been informed

L u o f n that Miss a ra Keene was desirous goi g there , without letting her intentio n be known to certain per San o an a sons in Francisco, he entered int eng gement

i . as w th her to act with Booth Miss Keene , serting that a a tragedy was her forte , th t she cted comedy merely

and o a o a through necessity, w uld d pt tragedy gl dly

ered u a . if o fl the opport nity , re dily consented It was

o and a a settled between Mr. Anders n the l dy th t she o n ar at was to go bo d the ship night, and they were

’ to sail at fo ur o clock in the morning . The captain missed the tide and was obliged to delay until the

a . as fternoon In the mean time , afterward transpired ,

’ a who had a an ac the c ptain s wife , been governess ,

- a tress , and later a lodging house keeper, was comm nded

to a a o by her husband get fresh w rdr be , let her house ,

mto a o and ai hi . s l with Australi , whereup n Mr Booth would be co mpelled to engage her in default o f o ther

E a female support . A Mr . vans , moved by the s me

l a o specu ative idea, brought his wife b ard ; the three al in t a n ladies conce ed themselves heir respective c bi s , 1 40 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

z and the scene , when they met and reali ed the absur

a dity of the position , was as musing as any in which

drama tis ersona had a a the p ever cted on mimic stage .

i at S a On arriv ng ydney, the destin tion of the vessel, Booth entered into an engagement with Manager To m ’ a S k /ock P ortia ing and pl yed y to Miss Keene s . H is

R ickard I n perfo rmance of II. was e thusiastically re

eiv h c ed . They went t ence to Melbourne , where but few performances were given ; the dull state o f every a ff kind of business m terially a ecting the theatres . Bo o th

a o f H a had made the acqu intance Mr . milton and his was H a o ne wife (who a daughter of Thomas mblin , at a New time a manager of the Bowery The tre , York, and and ri a very celebrated actor) , an old I sh comedian named Clem White . These people were unable to obtain engagements and ' undecided as to their future at i course however, the last moment, they determ ned

tu to n E a to re rn Sa Francisco , dwin accomp nying them .

n a s - en Acting compa ies , le ving the la t mentioned city r u tefo r a a no t u S o Austr li , nfrequently stopped at the and o n wich Islands . The vessel this occasion for some rea

at H Mr. son put in onolulu , and Booth and Anderson decided to give an entertainment there rather than go a back to San Fr ncisco without money . An agreement

o was effected between the five pr fessionals , and the

u fo r Royal H awaiian Theatre was sec red , which Booth

o o t o l in ad paid all the m ney he p ssessed , fif y d l ars , ’ a fo r . i v nce , one month s rent They were jo ned by two

a actors , sc rcely less needy than themselves, who had been left at the Island by a strolling company some w C t months before . The theatre as onstruc ed by sev

1 42 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

a in o f ing, beg n to decline, consequence which he accepted an offer to act at theAmerican Theatre in

o the same city, where he perf rmed nightly to crowded

a houses . Seceding from this theatre , he went with “ S a o i l as company to acr ment , enrolling h mse f juvenile ” man o a but, the business pr ving disappointment to

o f a to a the manager, he engaged one his comp ny en ct his own part s and assume the juvenile characters as l h o o was in we l, so t at B th discharged order to curtail

S . S a the expenses . Mr . edley and Mrs inclair were bout securing a theatre in Sacramento fo r the production o f

a and a an ff some very ttractive pieces , now m de him o er

- and to become a joint lessee with themselves a Mr .

Venua. a a a Accordingly, a shabby little the tre in b ck “ ar H street was leased, where the play of The M ble eart

fo r in a in was produced the first time Americ . Mrs . S clair distingu ished herself by her performance of Marco ; but the character of Volagewas clai med by Sedley and

o a l a B oth, and fin l y decided by the toss of penny, fall “ ” . S . a o ing to Mr edley Fortun tely for all c ncerned, “ fo r a Booth remarked, he acted the p rt finely ; much E better than I could have do ne it . dwin took the

o f R a k ael a a character p , in which he m de a m rked

a o n a r al e success ; and, cc rdi g to the t ic t chnicality , he “ cr ted - n o f ea the part . The long conti ued success The ” Marble H eart was the means of closing the Forrest

a i had N o t The tre from wh ch he been discharged .

n a i o withstandi g the incre s ng p pularity of the piece , the management gave up the lease o f the house and trav lled c through other towns to produce it . The com

i a b nation did not meet with the nticipated success , TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . 143

f a however, and a ter visiting several towns it ultim tely

a a disbanded t San Fr ncisco . Boo th now j o ined a company o f eight or ten per so ns to go through the mining to wns he travelled on his o wn o l ana and h rse , whi e the m ger his wife , the

o o a company, scenery, and wardr be , were transp rted in “ a o f l rge covered wagon . Some the towns through c s o whi h they pa sed were c mposed of a few huts , the theatre being usually a hall over a shop ; other places

o and o contained respectable h uses , occasi nally a small a convenient the tre was to be obtained . The standard “ ” bill with this company was the Iron Chest and ” ’ n - Katheri e and Petruchio . Booth s dress basket was

i a ai an covered w th c nvas , p nted to represent iro n ” ” and fo r a o chest, served th t important pr perty . The pro miscuo us po pulation o f the mines and huts who could enj o y Shaksperian pro ductions and the plays o f N the best autho rs was not to be treated slightingly . o curtailment or glossing ov er of speeches would be per mitted a k a by the people , who w l ed miles to h ve their ’ i n evening s amusement consc e tio usly given .

n n n and at After acti g in several of the mi i g towns , one place bei ng compelled to leave his ho rse in pay

n o S a o . me t of a debt, Bo th arrived penniless in acr ment

H e o a i o f . there f rmed the cqua ntance Mr Butler, an

a who a a a rchitect, m nifested gre t interest in his c reer,

and himno t a an a urged to w ste y more time in Californi ,

H e o but to retu rn to the States . told him that Bo th royd Fairclo ugh was attempting to take the po sitio n

’ a no w a o that sho uld be his th t , while his f ther s mem ry

o o u was dear to the American heart , he al ne sh uld ass me TH E YO N GE B T 1 44 U R OO /I.

H e — the vacant place . had but one reply, the want of mo ney although in his o wn mind he did not aspire to equal his father or consider himself worthy or capa o f ble doing so . That his impecuniosity should not deter Edwin

to a Booth from asserting his inherited right f me , this

i ri enthus astic f end arranged a benefit for him . It r a a H e a a ar p oved gre t success . m de f ewell speech

a a i before a symp thetic ud ence , and was presented with o f a a pin Californi gold representing a wrist and hand,

the finger and thumb of which held a valuable diamond . da The next y his debts were cancelled, and every bill paid but he found by these proceedings that his money was entirely expended . Mr . Butler suggested another

E . . i benefit, which dwin opposed Mr Butler ins sted,

a a o however, cl iming th t the enthusiasm of the previ us

o a occasi n would warr nt it, and he cleverly arranged that actors should come from San Francisco to lend an their services . The second farewell was given to o o a San overfl wing house , and B oth was to le ve for

Francisco the following day . Crowds assembled to

a a see him go on bo rd , the b nd from the theatre was

- a a present to testify good will, the c ptain m de the young actor stand in a prominent position to be visible to “ ” o a d th se who wished him again and ag in Go speed . o o a l and Confusi n , n isy f rewel s , music filled the air ; nothing was wanting to complete the sense of satis

’

a n . w f ction excepti g Mr Butler ith the night s receipts . It was a harassing ordeal fo r the recipient of this gen

ero us a o o i fill an ov ti n , but g od wishes w ll not empty

R a a A pocket and, as ousse u s ys , crust of bread and

TH E Y N GE R B O T 1 46 OU O H .

H ethoroughly enjoyed therest among his o wn

r and a at family at the Fa m , in short time opened the St in Front reet Theatre , Baltimore, the character of

K it/l ard 111 .

’ H e o a . o at als cted under J . T F rd s management W R o V a. o ff be ashington and ichm nd , , J seph Je erson

- a at a - a w as ing the stage m nager the l st n med city . It here that he made the acquaintance o f Miss Mary Dev

ft a o r a lin , whom he a erw rds m arried . On a t u arr nged for him by his agent he played in the principal South emand S a n i an outhwestern cities , est blishi g h mself as

a o universal f vorite . As previously menti ned, he con ceived that after the glo w of excitement co nsequent o n his assuming the characters o f the elder Bo o th sho uld

a a a a a n n o o o h ve b ted, he must n tur lly si k i t the p siti n of

a man at o neo f New a H e le ding the York the tres . was diffident o wn et of his power, Y from the first he set him self earn estly to eradicate from his acting every tinge o f what he co nsidered an imitation of his father. Schlegel “ says Mere imitation is always fruitless ; even what

o o o a a a a we b rr w fr m others , to assume true , pr ctic l sh pe,

o i h must, as it were , be b rn aga n within us . Of w at avail is all foreign imitation ? Art cannot exist without

and can - nature , man give nothing to his fellow man but ” himself. H o wever one might grow to love even the peculiari

o f was an ef ties a favorite , yet it these very m nerisms, fectiveand graceful tho ugh they were in the elder

o o o o to a fo r B th , that the y unger strove studi usly void , he knew they would be quickly detected and used in the criticisms against him but there were that same TH E R B YOUN GE OO T/f . 147

n and upright beari g rapidity of graceful motion , there

o o o - o n o and inex were t nes of v ice , clari n like , s or us ,

ressibl a no : a p y sweet, th t art could copy n ture herself

an tr smitted them ; the were her dower . H enever w a f fa h r as co pyist o his e. A jealous analyst could ‘ di at a a a a c scover, even th t e rly st ge of his the trical a r an eer, evidences of originality in conceptio n and . po rtrayal which he asserted wo uld attain so ftness and elegance w ith the thoughtfulness o f years . This consci n o n o f o f a and e ti s student men , n ture , of Shakspere has

l o well fulfi led the predicti n . L a as o f aur Keene , if to confirm the opinion he held

o wn a o f o o f a man his bility , f ered him the positi n le ding at her theatre in New York ; but his co ntinued suc

had a o a o o f no t o f cesses r used the mbiti n others , if

l and was a o himse f, it decided th t he sh uld hold his ” a a a to a a t o pl ce as star . As n incentive th t mbi i n

a an o o a c me ffer from Th mas B rry, a veteran manager

ar a fo r a a at o of old P k f me , him to ppe r the Bost n The o f all had a no t atre . In spite that he chieved he was o f fo r a ih satisfied his own merit, he still l cked the do rsement of Bo sto n criticism which he co nsidered

. o o f r a o necessary Thr ugh a dearth t agedi ns , c medy reigned in New Yo rk managers had co nceived the idea

a was and an o f th t tragedy ruinous to business , the f cy W da to o S a . a E . o the y was ign re h kspere illi m Burt n ,

o an was at a a a o f the c medi , th t time the m n ger the Met ro o litan a a as W Gar he p , fterw rd known the inter den T a and h his a tre , t rough business manager he arr nged with

’ Booth s agent to bring him to the Metropolitan when

ac his Bo ston engagement sho uld have ended . In TH E Y E B 1 48 O UN G R OO TH . cetin p g the proposal , he emphatically stipulated that ” u New Wa D he wo ld open with A y to Pay Old ebts , his n reserving reason for doi g so . The elder Booth had so essentially identified himself with the character / m?11 E w o f R ic m 1 . that d in wished to avoid a compar ison which he felt would be detri mental to himself ;

S ir Giles and moreover, in the quiet scenes of , he

o r o f his c uld feel his way, gradually cent e the interest

a and i i o n r ma udience , , wh le work ng thei sy p thy, reserve

o fo r n H e his f rce the powerful culmi ation . would be

l — - o modest y announced, no loud s unding allusion to

a a his inherited n me and f me, for he designed to win ,

not startle , his audiences .

H e S ir iles proceeded to Boston , and opened as G . and It was a cold, dreary night, he had a thin house .

a i - a i M ny wh te haired men were in the p rquette, wh ch co ntained more of the passing than the present genera

Allw orflz tion . On the entrance of , the modest person ator o f that character was startled by vigorous applause a o from the audience , which, with the laugh th t f llowed

a a on discovery of the mistake, succeeded in taking w y

Wh S ir Gil a his power o f speech . en a ppeared loud and prolonged app lause greeted him ; then (as he de

o h l - satisfied scribed it) the pe ple braced t emselves, se f , N ow in their seats , as if to say, , young man , let us see

what you can do fo r yourself. The play proceeded

quietly until the fourth act, when the player was on his i - i mettle , for he felt that evening to be the turn ng po nt

a in his c reer,

T his is thenight

Tha ehemakes meo r o does meu e. t it r , f r q it

TH E Y N E 1 50 OU G R 30 0 TH . whereas but for these diffi culties to surmount he might

a o a u a h ve been less cl se st dent, less meditative scholar .

H e a a o a and a co obeyed B c ni n precept, re d not to n ” tradict and nor to believe , but to weigh consider .

H e o n o f th o f Ma 1 8 . opened the evening the 4 y, 57 Expectation was at its height to witness the perform a o f -a o nce this well dvertised pr digy of genius, whose o o o cc seri us and m dest demeanor, h wever, did not incide with the idea o f the vainglo rio us yo ung actor who was coming to demand rather than deserve ap ~ H e a o - plau se. ple sed th roughly by his Spartan like ac ra tion , his g ve and sententious speech, no less than by a o f his gr ce and passion ; and, in spite glaring town

a a and posters , his n me on calend rs , cards, shop orna

a a - ments, he g ined a hold on the the tre going public r which he never fo feited or lost. In the co mpany

i n : o G Da were many dist nguished ames J hn ilbert, niel S ar S ar etchell, M k mith, Ch les Fisher, and Lawrence

Barrett . In the autumn of the same year Booth visited Bal

o R o o S a tim re , ichm nd , Charlest n , av nnah , Memphis,

o St. L and Lo i M bile , Montgomery, ouis , uisv lle . In the follo wing winters he travelled through the n o ne So uthern a d Southwestern States . On occas ion

w as a and a o he crowned with l urel , fter a representati n o f a an a : in nswer to enthusi stic call, the cur

a o and a a a t in r se , the st ge bec me liter lly strewn with garlands and bouquets ; to one of the latter was at tached a leather bag containing five hundred dollars in ‘ H is a was MVick gold . first eng gement in Chicago at

’ a and a a i er s The tre , at th t time he m de the acqua nt

a a . nce of his present wife , then child TH E y o UN GE R B OO TH . 1 51

A series o f thoughtfully written criticisms appeared in the N ew York S u nday Times over the nom(lap/amt “ ” a o f Vag bond . These were subsequently collected

e o o a a a and edit d in bo k f rm by the uthor, Ad m B deau, who became during the civil war an aide - de - camp of G l G a and a o a enera r nt, fterward bi gr pher of the soldier

President . In the year 1 857 Boo th fulfilled an engagement at H o a a n a the w rd Athen eum , Boston , u der the m nage

f E . a La o L D . ment . venport wrence Barrett and John h n McCullo ug were i the company . At this period he his a H am began altering and revising certain of pl ys ,

n a let especially occupyi g his ttention . Costumes and a n scenery , as well as st ge business, received his partie lar n l o r care , while a new readi g would suggest itse f co mprehensio n of a thought would develo p fresh mean in a i a an g to his ct ve mind . These pl ys as arr ged by

n li h and him , with ma y embel s ments , excisions , curtail

r a o and a ments , were the f uit of much serious l b r rese rch , beiri a neither study, energy , nor expense g sp red in their

o ff o f preparation . It was the conscienti us e ort the actor

o a and a to render his versions c ncise , cle r, uthentic , with o u t marring their beauty or deteriorating from their “ ’ a i a o f E gr ndeur. Th s attr ctive series dwin Booth s

i W a W 1 8 8 Prompt Books was ed ted by illi m inter in 7 ,

a a and a o a with pref ce , ppendix, observ ti ns by th t gen

tleman a o o , and rel tive qu tati ns from criticisms by the a a l best Sh ksperi n scho ars . Duri ng a lucrative engagement at New Orleans in

1 8 8 . o was a 5 , Mr B oth the recipient of costly service

o f a o a two . pl te c nsisting of a s lver, pitcher, and goblets TH Y N E R B 1 52 E O U G OO TH .

At Charleston he was presented with a similar token of

a . 1 8 0 a D i reg rd In 6 he m rried Miss Mary evl n , who had retired from the stage the previous year he then

i a a S and determ ned to tr vel less , le ving the outhern Western States to his younger bro ther and confi ning

Eas i H e o himself to the tern cit es . had bec me the i mo st popular tragedi an in the United States . Edw n

o was n and E w B F rrest wani g in power, d in ooth , now

a a a no t o n at the cme of f me deservedly won , had ly i in the opinion of friends , but in the est mation of the

a a a a o people , chieved gre tness Th t m gnetic p wer which enchains the ear and rivets the eye was not an a a o r art a cquirement no pr ctice , study, ifice could te ch him that which was indisputably a gift and an inheri tance ; but custom and c o nscientious thought helped him no t only to idealiz e but to subdue his nature and

as n a was a exalt his p sio s , so th t he in turn e ch person he portrayed . “ a T o m a o f LeRo i An daptation by Mr . T ylor ’ ” “ ’ ” s Amu se o o l s R had , entitled The F evenge , been sent to Joseph Jefferson fro m England . H etoo k it to ’ . l to o n E oo at Mrs Booth, te ling her insist dwin s l king it , the character being tragic and no t suited to a comedian .

a and a Booth studied the p rt performed it sever l times , but failed to satisfy himself with his renditio n o r clearly t a o demonstr te his o wn co nceptio n o f the character . In

a 1 860 a in a ho w this ye r, , he cted it with gre t success, r all n eve , in the cities that he visited with the exceptio

f ew o H o N Y rk . enow applied himself to reco nsider ara had the ch cter, which he felt not received justice

o a fr m his interpretation , and fin lly made an alteration

1 54 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH .

“ ’ a n i A s st mped upon his features , conti u ng, y, there ” the rub 1 H is friend was satisfied that the actor had caught the inspiration o f the lines in that reflective

a o a p use . B oth lso introduced sitting on the tomb in

ar his a or the gravey d when , with f ce half buried on H a

’ tio r l a as to his o wn shou der, he spe ks , if heart , the “ W a ! ai a ? H is words , h t the f r Opheli resting pre vio usl o n o o a a u y the t mb is m st n tur l and gracef l , and ,

a o i ff imbued with these qu lities , it cann t fa l to be e ective .

D 1 86 1 uring the summer of , while on a fishing ex cursio n w W ith friends in the hite Mountains , Booth

a received letter from the agent of Mr . Buckstone inviting him to act in London at the H aym arket Thea

tre. H e ff and replied , accepting the o er, prepared to a H e sail for Engl nd . left Boston with his wife in Sep w tember o f the same year . H e as surprised when

o him L o a Mr . Buckstone inf rmed in ond n that second

a to was a letter sking him defer the visit, as he r ther

a a had o wa . fraid of tr gedy , cr ssed him on the y After much discussio n Bo o th allo wed himself to be overruled

a and a as S /z loek by the man ger consented to ppear y . A lady who had spo ken with enthusias m to her circle o f friends of the passion and fire o f certain o f his delinea tio ns confessed herself disappointed when he walked

' indiflerence the stage , calm to , and evidently annoyed n at his suppo rt and his surrou dings . On this eventful night every o nebehind the scenes w o o a ri a as m re nerv us and frightened th n the unt ed ctor .

H is - o fellow players , with but few excepti ns, were super

a cillons and disposed to treat the str nger with indignity . One of them was so positively certain of his being hissed

TH E YOUN GE R 8 0 0 TH . 1 55 that he was scarcely able to conceal his disappointment at theresult . r H The p ejudice did not extend, however, to enry

H w o r H r o H a a o a o e en y C mpton of the ym rket c mp ny, fo r these gentlemen were particularly kind and sym

H is a i i pathetic . ud ences were th n but enthusiastic , and many flatteri ng critiques appeared upon his act in n o f i had a a o g, no e wh ch , however, he the s tisf cti n

adi o rt of re ng ; only the malici us a icles , unjust and

a o sweeping in denunci tion , were brought to his n tice . H ehad reaso n to believe that English criticism was a ’ two - edged sword rather than the surgeon s knife prob ing to cure yet he received much encouragement fro m

a n a o f priv te sources duri g his eng gement five weeks .

H ea o a a S a /w k S ir Giles O verreae/z cted f ur ch r cters , y , ,

' '

l eu . I an R ic/zez . them a ze/za rd II. d So o R , Mr prev iled n

l o a o to a o . o R ic/l ard I . I Mr Buckst ne l w Mr B th to pl y I. , and a o the tragedy was eventu lly put up n the stage , but i a r as to n such a m nne seem a burlesque . One man in armo r rendered himself ridiculo us by kneeling and no t

a a a and a o t a being ble to rise g in , n her lifted his m iled armand c o uld no t lo wer it without difficulty their tin armo r so clumsily constructed formed a ludicro us co n

’ trast to the massiveness o f the king s co mplete dress o f

. o n o n steel . Mr Buckst e reluctantly c sented that Bo o th sho uld pro duce Fo r that event the acto rs had bro ught cro wds o f friends behind the scenes to

t a a a and o f a wi ness gre t f ilure the hisses the udience ,

as had no t o o which yet been f rthc ming, were co nfidently expected at this production . Before the close o f the first act marks of pleasure instead of the disapprobation TH E YO N GE R B 1 56 U OO TH .

anticipated were distinctly heard ; and even the non paying audience behind the scenes partoo k of the

as . a enthusi m . Mr Chippend le , who had frequently been lavish of kind words to Edwin as a bo y and had o ri fo r a an often pr fessed f endship his f ther, held u nwelco ming hand to the hard - used actor struggling against the prejudice and co nventio nalism of a fo reign D o act o f E country . uring the f urth the play, as dmund ” o at Kean would have said, the pit r se him . It was

Mr . i a a reported that Ch ppendale , le ving the the tre ,

wa i rushed over the y to Mr . Buckstone , say ng, he had

seen the finest piece of acting in his life . Mr . Buck stone always regretted that he had not opened with ” Richelieu . ’ D a his i uring Booth s residence at Fulh m only ch ld,

E i a D 1 86 1 . dw n , was born , in ecember,

o Lo o a On the c mpletion of his nd n eng gement, Booth

to a a fo r went M nchester, where he cted three weeks ,

i a co m Mr. H enry Irving be ng member of the stock pany thence he proceeded to Liverpool and fulfilled o f ar l o an engagement two weeks . A m ble meda li n of him by Ktintzewas in the Royal Academy exhibition

2 of 1 86 . After a visit to Paris he was presented with the sword “ L i had o Ru as which ema tre w rn in y Bl , bearing “ ” upon the blade the name Frederic Lemaitre and

a o f o an f N o a the d te his first perf rm ce o the ré le. the tres were open to him in Lo ndon o n his return from

a . at o f Fr nce Fechter, then the height success at the ’ o z S a a Princess s Theatre , mon poli ed the haksperian dr m , and as he was in receipt of handso me offers for New

TH E N E R B 1 58 YOU G OO TH .

rOle he had already been playing the leading , on its

o o o o first producti n in the metr p lis . Bo th then intro d uced o f D on Caesa r had the scene , which been

' E and o flered i omitted in the nglish version , it as an n

d ucement . who a and a to Mr Barrett, ccepted , cted the “ ” a a a a ch r cter rem rk bly well, taking, as the star said , “ f ” all the wind out o my sails .

o 1 8 6 W t In Oct ber, 3, the alnut S reet Theatre in

a ff fo r a Philadelphi was o ered s le . At such a preca rio u s n a war time , duri g disastrous civil , few men were

a a willing to ssume so gre t a risk ; but John S . Clarke and Edwin Boo th conjointly ventured to make the p ur

a a chase , feeling th t they would be lucky to be ble to

a p y for it entirely in thirteen years . This they did, o h wever, in three

’ N iblo s Ga a a Wil At rden , under the m n gement of

a W a a li m he tley, who had l tely dissolved partnership

S . a a a o o with John Cl rke in Phil delphi , B th presented ’ R ” the N ew The Fool s evenge for first time in York,

a 2 8 1 8 6 a n M rch , 4 , the pl y meeti g with decided suc Ada cess . In his support were Miss Clifton , Miss

W R E in ea W t nd . . Mary ells , Miss ose y g , J Collier. W E o o S . ar and a S a dwin B oth, J hn Cl ke , illi m tu rt

o o a a o f W Ga a N ew t k le se the inter rden The tre , York,

fo r a o f . 1 8 1 86 term years , opening the house Aug , 4 ,

n a . a o o had o n with an e g gement of Mr Cl rke . B th l g

‘ desired to have a leading metro po litan theatre under

o wn o o o a a his contr l , where he c uld m unt his pl ys in co rrect and elaborate style and co nfine himself entirely

a a a. . S a was ho w to the legitim te dr m Mr tu rt known , “ as a o f a ever, the man ger the the tre , although his TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . 1 59 duties did not extend to the stage department or the

e a al an o . H d pro ducti n of plays received a l rge s ary,

o f o a o o ccupied a suite r oms in the the tre , fr m which he narro wly escaped when the building was destro yed by fire .

o o his and o o f fo r B th cast first, the only v te his life ,

a a L a o f 1 86 . o Abr h m incoln , in the utumn 4 A sh rt

f v 1 ft o N o . 2 8 6 time a er, on the night 5, 4 , the three “ ” o o o a a a o f aea B th br thers ppe red in the pl y Julius C s r,

— n as Cassiu s E as B ru tu s Ju ius Brutus Booth , dwin ,

W as MareAnton a r was and J o hn ilkes y . The the t e

' to su flo catio n a a a crowded , people st nding in every v il

a . a x and ble place The gre test e citement prevailed , the aged mo ther of the Booths sat in a private box to

o o witness this perf rman ce . The three br thers received and a a o f a merited the ppl use that immense udience ,

o r a a t f they cted well , and presented picture o o strik

in l o o o o o . o g y hist ric to be s n f rg tten The eldest , p wer and a o as an an Ro an E n fully built h nds me tique m , dwi ,

a an d a and o with his m gnetic fire gr ceful dignity , J hn

W in io n a t o ilkes the perfect of youthful be u y, st od side

a and a o a by side , ag in ag in , bef re the curt in , to receive the lavish applause of the audience mingled with wav

i and a ing o f handkerch efs every m rk o f enthusiasm . “ ” N o v . 2 6 1 86 o H a at , 4 , Booth pr duced mlet the

W Ga and a D a nefo r o ne inter rden , cted the hun

o — o n a an dred nights c nsecutively, the l gest run th t y Shaksperian play had ever kno wn in America at that

was o d an time . It m re splendi ly produced than y other

a th t had ever been presented , with the exception , per and R ar a haps , of King John ich d many ye rs ° 1 60 TH E YO N GE R B OO U TH .

at theold a h a the previously, P rk T e tre , under direction

. a a and a r m of Mr Ch rles Ke n , which , it is s id, we e co

arativea a a o p f ilures fin ncially, lth ugh most expensive and a n elabor te productio s . ’ o o H amlet at W Of B th s , that time , George illiam Curtis wro te A really fine actor is as uncommo n as a really great ' ' o a w e/x r . Garr as R z a a III . dramatic p et Yet wh t ick in ,

E in S lz loek are E i or dmund Kean y , we sure dw n Boo th is i nH amlet w . The scenery as thoughtfully stud

' ied eflect w as . , and the entirely harmonious Boo th looks the ideal H amlet ; fo r the H a mlet o f o ur imagi

a o H amlet o f S a n ti n , which is the h kspere , is not the scant - o f - breath gentleman whom the severer critics in

o H e a sad sist that he sh uld be . is , slight prince . H is o the Booth is altogether princely . c stume is still

o o f a ri a o to a o f s lemn suit s bles , va ed cc rding his f ncy

r a and a o g e ter fitness his sm ll, lithe f rm , with the

o l and a n o f a and m bi ity intellectual s d ess his f ce , his

a a a o a o im l rge , mel ncholy eyes , s tisfy the m st f stidi us ’ aginatio n that this is H a mlet as he lived in Shakspere s has an n o . H i a w rld s pl ying throughout exquisite to e ,

an o f n o like old picture . The charm the fi est p rtraits ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ’ ‘ — f a Leo o f o Raph el s Julius or , Titian s Fran ’ ’ ’ ’ k s ar V and c . . o r o cis I Ipp lita di Medici , of y Ch les I

— no t a is the dr wing, or even the coloring, so much ’ a a o . as the n meless , subtle h rm ny which is called tone ’ So in o H a mlet no t an a o r B oth s it is y particul r scene ,

a o r o o o a n im p ssage , l k, or m vement, th t co veys the pression it is the co nsistency of every part with every other, the pervasive sense of a mind of a true gentleman

16 2 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . instant the possibility of what he has done sweeps over a the o his mind . Alw ys victim of complex em tions, the instinctive satisfaction o f knowing the act done is min gled with the o ld familiar horror of the doom to which W he may have consigned his uncle . ith sword up and a and in his lifted, a v gue terror both of hope fear

a H amlet a a tone and f ce , does not slide r pidly b ck, and ?’ hurriedly exclaim , Is it the King but , tottering with

a i a emotion , he asks slowly in an ppall ng stacc to , Is it the — king ? The cumulative sadness of the play ’ w so al a as never p p ble as in Booth s acting. It is a ” o a a spell fr m which you c nnot esc pe . “ At the expiration of the hundred nights of H am ” a t had let, commit ee of distinguished persons arranged to present Booth with a medal commemorative o f the i event ; but t was not yet completed, and he finished his N ew Yo rk seas on by filling the last week with dif f a erent pl ys . New was a Going from York to Boston , he pl ying a

a o f 1 th very lucrative eng gement, and on the night the 4

8 a ir d rd imer o f ri 1 6 S E w a Mort . Ap l, 5, cted On the fo llowing morning the news of the great calamity which had ar fallen upon the country, and particul ly upon the e o a . H B oth f mily, was brought to him left Boston on

at N ew en that evening, and arrived York early the

n a ri at o . suing morni g, rep i ng nce to his own home H e o was surrounded by devoted friends , who str ve by every attention in their power to prove how highly he was esteemed as a public man and a citiz en .

G a rief and sh me , and the dread of having to forfeit in o his position on the stage , had the c urse of a few TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . 1 63 months sadly worn his fragile body ; and that intro s ective a as a p look, which some writer rem rks char c " teristic of the Booths, seemed to fit with the lines ,

I ha eha hi n h ch as seh s ho . v t t wit , w i p t w

H e a had thought never to ppear upon the stage again , but the mo re vio lent the tempest the mo re subdued the calm which fo llows ; and the reaction pro ved as rea

a a i had son ble in this cas e as the denunci t on been fierce .

W i an o ith conflict ng emotions , which required ind m itable l E o o force of wi l to keep in check, dwin B th made his reappearance o n the stage at the Winter

Ga a a a H amlet . rden The tre in the ch r cter of , Jan 3,

1 866 a a o . , after h ving been in retirement m ny m nths

o a o Wa o Pe ple c me fr m shingt n , Baltimore , Boston , and

a to i Philadelphi w tness the event, and the audience

a co mprised m ny distinguished persons . Outside the

r a a streets were th onged , angry thre ts were m de to shoot

o n o o him ; but the other hand co l , comm n sense was

a and and i the a he rd, both within w thout the tre the

o i was a p l ce force restraining power . “ ” S o f E W l a W In his ketch dwin Booth , i li m inter says

H ad an a ne there not existed, however, imper tive cessit a E t y th t dwin Booth should re urn to the stage ,

o a H e a a o n he w uld never h ve acted again . re ppe red

d o f a a 1 866 at W Ga a . the 3 J nu ry, , the inter rden The tre

o a him and An immense thr ng of persons g ve welcome , it was such a welcome as might well have lightened the a N n s ddest heart and the mo st anxious mind . i e cheers hailed the melancho ly Dane upon his first entrance . TH E Y N E R B OO T 1 64 OU G i l .

Thespectators rose and waved their hats and handker

l a o h . a and c iefs Bouquets fel in sh wer upon the st ge ,

w a a N o r was there as tempest o f pplause . the welcome o o f New Wh less kind in c mmunities out York . erever he appe ared after this momentous return to the stage he

- and res ectful' s math found a free hearted greeting p y p y, and so little by little he go t back into the o ld way of o and u flo w w rk, his professional career res med its in ” the o ld channel . The H amlet Medal (intended for presentation o n the one hundredth night) was received by Bo o th on

' a 2 2 d a o fle Janu ry during this eng gement . It was an r ing o f appreciation and respect from the chief citizens

N ew and o f S a and was of York students h kspere , pre “ ” a a sented publicly after the perform nce of H mlet .

- o an o The stage represented a drawing r o m . The b ds f the principal theatres of N ew York united in giving the

a H a mlet a N a o a H . o s D nish ti n l ymn B oth , dressed ,

a a met the committee o n their arriv l . Among the v st conco urse o f peo ple were many eminent citizens and

o n o u t i a a the stage could be singled Adm ral F rr gut,

- a a Ro h . H ff a M jor Gener l bert Anderson , Jo n T o m n

o ew o a o ft G vernor of N York , Ge rge B ncr the histo f . R . L a a . Da a Da S G ri n , Ch rles A n , Judge ly i ford , aunt

o o McEnteeand a Th mps n , Jervis , m ny distinguished

’ and R a O Go rman W a n artists ich rd and illi m Fullerto ,

members of the New Yo rk B ar. The latter gentleman spo ke the fo llowing graceful tribute — MR . B o orrr Yo u a wo n , h ve deservedly a position

a a in yo ur professio n which few men h ve ever ttained . ’ The representation of o neof Shakspere s plays for

TH E Y N GE R B OO T 1 66 OU H . which your virtues have elevated and your talents ” adorned . a a The medal is m de of gold , and is bout three inches

z a o and o a h in si e it is of ov l f rm , is surr unded by t ick

are golden serpent with its head pendent , over which

Yorick a the skull of , the crossed foils , and thickly m ssed ’ /relia s o a o bunches of Op flowers . A golden ribb n r und

al a ferat. the oval bears the motto , P m m qui meruit

D a At the top is the anish crown , from which h ng two heavy garlands of laurel and myrtle graéefully fes

’ m at alto-rilievo E too ed bene h , in , is dwin Booth s

' a mlet a head as H . The medal is suspended from h a S a r e brooch ric ly ch sed , with the face of h kspe e b

a and tween the masks of Tr gedy Comedy . On the “ a T o E co mmemo reverse is engr ven , dwin Booth, in ’ a o o i H a s en r ti n the unprecedented run of mlet, a New fo r ir acted by him in York City o e hundred nights ,

1 865. 1 866 o and a In January, , Bo th Cl rke obtained the lease of the Bosto n Theatre at a rental of sixteen

a ff as - thousand dollars year . O ers high as twenty six

o la thousand d l rs were made by other parties , but the

f who a directors pre erred these two gentlemen , m naged now conj o intly three first- class theatres in the three

ft a principal cities . A er very successful engagement

o o n 2 d o f 1 8 66 a in Boston , B oth , the 3 April, , m de his reappearance o n the Philadelphia stage to co mmemo rate the anniversary o f the Birth and Death o f Shaks

H ehad no t a a fo r two a pere . cted in th t city ye rs , and during a most remunerative engagement of fifty e Otlzello R omeo Slz loek Riel: o n nights he performed , , y , > TH E YO U/VGE /i B OO TH . 167

’ n esa r d eB azaf t H a mlet ard III . R u B las D o C , y , , ,

io/re/ieu P etr ue/zio Tli eS tran er B ertu eeio S ir Giles R g , , , , “ verreaelz P es eara . H a was o O , and mlet pr duced in

and fo r - o nen magnificent style , acted twenty ights , the o ther plays being many times repeated . During the occupan cy o f the Winter Garden Theatre

o and a a by B oth Clarke , the l tter usually cted there from

o o f a o o lo the m nth August until Christm s , B oth f l wing

i E . and a W and playing unt l aster, Mr Mrs . B rney il l a an d o a a o l i i ms ther ttr cti ns fi ling the interven ng time . i S . a o o o John Cl rke s ld his nterest to B th, and retired

n l o a ar a 1 86 a fi a ly fr m the m nagement e ly in the ye r 7, l w few mo nths before the bui ding as burned . “ ” Boo th pro duced Richelieu in magnificent style

rst r 1 866 i o on the Februa y, , us ng the c stumes he ha o o a fo r a no a d br ught with him fr m P ris ther pl y .

a was D eMau rat o n D o tt o Charles B rron the p , J h y y

o H o uet o e u lie se/z . . R E tin p , C K Mas n g , Miss se y g y ,

a Wi s Al a rion de or and Miss M rie lkin L me. On the 2 9th December o f the same year he played

[a o Ollie/lo o f B a u mil Dawiso n t/zello o g to the g . O sp ke

G ma I a o En hsh and D esdemona a a in er n , g in g , (M d me Methua Scheller) in German to Otkello and in English “ to the rest o f the d ra matis persona: The Merchant o f n w as n o f a o f 1 8 66- 6 Ve ice the eve t this se son 7, i n and was o a an. 2 8 1 86 pr duced in m gn fice t style J , 7, running fo r seven weeks . On the 2 2 d o f March “ u o r a o f a was n and Brut s , the F ll T rquin , prese ted, early o n the mo rning of March 2 3d the theatre was burned to the ground .

was an a and The fire the result of ccident, the thea TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH

was u was s never i tre , which unins red , rebu lt . Booth

o f a o n a lost the whole his valu ble wardr be, includi g m ny articles priz ed fo r their association sake even more

S had than for their actual worth . ome belonged to his

a to E o i f ther, others dmund Kean , J hn Ph lip Kemble,

r S . and to Ms. iddons Owing to the great success which had attended the at W G a production of his plays the inter arden The tre , he was filled with an ambitious desire to build a supe rior edifice where he could indulge his lo ve of the aesthetic and realis tic as well as show deference to the h legitimate in art. T is had been his earnest endeavor h a t roughout his later eng gements , and the production of his plays had so engro ssed his attentio n that he had

' refused most tempting o flers from the West mo ney at

a W hi i that time being secondary object . ith s m nd intent upon pursuing this grand scheme of erecting a

a o wn o had the tre on his resp nsibility, he now recourse to W a and a the estern m nagers, accepted offers th t

o a H e act a a pr ved most remuner tive . did not g in for New two years in York ; but, having secured the site

a l a o to for his the tre , he trave led and worked l b riously

a no w l a o a cflect wh t he cal s Quix tic f ncy .

1 86 In 7, during his engagement in Chicago, Miss ‘ Mary MV icker made her first appearance as y u liet to

H e o t an his R omeo . pr ceeded to Baltimore o fulfil

a n o n S ir Giles Over eng geme t of f ur weeks , openi g as ‘ V c er o i M r ret D reaelz M i k a a . , Miss perf rm ng g uring the

i i P esea ra the first week , wh le play ng in Apostate , he

Va h met with a serious accident . Mr . Charles nden o ff

H emea l Restara so as y , in rushing to ki l , was excited

TH 1 70 E YO UN GE R B OO TH .

. s all elegance There were no wings on the tage , of the scenery being so co nstructed as to sink or be ele ” vated above the flies by hydraulic power the stage

' a l to al eflec could be thrown open from w l w l, and the t perspectively with the great altitude added to its vast s and n a ne s gra deur . The the tre opened on the 3d of 1 8 6 t o R o February, 9 , with the produc i n of ome and ” o f Sh Juliet , given in the original text akspere for the

first time in America. The minutiae o f stage decora ’ o and o o wn tion , c stume, equipment received B oth s as co rrectness had w e supervision, their engrossed his ' a et . uli and l bor In the second act, the house of f al measured sixty feet in height, and had two b conies

as ft one above the other . Two trees me ured fi y and

o r act was sixty feet . For the l ggia scene in the thi d a line of connected arches of great height extending backward to the full depth of the stage these flanked a wide courtyard in which the tops o f trees were visi ’ m s l w i . R o eo as ble , suggest ng the idea of depth adder thrown over thebalustrade o f a balcony o f this solidly

constructed ho use . The loggia scene employed ” fifty men to set and to draw it above the flies . The production o f this play attracted immense audiences for ‘ - and MV icker sixty eight nights , Booth Miss playing

ereu tio M . R omeo u liet Mr. E a and 7 , and dwin Ad ms The “Moor of Venice was put upon ‘ the stage

ri 1 1 86 o f i Ap l 9 , 9 , on a scale s milar magnificence ; Edwin Adams and Edwin Booth alternating the charac ‘ tlzello Ia o MV icker a ters of O and g , Miss ssuming the ’ iv o f D esaemou a . n co ntr part Booth, by an inge ious “ ” R l ar ance, had the scenery of omeo and Ju iet re TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . I 7 !

ranged with the addition o f a few small pieces to answer ” o o f n every requisiti o n o f the Mo r Ve ice , thus illus ’ trating that the eye o f the mas ter saves the laborer s e a o i hands . H kept the the tre pen dur ng the summer, “ ” E 2 1 and produced the play of noch Arden , June , 8 E m a n a a a 1 69 . dwin Ada s person ted the pri cip l ch r c ter and . , Booth received a letter from Mr Tennyson

relative to the successful pro ductio n of his poem . ‘ MVicker e Boo th and Miss w re married June 7, ‘ h r . 1 869 . In t is yea the lady retired from the stage ” ‘ R and W r a The plays of omeo Juliet , inte s T le, ” “ ” “ ” H a R and a a mlet, ichelieu , Julius C es r, were

a a o produced in mo st el bor te and c stly style . The ” ’ a o e a a o o f ae o Assassin ti n C s r, fr m G r me s gre t pic

a l o o f ture, was be utifu ly c pied for the scene the lat ”

a . MOO1 a ter pl y The of Venice , M cbeth, “ ” “ ” “ L o f L ady yons, The Iron Chest, Merchant of ” “ R a N ew Wa to Pa Venice , ich rd A y y Old ” “ ’ ” “ D o R l a ebts , Fo l s evenge , The Fal of T rquin , and Do n Cesar de Bazan were put upo n the stage and o o m unted in superi r style . They were frequently

a and o ne o o repe ted, of the previ usly menti ned five

a w H ehad o pl ys as produced each year . been thr ugh o u t a o f and and a a unsp ring strength energy , indef tig ble

his a o a a a i in l b r, e ch dep rtment of the the tre div ding his a io n fo r o o f ak n o ttent , the nus this undert i g dev lved o n i e a and a o . H h mself al ne tr velled pl yed elsewhere ,

’ i o l at a wh le ther stars fi led the time Booth s The tre , a N o f mong whom were Miss eils n , Joseph Je ferson,

a S. . Miss Batem n , and J . Clarke ‘ ar M Vicker Boo th died in N w eYork No v. 1 1 88 1 hi e M y , 3, , w l this o umewas in t ass hro u h theress . E v l p g g p D. 1 2 TH E Y N E 7 OU G R B OO TH .

E w i d in Adams was the lead ng man of the company, and had the privilege o f producing his own plays o n

' S a a eflec ed aturday nights , the s me rrangement being t

’ L a a o with awrence B rrett in the next se s n . Booth s ’ management o f Booth s Theatre was remarkable fo r the o c ntinuity of its success, but the outlay was eno rmo us and the expenses incredible ; he allo wed himself rest

fo r d neither bo y nor mind, and, when absent in o ther ar o f N ew cities , sent l ge sums money to York to liqui date his debts .

on Finally, the strain mental and physical health

to o 1 8 a became severe , and in 73 he concluded to le se

his . the theatre to elder brother, J B . Booth , in prefer a a ence to other applic nts . This m nagement not meet

a o ing with the desired success , the the tre passed int ’ ffai a new hands , and Booth s monetary a rs bec me so

a and a i n complic ted emb rrassed , ow ng to his ig orance

a a a no twithstand of the fin nci l details of business, th t,

o - i ro ing his l ng cont nued success th ughout the country , a the result o f this scheme was b nkruptcy . Altho ugh released from the cares of management he was now

a a compelled to work h rder and to tr vel more, devot ing every energy to free himself from the incubus of a o f debt . Out of the f ilure this great project , which was a noble endeavor by individual eff o rt to elevate the drama in America and to create for his country a standard o f dramatic excellence that should be felt

o a o a t among lder n ti ns , c me happily renewed streng h

a o f i and determin tion , not the relaxation despa r or grief fl for was ted c o rt that was feared by his friends . Shortly after his bankruptcy Booth retired for a brief

1 74 TH E YO U/VGE R B OO T/I. successfully fulfilling these engagements and terminat

a 1 8 6 . ing the se son in June , 7 For several years he had refused all offers from Cali fo rnia but now that he required a vast deal of money to free himself from pressing obligations , he concluded to undertake the journey at the tempting inducements

o t . o n c ullo u ra en held f r h by Mr J h M C gh. Their t in t rou eto San Francisco sto pped at several places . They

S L a a - visited alt ake City, where he g ve a h lf promise to act in on his return journey they went to Virg ia City , and in twelve days from the date of starting he arrived

San a S . 1 8 6 in Fr ncisco, ept 5, 7 , exactly twenty years a to day since he had left that city . H is engagement at the San Francisco theatre was a o W ttended by verwhelming success . hile in Cali

fo rnia D . . he met his old friend, C Anderson , and together they wandered over the busy metro polis that ha had overgro wn the straggling village they d known .

R was a a a Their anch now tenement in b ck street, “ ” a fo r and the m rsh was built over ; the great, pros

erous a r i p city had re ched outwa d in all d rections, em a bracing the once b rren waste .

E and L Booth returned to the ast , opened at the y ‘ ’ V er s New . M ick ceum Theatre , York, under Mr man

a ement N 1 8 6 . a s g , in ovember, 7 This eng gement la ted a a ten weeks . The gre t politic l disturbance , and the

at fatal occurrence the Brooklyn Theatre , burned by fi a a re , with loss of more th n three hundred lives , all Dec. 1 8 6 a a a 5, 7 , c used so great a p nic th t places o f amusement were avoided in New York ; and the fright extended to other cities , so that the latter part of E B TH E YOUN G R OO T/f . 1 75

‘ . MV theengagement was somewhat injured Mr. icker ’ was very anxio us to resign his two weeks lease o f the Academy o f Music in Brooklyn on account of the dis n i o f t a his i cl nation the communi y to visit the tres , but

' fl l o was to eo rts proved unsuccessfu . B oth obliged fill

a a a r the engagement, nticip ting complete failu e ; but, n r all o a o co tra y to expectati ns , he pl yed to enorm us a a business . Under the s me m nagement he visited o at vari us cities , acting three weeks the Arch Street h a r a a two al o and T e t e , Phil delphi , weeks in B tim re ,

o i a o later perf rm ng in sever l t wns of Connecticut . H ethen appeared at the Globe Theatre in Boston fo r o h and i a peri d of t ree weeks , closed th s protracted

Ma 1 8 1 th . Fo r i sea engagement on the 9 of y, 77 th s so n he had received one hundred and twenty - one

and fift - o a thousand three hundred y three d ll rs . And

recei ts ~ fro m 1 8 Ma 1 8 his total p October, 75, to y, 77,

him o o enabled to settle with his credit rs , and btain

n fift - release from ba kruptcy, the time comprising y six acting weeks . After a rest during the summer months he co m menced ano ther engagement under the same manage

0 a H e a n o n S . 1 1 8 in . in me t, ept , 77, Chic go pl yed

' a flal a Lo i l St. Lo B u o Cincinn ti , u svi le , Clevel nd , uis, ,

S a a and a L R . ockport , ochester, yr cuse , Utic , Alb ny In ’ a 1 8 8 o o a and n J nuary, 7 , he rented B th s The tre , u der L his own management acted for six weeks . ater he a at a r o cted the P rk Theat e , Bost n , for three weeks , tw o at al l weeks Pittsburg, two at B timore , and fil ed ’ three weeks at Clarke s Broad Street Theatre in Phila

o delphia. At the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New Y rk E 1 76 TH E YO UN G R B OO TH .

for D he played five weeks, then visited etroit and

H eha f Chicago . d reaped a plenti ul harvest in all had a n i a r these cities, but he l bored i defat g bly and t av ed o ell with ut loss of time . H is engagement at Chicago was for a perio d of fo ur

i 1 th l 1 8 weeks , beginn ng the 4 of Apri , 79 . In the sec ’ o f 2 d S i ond week , on the night the 3 ( hakspere s b rth ' ’ at h a R ze/za ra day) , he was shot w ile pl ying There a was intense excitement throughout the the tre, and the deed created the fiercest indign ation against the o f

a fender, who was rrested and secured, but not until

a Booth rose at the third shot, w lked to the footlights , an d pointed out to the audience the would - beassassin

a a as the pisto l was gain levelled at his he d . At the

o o man was o trial which f ll wed the pr ved to be insane, and he has ever since been c o nfi ned at the asylum at

E Ill. l scen lgin , One of the bul ets , which entered the has had ery almost directly behind Booth , he set in a “ o ar ri ca o g ld c t dge p , up n which is engraved, From

a G a to E i o 2 1 8 . i M rk r y dw n Bo th , April 3, 79 Th s, as o f a grim reminder his danger and escape , he wears

an E a as gypti n might wear an amulet . By subsequent measurement the aimo f the lunatic was shown to have

fo r had o ri and been very clever, B oth sen at the proper e xpected moment one of the bullets at least must have passed thro ugh his heart . The newspapers were filled with wild accounts of the

' o aflra and a and sho ting y, telegr ms, cable despatches , “ ” letters from troops of fri ends served to show him how high he stood in the estimation of his countrymen e a to at home and abroad . H needed such symp thy

1 78 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH . the bar ff s bench, the , the world of letters , arts , and a air , all a n g thered to do honor to the departi g actor, and to o f him i express their appreciation as an art st and a man .

S h R . a peeches were made by Judge Jo n Br dy, who a D l presided , by Judge Ch rles P. a y, Algernon S . Sulli

E S a Rev . R Rev van , dmund C . tedm n , obert Collyer, .

i a . E L t L W Ferd n nd C wer, awrence Barret , ester allack ,

ff W liamWa an d a Joseph Je erson, i l rren , poem written

as W a W for the occ ion was read by illi m inter.

ail New o th o f Booth s ed from York on the 3 June ,

1 880 i a . , with his w fe and d ughter After spending some months in travel in Great Britain and on the ’ New n a Lo n Continent, he opened the Pri cess s The tre ,

n 6th N 8 mlet u o 1 8 0 H a . b don, the ovember, , as S

at R ichelieu sequently, this house, he appeared as ,

B ertueeio Ot/zello Ia o P etrueeio S i /lock K in , , g , , g , and g

Lear . a Of this successful engagement , and of th t h o L L o un w ich f llowed at the yceum Theatre , ond n , H i der the management of enry Irv ng, where he played

Ia o and Ot/zello ha a i g . with t t gentlem n , alternat ng the

s . part , there is not space to speak here E o o i and r r dwin B th st ll lives, still pu sues his ca eer

o of usefulness in his profession . Theref re it is hardly

o l o f time yet, and it sh uld perhaps fa l to the lot some

a a z other writer, to n ly e the nobility of his character, l and unveil to thepublic the beauties of his private ife . Let it be said merely that as a citizen and as a man

E has a dwin Booth been lways devoted, upright, true the kindest and most tender o f sons to an erratic father an d o i to a wid wed mother, in every other relat on , as

a af and brother, husb nd, father, friend , worthy of fection TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH 1 79 “ ma t o f all praise . Long y it be ere Finis is writ en in his volume of life For what she has said in these pages the writer can only quote for her defence this curt excuse ,

If I ha es en m meill to r e v p t y ti w it , ” Let themno t beso idleas to read.

E W N LI N E S T O D I BOOTH .

- m mru 1 8 . w arn an , 75

l N dimold ala s in an n a l p ce , cie t g l eries , o s o do s and n a Thr ugh du ty c rri r su less isles , T h ed o a n y w ir v ice t u ts me , Thy s trange f ace haunts me

With so mbre brooding o r with radiant smiles .

What grand pale faces fill these quaint places W a s d o and d art h t culpture her es perfecte , Dim aff o d n clue r i g, And yet acco rding h i h h i This deat less beauty w t t y l vi ng heart .

T ru e art thus purely transmitted surely o h all thea es enew Thr ug g ev r , Thi neartis t s pirit Co uld but i nherit

f so o nd o s a and e. A gi t w r u , r re, tru 1 80 TH E YOUN GE R B OO TH .

S o da mh o o r o d - a n d N eo me rk gri er , bl o st i e r , L n eand G o s tethe a e i k th e l r, Moor, M cb th, W h eB no s a n d il ru i te , D n a n d ivi ely p i te ,

Is H amlet apo s tro phi zing Death .

’ ’ U nd n h s o Franc s a o er ig t c ver , e c s l ver ’ H ath Ro meo s pas sio n-te nder face And S hylo ck even Decl aims to H eave n ’ In an o ld Rabbi s ho ly place .

’ T n t ho m- o n n no r m o n in is o e l gi g , em ry thro g g, ’ N o r o n eand yet the l ve twee the me, That thus I trace T hy vo ice and f ace In a n n mn s sculpture , p i ti g, i strel y

B u t ma a S no n can nh , gic l pirit, e i erit h n a f u a n s s a h n a o T i e w l gre t e , s ve t i e l ne Fro mearliest times ’ Thro vari o us climes N a es e s h r mn n ture pr rve e o o to e .

F o m o to a e s a r y uth g , thi herit ge G a d tlzou o n o u r with l vi g jeal usy, ha men ma nameh T t y t ee, T h o u n a m e y c try cl i th e,

son o f n s n o . A ge iu , i c rrupt, and free

1 82 ’ 11VD E X.

B oom “ E dwin T , ( heYo unger B mn ham En . ir i g , g , 9 5. B o o th lake o B L u is 6 . , , 9 rs a s Lear 1 fi t pl y , 45. B lakeH/rlltam R . . , , 9 6 eu ns to theE as 1 0 1 . r t r t, 7, 45 ' B lakeAi rs . IVil/ia , rn R . 6. m , 9 ar es ar Dein 1 ri M y vl , 46, B o o ms bu n , Lo d o n . l ry , 4 1 52 .

B lou nt Mr . o , (C llecto r o f Cus a ea s in B o s o n 1 . pp r t , 48 o ms 6 6 t ) , 3, 4. a ea s in N ew Yo k 1 pp r r , 49. B l tbeCa ta in y , p , 8 . pro fess io nal to urs thro ugh B oileau ie/tolas IV 10 1 . , , theU n ed S a es 1 0 it t t , 5 , 1 6 1 1 1 1 9, 7 , 73, 75, B ona arteN a oleon p , p , 6 . 9 1 77. B oot/z A er on l n S dne8 . , g y , his r m y o B o o ks 1 1 . P pt , 5 B OOM Asia Mr ’ s . o hn , ( J S . a s Fo o s Reen e1 2 pl y l v g , 5 , Cl arke)“ 1 53. he me r na no e. , 9 5 t first visit to E ngl and men o n 8 1 1 1 1 . ti , 9 , 3, 1 . “ 5 54 B oot/z E dw in T heY e , ( oun o ess o na ehee1 g r pr f i l lif t r , 54 1 56. hi s b th 1 1 . eu ns to me , ca 1 . ir 9 r t r A ri , 57 ea o u th and ed uca o n ea h d o f thers Mrs . B o o h rly y ti , t fi t t ,

1 2 et s 1 . 0 eq. 57 ass o c a o n h his a he mana es W a nu S ree i ti wit f t r , g l t t t 2 s T ea 1 0 et e. h e1 8 q tr , 5 . deo o n to his mana es W n er a he1 2 . a den v ti f t r, 4 g i t G r h T t ea hea eN . Y . ca d b u 1 2 . 1 . tri l é t, 5 tr , , 58 s a ea ancein e mana es B osto n T hea e fir t pp r N w g tr ,

Y o k 1 2 . 1 66 . r , 7 eee m s eu a en a ement 1 . c s H a e edal fir t r g l r g g , 30 r iv l t M , - s u ppo rts his father in Cali 1 64 1 66 . ’ f o rnia 1 bu ds B o o th s T hea e1 0 1 0 et se. 68 , 3, 3 q il tr , ,

pro fess io nal lifein Calif o r 1 69 . ni 1 — — his mana emen o f h a 1 1 1 1 1 . a , 3 39 , 4 45 g t t t — h h e1 1 2 . ardsh s 1 . o u s 6 ip , 34 , 9 7

rs a earanceas H a mlet bank ru c 1 2 1 . fi t pp , pt y , 7 , 75 ‘ 1 ma es a MVicker 1 . rr 1 . 37 i M ry , 7 s eco nd s to a s u s ra a 1 1 0 . s i o n a vi it A t li , 39 , 4 vi it C l f r i ,

s s H o no u u 1 0 1 1 . 1 . vi it l l , 4 , 4 74 eu n th a em to s to C a e sho o him1 . o n a 1 1 . r t r lif r i , 4 tt pt t , 74 creates Rap hael in The breakfas t given himin N ew

a b eH ea 1 2 . Yo k 1 1 8 ~ M r l rt, 4 r . 77, 7 IN D E X. 1 83

“ B oo tn E dw in T heYo u n e B ooth 0 1 m rand a he , ( g r , 7 (g f t r o f u n u s B u us B o o h J i r t t ), 4,

and 8~ seco nd visit to E ngl 7. oo me/ 117s 1 1 1 8 . B t/r ol li 7 2 . 7 , y , 5 , 59

o es s o na ethee1 8 . B oot/z u n iu s B ru tu s T he pr f i l lif r , 7 , y his es ona cha ac e 1 8 E deB o o h p r l r t r, 7 , l r t

1 hi s b r h . 79 i t , 3

ertu ccia 1 2 1 . r his B o uth and ea educa o n 8. , 5 , 53 y ly ti ,

hi H amlet 1 1 1 16 ebut . s 60 hea ca d , 53, 59, , 3, t tri l , 9 ea c ex e n 1 6 . ear h a eces 5 ly t tri l p ri ,

his Macbeth 1 . 1 2 . , 53 9 , ear his Ra /zael 1 2 . s a ancein Lo ndon p , 4 fir t pp ,

his Ricka rd 1 73. 1 3.

his Ric/zelieu 1 0 1 6 1 6 . his esemb anceto Kean , 5 , 5 , 7 r l ,

his h lock 1 1 . 1 et se. 20 0 2 . S y , 54, 55 3 q , , 4 , 4

his S ir Giles Overreaclz 1 8 i a r th K ean 1 et se. , 4 , r v l y wi , 3 q

- 1 . theB o o h Kean o s 2 et 49 t ri t , 9

. o n his act Geo Wm. C u rtis - in 1 60 1 62 . a s at S ra o d . g, pl y t tf r , 47

WilliamWi nter o n his act marriage; 52 .

in 1 6 1 6 . s f o r mer ca . g, 3, 4 sail A i , 53 ’ Richard O Go rman o n his mer can d b u . A i é t, 54

act n 1 6 . a ea s at eesbu V a. i g, 5 pp r P t r rg, ,

men o n 1 2 . 0 et se. ti , 9 5, 99 , 55 q

B oot/1 Mrs . E dw n ar Dev a ea s at N ew Y o k 62 , i (M y pp r r , ,

in . l ) 63.

e 2 . her ma r a 1 a ea s at B o s o n 6 . r i g , 5 pp r t , 5

her dea h 1 . a a s at h adeh a 1 . t , 57 pper P il lp i , 7 m n 1 1 h en o 6 . des es to keea ho use ti , 4 , 54 ir p lig t ,

B oot/z Mrs . E dwin a 6 . , (M ry 64, 5 ‘ MV icker . u chases T heFa m 66 ) p r r ,

u o s Ed in B o o h 1 68 . s pp rt w t ,

her ma r a e1 1 . his eo n TheFa m r i g , 7 lif r ,

her dea h 1 1 no e. t , 7 t 69 et seq.

mn o n 1 1 1 0 1 1 8 . e s i E u ro e18 2 1 . ti , 5 , 7 , 73, 7 vi ts p ( 5 7

oo t/1 dw ina 1 6 1 . ehee B E 8 ro ess o na i . , , 5 , 7 p f i l l f t r , 73, 74

meca . B o o h Fa min a and. eu ns to t r M ryl r t r A ri , 74 es am reeT hea descr t o n of 66 et se. mana S ip i , q g C p t t

men o n 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 26 treN ew O eans 6. , 9 , , 4, 9, , , rl , 7 ti 9 e 1 1 6. a s in theF ench an ua 45, 4 pl y r l g g , — B oot/x H enr B ron . 6 8 . , y y , 9 5 7 7 1 84 IN D E X.

B ooth 1 min: B ru tus TheB ooth u nius B rutus T he , 7 , f E lder E lder mana es nna o s Thea e as P osthu mus 1 et se. g A p li tr , 4 q M “ d 80 . as S econd Actor in m ( ) , H ” s u o ea in B a m s K n o e let 8 1 . pp rt lti r , ,

8 1 . as S h lock e 1 0 1 et s . y , 49 , q ness 2 s . ertoriu as S 88 8 . ill , 9 , 93, 94 , , 9 is s o v it E ur pe(1836 94.

o ess o na ehee . 8 60 8 8 et se. pr f i l lif t r , 94 4 , 59 , , 3, 5 q

eu ns to mer ca 6 . as S ir Giles Overreach r t r A i , 9 , 45. a em t o o n a as Richar I s o o d I I. 1 et se tt pt f ll w C w y, , 3 q ,

. 0 et se. 97 4 , 44, 54 , 55 q , 62. eu ben l nr acc den to his no se . as R G eo 8 2 . i t , 97 y ,

as ten ea s o f his e8 his ead n . l t y r lif , 9 r i g, 79 ’ Wm. G o dwin s o pinio n of

s s a o n a 1 0 2 et se. his ac n N . vi it C lif r i , q , ti g , 44, 45; M . ’

e. Lud o s t s . 1 0 et s e e W . 3 q l w , 55 q ; ’ W . o ess o na ehee1 0 . a s 6 o hn pr f i l lif t r , 3 Cl pp , 5; J ’ ea a H o a d a es 8 as a ncein N ew n E . l t pp r w r P y , 3; J ’ u d ock et se. R Y o k 1 00 . s 8 u r , M r , 4 q ’ as a ea anceo n thes a e f us ho a es 1 0 . l t pp r t g , C t , 9 men i o n 1 1 1 20 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 4 . t , 9 , , , ,

as b 1 0 . 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 l t ill , 5 3, 4, 5, 9, na i ness 1 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 fi l ll , 0 6. 3 , 3 , 3 , 4 , 43, 45, ea h 1 d 0 6 1 . t , , 34

o th Mrs . u nins B ru bu i a 10 . B o tus 2 r l , 7 , f , 5 , anecdo es of his eccen r c 2 1 0 6 1 0 1 08 t t i ity , 55. 9 . 94. 99 . . 7 . .

1 10 .

e o us beeand deo i o n B ooth u niu s B ru tu s r 8 r ligi li f v t , , y , y , 9 ,

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 , 4, 5 9 , , 3 , 3 , 3 , 33, k ndness and cha 8 i rity, 9 , 99, 1 ass umes mana emen o f 0 9 . g t ’ hi en 1 B o o h s T hea e1 2 . s us . g i , 0 9 t tr , 7 his ho me e1 1 B ooth Richard a heo f the lif , 3. , (f t r

his eso na charac e 1 1 1 E deB o o h . p r l t r, , l r t ) et e o k his to hn W es 6. l t r J il , 5,

as B r u tu s 1 0 0 10 1 . a a in meca 1 . , , rriv l A ri , 7

as Ia o 2 1 et se. 0 2 82 . s to h adeh a 2 . g , q , 4 , 4 , vi it P il lp i , 9 ear as L 1 ea h 1 . 0 . d 0 8 , 5 , 5 t , as L u kein men o n R ches 8 2 . i , ti . 3» 4. s. 73. 89 . 95

as restes 8 . B ooth all 1 1 1 . O , 7 , S y , , 5

1 86 IN D E X.

r e rs. ohn . la h M S ees a av . C S D en ort 1 . , y A i p , E L , 51

B o o h. en ort a n M. D av Mrs . t p , fl ( Lan

ew . Clark n ell Lo ndo n der 1 0 1 . , , 3 ) ,

eeand . 0 1 D av is Mr . ana e . Cl v l , , 75 , (M g r, N

Cl to n Ada 1 8 . 6 8 if , , 5 7 . 7

D aw ison B a umil 16 . , g , 7

b . o u T hea reLo ndo n 0 Dea E n . C rg t , , 5 l , g , 53.

Colerid mu l . eS a eT . 6 eB a r D B en 10 . g , , 9 , j ., 5 ’ er . IV . 1 oll as . emo ni . C 8 D co s Res auran N . Y i , j , 5 l t t,

Coll er Rev . R obt. 1 8 . y , , 7 1 77 .

e . . Colma n Geo . Yo u n Det o d E n . , ( g r), 59 p f r , g , 9 ” m o f E o s 1 6. . C o ed Dero ch. 1 6 y rr r , t it, Mi , 7

m n H enr 1 . Co to r eMrs . Ed n D ev/mMa . Se p , y , 55 , y wi

Co nwa F . B . 1 . B o o h. y , , 57 t

o Mrs . F . B . 1 . C nw a D israeli B en 0 . y , , 57 , j , 9

onw m. . . C a W A . D o n es a deB azan 1 1 y , , 75 C r , 7

ea h . . his d D o rches e ass . 1 t , 97 t r, M , 57

CooheGeo . F red 1 0 ea eLo ndo n . D u LaneT h , , 9, 4 , 54 r ry tr , , 8 62 3 1 2 2 26 2 5 . 59. 4 . 8. 20 . 4. 5. , 7.

Coo er ohn 2 . 2 8 6 8 2 6 p , y , 5 . 34 . 35. 3 . 3 . 49 . 5 . 5 .

Coo er Thos . A 1 62 1 8 1 2 ~ p , 6 , , 7 , 7 : 73, 94 - . n eand . Co s Co b o nn . 1 Dub i I , C , 73 l , r l , 49 , 74 ’ o en a den T hea eLo n D u al m8 1 . C v t G r tr , j , j ,

Mr o hn 8 1 . d 1 1 1 2 1 1 18 D a Mar s. o n, 9, , , 3, 4, , j , y ( J ) ,

2 0 D u Wrn . . 24. 26. 2 7. 28. 9, 3 , 34 . 351 fiy , , 93

6 8 1 6 D u as Law s 1 2 1 . 3 7 3 1 459 47! 49 ? 5 , 5 , g , ,

D ott 0 1 m1 6 . 7 2 . y , 7 , 7

usadeT he 0 . Cr r, , 5

6 . Cu rtis Geo . Wm. his o n o n E D IN B U GH S co and , , pi i R , tl , 49, 9 ’ Ed in B o o h s H amlet E n III. 1 6. o f w t , lgi , , 7 — ll s/on R oot. Wm. 2 . 1 60 1 62 . E i , , 5 , 73

en 1 1 . u shma n Charlotte1 1 . E no ch A d C , , 53, 57 r , 7 “ ” eL ord 1 2 . mbene 1 . E rskin Cy li , 4 , ,

ex L ord 18 . E ss , ,

Mr . 1 . sr m1 . E v ans D i rt y , Au cu , 73 , , 39

E vans Mrs . 1 . u d eC. B . 1 6 , D al , y , y g , 4, 39

E wer Rev . Ferd . C. 1 1 8 . has . . 1 . , D ana , C A , 64 , , 37 7

in eRose1 8 1 6 . . E t , D ana , S . W , 79 y g , , 5 7

D ante . , 69 AI H ILD H N S cene- a n a rle ohn 2 . F , ( D y , y , 7 RC JO p i t

er 1 6 . arleMrs . ohn 2 . , D y , y , 7 ) 3 IN D E X. 1 87

Fai relou lz B ootfiro d 1 . AB IELLE D E V ancv 6. g , y , 43 G R , 7 e r eeB ru Garn o r Gam M s . ran Fa o f T a u n. S d ll rq i ( ) , (g mo he o f un us B tus . t r J i rut us

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a rra ut Admiral 1 6 . Garri ck D av id 2 2 1 . F g , , 4 , , , 44, 60

Faw cett ob n 1 20 1 2 Ga rrow Mr . 1 2 . , f , 9 , , 3 , 3 , 33, , , 8 1 34. 3s. 36. 3 . 39. 5

Gerdrne L . 1 1 . , 7

Fi th Av e. T hea eN . Y . 1 0 f tr , , 7 , 7m Gilbert 0 1 0 . 1 . 75 , 7 , 5

Finn enr 8 1 . , H y 7 4

i r er Ira n 1 0 . as o S co and F /t C . , , 5 Gl g w, tl , 49 G eT hea eB s n o b o o 1 . l tr , t , 75

Fl n n Tfi os . 80 8 1 1 Glosso Mr . ana e f y , , , , 9 , 94, 97 , p , (M g r o Co

1 1 . bur T h a e e 0 1 . 9 g tr ) , 5 , 5

Fl nn Ai rs. 7710s 8 1 . Gloucester u heand D ss . D e y , , , uch

Fontai o e o 1 . neGe. a as Lo 2 , (li v tt f ; 3, 5

. o u es er . c En 6 2 . 99 Gl t , g , 4 , 5 “ ’ e T he 1 2 Godw in W - Fo o s Ren e m. his ee . l v g , , 5 , , , l tt r, 43 45

o o na U . S . o f o o mb a G rg , C l i ,

m 1 1 . Ford 0 1 T. 1 6 , 7 , 4 , 73, 77 ’ ea H s B a ou ld T s d e . Fo s O o u ho R . his o n o n r p r , lti G , , pi i ’ mo e1 . o f theE deB o o h s P es r , 77 l r t

Forrest E dw in the E de cara . , , l r , 75 ’ B oo th s admirati o n o f his his acco u nt o f thebreaki ng ’ tlz ll e o o h s [a o and O eo 80 . o f theE d B g , l r t

men o n 6 1 1 1 2 . no se . ti , 9 , 9, 5 , 97 ~ Forrest Mrs . E dw in a he r aha mMr . Gilfert and Gra , (C t G , (

neS nc ai 1 8 1 1 ham . ri i l r) , 3 , 4 ) . 54

. ea H o u . 1 2 and O seN . Y 4 Gr p r , ,

es H o me h a . 1 1 . Fo . rr t , P il , 33 77 Fo es T hea eS ac amen o and O ea H o use a is rr t tr , r t , Gr p r , P r , 1 l 42 . 69

Fo tun o 2 . Gr ant Gen . U . S . 1 1 . r i , 5 , , , 5 G a . eada 1 . F reder cks Wm. S 1 0 1 1 0 2 . ss V a e N i , , , r ll y, v , 33 eB a mo e Gra Marh a em s to as sas Fro n St. T hea t tr , lti r , y , , tt pt eE d n B o o h 1 1 s inat 1 6. 45. 46. wi t , 7 ”

ea E ern S tr. 1 . Fu hamE n . 1 . as l , g , 59 Gr t t , , 57

Fullerton Wm his s eech at Greene al m 2 . , , p , y , 7 the esen at o n o f the eenmo un emee B a pr t i Gr t C t ry, lti

H ame eda 1 6 . mo e10 . l t M l, 4 r , 7 t ins .LAaDzax:

Grimaldi oseh . H eH enr ow 1 . , y p , 9 5 , y , 55

G u annen 1 . y M ri g, 3

“ ” I N H EST T H E RO C , , 47, 59,

2 8 et se. 7 , , 8 , 10 , 10 , H A B LIN T H S . 0 1 3 5 q 4 5 M , O , 79, 9 , 9 ,

theE deB o oth in the a o l pl y, ilt n . r m WmH 1 . H a , , 40

’ 48 . ilton s H m. H am Mr . H . ss , (Mi Irv n H enr su o s Ed i g, y , pp H amb n 1 0 . rt li ), 4 w in B o o h in anches e H ame 62 6 8 1 1 20 t M t r, l t, , 5, , 99, ,

E n . in 1 86 1 1 6 . 1 28 I ! I l t I I g , , 5 : 3 ) 37, s , S3' 59’ — as so c a ed h Ed n 1 1 6 1 6 1 66 1 6 . i t wit wi 60 , 3, 4 , 9 B o h o in Lo nd o n, in 188 1 arle ohn P itt 1 1 . t , H y , y ,

1 8 . en 7 H arris Ai r . o en a d , (C v t G r ), s erw ood I h W lliam8 1 . 2 1 18 1 2 0 , i , , 1 1 , 1 , , , , 4, 9 7 9 5 ” I a ans T he 2 . t li , , 4 ell Mr . 2 . H athw , , 7

th ell M ss H 2. H a w , , 7 i A e KS N G m . J C O , , 79 , 93 H a eas a e6 . ' tt r , C p , 4 c erson al mso n o f o eh 7 fi , y ( J s p H a markeT hea eLo ndon y t tr , , eeso n 1 s t 2 . J ff r ), 7 1 ' 54. f ’eerson oseh Ri Van j j , y p ( p r Mr 1 . H aza d , ., 8 Winkle1 6 1 2 ) , 4 , 5 , azl tt Wm o n the ichard ' H i , R eerson Ai rs . oseh E u he yj , y p ( p 1 and [a o o f theE e 11 . g ld r mia Fo u ne eo f o — rt , wif J B o o h 0 1 . t , 4 4 seh eerso n 2d 2 . p J ff ) , 7 H enry 1 53. erson Thomas yef , (so n o f Jo H a m/t 0 1 m o n theen us , 7 g i eh r s eeso n rst 2 . p J ff ) , 7 o f Ed n B o o h 1 20 . wi t , enn L nd T hea eS an F an J y i tr , r H ck o Md . 66. i ry , , c sco 1 0 . i , 3 f l illiert Ca t . , p , 74 f oe(a sl aveo n theB o o th H man o hn T. 16 . of , y , 4 Fa m 0 8 0 2 . r ) , 7 , 9 , 9 , 9 H o d a S eeT hea eB a lli y tr t tr , lti

mo e8 1 1 . r , , 45 ” u us aesa 2 1 28 1 J li C r, 5 , , 59, olmes Mar Anne. SeeMrs . H , y 1 7 1 . B . B oo h E de. J . t ( l r)

H omer 2 . K A H IV . 1 , 4 ME AM EH A , 14 . “ “ ” H o nemo o n . Ka heneand euch o y , 9 t ri P tr i ,

H o no u u 1 0 . 1 . l l , 4 43 enasum Bo n a H o ard Ath s o [(en Cha rles 1 1 . w , t , , , 8 , 60 Kean E dmu nd his esem , , r b anceto theE deB o o h l l r t , 1 1 1 1 20 0 2 3, 4, 5, 7, , 4 , 4 .

1 90 IN D E X.

’ e N iblo s a de h echa f V eni ceTh n T ea e . n o N . M r t , , G r tr , Y ,

10 1 1 2 1 1 1 . 1 8 . , 8 , 67 , 7 5

e a a r . V a. ro o n T he eN . Y N o o k 6 M t p lit t , , rf l , , 54, 55, 3.

1 . N o ch E n . 2. 47 rwi , g , 5 eo o an T hea re S an M tr p lit t , ’ F anc sco 1 1 . O G AN RICH A D 1 . r i , 4 ORM , R , 64

Milton o h . n 6 O mc T hea reN . Y . Mit , y , 9 ly pi t , ( ’ o b eAla 8 1 0 . chell s 6 . M il , , 9 , 93, 5 ) , 9 ’ o n o mer Ala 1 0 . O N eill Miss Lad Beche M tg y, , 5 , ( y r),

Mont Yeu ri Mons . 6 . 1 . / , , 7 9 ‘ ieAi rs. Amlia . Mu rdoch as . E . hi reco l e 1 , 7 , s p , , 5 ! O “ ” ec o ns o f the E de O ro o no k o . l ti l r , 93

end . B o o h 8 et se. O s 6 t , 4 q t , “ men o n 1 0 1 1 8 . O heo 20 2 1 2 2 ti , , 3 t ll , , , , 2 2 6. 44. 49. 74. 89 . 8 . 94. ‘ M tcher . 1 1 1 6 1 0 1 1 . V as H . 0 , 7 , 5 , 73, 9, 7 , 7

x berr Wm. H enr O xber O y , y ( ’ “ ‘ D ma i ck r eMr . r s a c B io ra M V er Ma . Se s Ed i , y y r t g

in B h. h 2 w o o t p y 4» ‘ ’ MV icker s T hea e h ca o tr , C i g ,

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anama 1 0 2 . P , e N AGLE SEPH B . 1 0 . ar s F anc 6 1 6 16 , JO , 5 P i , r , 4, , 5 , 7,

1 6 . N ap oleon 69 . 9

a ea reB os o n 1 1 . N as h eT enn. . k T h vill , , 79 P r t , t , 75, 77

k T ea reN . Y . O ld 1 N a chez ss . . ar h 6 t , Mi , 79 P t , ( ) , ,

N at o na T hea eN . Y . ha 6 2 80 1 i l tr , (C t . 75. . 93. 9 7. 47.

hamS ee 1 0 0 1 2 . 1 60 . tr t) , , 7

a . W . 1 . N a o na T hea reN . Y . cor. so ns T ti l t , ( P r , , 57

Leo na d and hu ch P as u in Anthon Dr. Wil r C r q , y (

es ams his ete . S r e . t t ), 94 li ) , l t r, 9 ne 0 hn H ow ar d N eilson Adela de1 1 . P a 8 1 . , i , 7 y , 7 , 3, 00 eabo d Ins eB a m N ew O eans La . 6 6 u o e rl , , 3, 7 , 77, P y tit t , lti r , 1 2 1 89, 93, .

N e o t E n . . embeon H o use B os o n wp r , g , 49 P , , “ rt t eW a N w to Pa O ld Deb 1 2 2 . y y ts,

P enleMr . ana e . y , (M g r), 9 ew Y o k 1 N 6 2 6 en o n . 6 eE n . r , , , 3, 73, 75, P t vill , g , 95 1 1 2 err 6 0 r 1 x B H A 1 . 9 . 9 . 9 . 3 . 45. 47. y , 00 16 eesbu ' T hea eV a 4 . P t r rg tr ( ) , 55.

1 66 1 2 1 I I l 8 ° 6 60 . : 7 1 73, 7Sr 77s 7 5 . 59. IN D E X. 1 9 1

h adeh a Pa. 1 88 2 R cha d III. men o n 1 2 P il lp i , , 7 , , 9 , i r , ti , , 1 0 1 I I o 6 93. 94. 96. . 33. 53. 47. 49 . s . 53. 55. 56. s. 1 1 8 1 6 1 66 1 6 6 1 2 1 2 57, 5 , 3, , 75, 73. 7 . 94. 9 . 3. 5.

1 . 1 2 1 28 1 1 1 6 1 0 1 1 77 7, , 3 , 3 , 4 , 4 ,

1 1 1 6 1 1 . 57, 59 , 9 , 7 ” Richeeu 1 28 1 0 1 6 1 6 li , , 5 , 5 , 7,

s b u P a. 1 . 1 1 . Pitt rg, , 75 7 ” ” R hes 8 2 z arro 18 . c . Pi , i , i e e Richmo nd 6 8 P lac deMme. an ac d , (J Pl i ) , , 5 , 57, 5 , 6c 6 1 1 too 1 77 59 . . . 7 . , 46.

1 50 . e r R chmo nd T hea e P o E d a Allan 1 . V a , g , 77 i tr ( ) , 53,

P otter E stelle1 0 . 0 1 , , 5 9 ' 9 R bert a a e 1 2 P otter al mS . 1 0 . o c 1 . , y , 5 M ir , ’ ncess s T hea e Lo ndon Pri tr , ,

Rocheort Mo . 1 6 1 8 . ns . c o 5 , 7 f , (A t r), 77

es er n . Ro ch E 2. t , g , 5

Ro ches eN . Y . 1 . t r, , 75

Roe ohn 1 1 . , y , 4 R meo and o u e 1 0 1 1 . J li t, 7 , 7 U IN A ES 2 2 . Q , J M , er amH Ro t d o and . t , ll , 74

Ro u ssea u 1 . , f? 44

RA IN E H N 6 6 8 . Ro a Academ Lo ndo n 1 6 . C , JO , 9 , 7 , 77, 7 y l y, , 5

Rae 2 2 . Ro a H a a an T hea reH o . Y. 4. 5. 34. 35 y l w ii t ,

el 1 . no lulu 1 Ra ha 60 0 . p , , 4

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eThas D . 6 . Ru B Ric . as 1 , 9 y l , 57.

R cha d II. 1 1 6. i r , 73, 7 ” Richard III. E lder B o o th

as Richa rd III . at Co en S A A EN T Cal. 10 1 1 , v t CR M O, , 3, 3 , G a den 1 et se 2 et r , 3 a , 9 ' se at D rur Lane18 et S ad es Wes T hea reLo n a ; y , l r ll t , e 6 et se s d o n . a , 3 a , 9 5 cas o f the a in Phila el S a Lak d eC U tah 1 . t pl y lt ity , , 74 h a o n theo ccas o n o f S an Franc sco Cal 10 2 p i , i i , , , '

his debu there 2 . 1 1 1 t , 7 3" 4 . x43: ms o thea n c t c s f c o f 1 1 1 « ri i i ti g 44. 4 5, 74 he B o t e o th i he a . E d n t S annah Geo 6 1 0 . l r v , , 3, 5 a o f Richard ar et S c bo u h . o En . p rt , 43, 57 r g , g , 49

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S chleel Friedrich 1 6. T AB A g , , 4 RY, MONS., 77.

S cott ohn R . 1 0 0 1 2 . , j , , 9

cr i eAu u st n . S b E i ne8 ass o . , g g , 7 T , 69

Tatnall Mrs . muel . , Sa , 72

S edle H enr 1 2 . Ta lor Thos. T o m a . y , y , 4 y , T yl or) S eton ohn 1 8 . f , j , 1 52 . ” Seto us 88 . Tenn son Al red 1 r ri , y , f , 7 1 .

etchell n . S D a iel E 1 0 . Terna n Mr . , , 5 , , 96. S fai lu e” 6 6 T heat es : r . 4 . 47. 49. 5. r 6 1 0 6 l o 1 28 I cademo f us c B o ok n 9. 79. . 9. . 43. A y M i , r ly , 1 1 1 6 1 60 1 6 1 66 1 . 47. 49. 5 . . 4. . 75 1 em o f hi cad us c a. 73 A y M i , P l , ” S haks eemo u eux . 6 . p r A r , 7 1 53

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el i h r or . S hi R c a d Lal . , , 75 80

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S iddons Mrs . 1 . 68 c sco 1 0 . , , i , 3

S immons Mr. . mer can T hea re S an , , 79 A i t ,

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Mrs . E dwi n Fo rrest . 80 . ” m 1 2 . h S es and T ea s c S eeT hea e hi a. il r , Ar tr t tr , P l ,

S mith Mark 1 0 1 0 . 1 1 , , 5, 5 9 3, 53, 75 ’ ea . . 1 hern . . 1 B o o th s Th eN Y S ot E A . 6 , , 55 tr , , 9 ,

ou t e . S h R obt . y , , 9 5

eu m1 2 . S ear Geo . 1 1 B o s o n us p , , 33, 34. t M , 5

hea e1 1 . S tarh ames 1 . B o s o n T r 66 , f , 39 t t , 47,

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1 0 108 . 1 0 5, 4 o n T hea eE n tedman E dmu nd C. 1 8 . B h S , , 7 rig t tr ( g ), 9, h S t. Jo hn o f Jerusalem(c urch)

eT hea re hi a. Lo nd o n . B o ad S e , 3 r tr t t , P l ,

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. ea reN . Y . S toneAi rs . 1 0 B o ad a Th , , 5 r w y t , ,

S ran eT he 1 28 . 1 0 0 . t g r, ,

- - o k ea re1 . S at o d n o n 6. B o o n T h tr f r Av , 4 r ly t , 74

m h r N . O . a eeT ea e S tua rt Wm. 1 8 1 S r , , 5 , 59 C p t t t ,

S ullivan l er non S . 1 8 . 6 . , A g , 7 7 es n u S ree Thea re S u reT hea reLo ndo n . h r y t , , 9 5 C t t t t t ,

S dne u s a a 1 0 . h a . 1 2 88 1 0 1 . y y, A tr li , 4 P il , 7 , 7 , ,

u Thea eLo ndo n 0 . S racus eN . Y . 1 . o b y , , 75 C rg tr , , 5

1 94 IN D E X.

' ’ W as n N . C . T heared OrIé ans N . O . 6 h n to 6 . t , , 7 , i g , , 4 ’ Wa e- o tes Fam 8 . The 7 t r P r r ily, ,

Thoman acob 1 2 . 8 . , y , 5 7 f e/ls Mar 1 . Thomson Lau nt 16 . li 8 p , , 4 , y , 5 ”

tia Wen 1 . T n 160 . e 1 i , r r, 3

Wemo u h En . 2 . y t , g , 5 W m B heatl W . T eo n S eeT hea e os e m 1 1 8 . r t tr t tr , y , , 53, 5 ” . White l to n C em 1 . , 79 , , 40

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u c n H enr 1 . O heE eB o o th . T herma T. f t d , y , 53 l r ) , 3

PVilhes ohn 8 . , y , 3, 4, 7,

IVs/kins Ma rie1 6 . , , 7 r 1CA N . Y . 1 . U , , 75

Will ams B arne 1 . i , y , 67

[Vi/lia ms Mrs . B a rne 16 . “ , y , 7 V ALE (A u thor o f TheAct W lliams D r . Antho n ” i , ( y o r l . 79 as u n 1 0 1 2 . P q i ) , 9, , Vandenht harles 1 68 1 . ; C 6 ' fi , , 9 e Wilson Ai r . D u Lan , ( r ry ) , Vand ck 1 60 . y , 1 ” 8 . V en ce eseed 80 . i Pr rv , W ndso En . 1 2. i r, g , ' ' Venna IVellesl 1 2 . , q , 4 W n e a den T hea reN . Y i t r G r t , V n ent N ao mi 1 . i c , , 9 1 1 47 , 59, V in a N eada 1 . irg i City, v , 74 ed 1 6 1 . b urn , 7, 68

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deb u 1 2 1 . W o rth n Theat eE n . 1 1 t, i g r , g , 9, , en o n 1 8 l " mti , 7 ,

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1 6 . You n Cha rles 1 . ‘ 3 g, , 4 , 73