The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-31
JUNIUS BRUTUs BOOTH.

JUEIUS BRUTUs BOOTH.
The NeD York Herald publishes a biogra-
ply Of this eccentric but gifted actor, whose
death has Just been announced, from which
we CLEAN the following items Of his life aud
history that cannot fail to be interesting.
Mr.. Booth was born in St. Pancras, LON
don, May 1876. The first efforts of the as
pirant for histrionic fame are necessarily iu-
Volved in obseurity, aud it is likely that the
subject of this memoir filled some post in
the lower range Of utility" in London, be-
fore his appearance at Deptford, under the
management of Messrs Penlay & Jones,
where he is said to have commenced his the
atrical career. Under this management he
paid visit to Brussels, then part Of the Meth
erlands, but he was at this time certainly not
looked upon as an actor of any consideration
or promise. Indeed, as most Of our city rea-
ders are aware, his entire physiqae-VOice,
figure, and gait, were all against him; but
with an innate consciousness of his own abil-
| ity, perhaps he was welded to the art, though
sufficiently discouraged; for, in 1913, he oe-
| cupied the position Of prOmpter at small
/ theatre in WOrthing, a very inconsiderable
watering place in Sussex. Fhis theatre was
the property Of a Mr.. Trottef, gentleman
Of independent means, who kept it up rather
as an amusement during his annual retirement
| to the seaside.
From this obscurity, Mr.. Booth was des-
tined suddenly to emerge, under eircumstan-
ces which afford another proof to be added to
the many that
''There is tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood, leads on TO fortune. +"
Que night, Kean was announced for erich
ard the Third, but did not arrive, and in
the confusion consequent on the disappoint-
ment, the little prompter offered to play the
part. The manager is said TO have laughed
ut the proposition, and treated it as an abb
surdity. No other member of the company,
however, having the same boldness, and the
case becoming desperate, he had no better re-
source than to allow the aspirant ''to 90 on"
amid the undisguised anticipation Of all that
he was going to make fool of himself"
The play roceeded-the jeers began to be
hushed-what was all that noise aboutH The
gallery was applaudingl Peal followed peal,
which, adding to his confidence, rendered
his. success unequivOcal and complete. The
little bOw-legged prompter had made
"a hil-a very palpable ht.''
On this occasion John Quincy Adams was
present, and, in after years, has often given
his Renaissance Of the debut, when the hero
had become so generally and favOrably known
in this country.
At this period Mr.. Booth was but eighteen
years of age, when new light dawned upon
him, and after some very short engagements
in the more important provincial towns, he
was introduced to London audience in 1914,
at Covent Garden Theatre.
In January OF that year, Edmund kean had
come forth in his glory, and electrified the
London playgoers by his memorable appear
/ ance in the part Of Shylock On the arrival
of Booth in London, the first mentioned EN-
! inent genius was performing at Drury Lane,
! drawing nightly crowded audiences, the tarOrt
of whose admiration was at its zenith. Booth,
| nothing daunted BY this apparently overpow-
ering state OF things, boldly entered the arena
and threw down the gauntlet, as it were, by
appearing in ths6fme character Orchard the
| Third at the 05s8f Eoase.
After playing in London for some time, IN
one Of his moments Of excitement, in whici
he was accustomed to act las il he were really
not an insane man, he committed an assault
upon Antonio, a rope dancer, 10. some imag,
mary cause OF jealousy, il we mistake not: bl
firing pistol at him, and fearing the eonse
quences Of this rash act, he left England anC
went to the West Indies, whence he came, in O
about 1921, to the United States.
His first appearance on the American stag
was made the same year at Petersburg, il
Virginia, under the management of James III
Caldwell, and in the great and favorite par
OF Richard"
He sustained the same character in 1890 a
the old Park Theatre, when be was first intro
duced toa New York audience. His earee
since then is familiar to most of our readers
in the course Of it we believe he had performe,
. at nearly every theatre in the Union. Thrift
years ago the proceeds of his profession enabled
/ him to purchase farm near baltimore, ant
z in the selection Of this spot he displayed hi
+ usual eceentricity. 1t has been described a
E barren rock, on which it was necessary h
Z transport soil in carts before any hope Of Vege
/ tatiOn could be entertained, and which, af
/. ter an outlay Of twenty thousand dollars, wa
scarcely wO.th the purchase money he hal
( given. Upon this spot however, he establish
d his head quarters, and, when not profession
I ally engaged, devoted himself ia the mos
practical manner to agriculture. He fire.
queutly performed at the Holiday. Stree
Theatre, Baltimore; and was frequently to b
seen during the day preceding the eVenini
which was 10 witness his personatiOn, Of th
crooked back d tyrant, or the Prince Of Den
mark, in his shirt sleeves, selling potatoes Il
The market place.
In 1880, Booth performed the part .
~SertoriOus, in David Paul Browns play {
that name, on its original production.
| Every scene he has visited abounds in an
| aoBotes of his extraordinary sayings and dc
1ngE, both on and off the stage. One OF tW
CT which we will relate "a examples: