Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-14

WIZ JuoStHCut VI buS OUuTt 10, tnAt VOC be
confined in the Psniten,iary OF this State for a
term OF three years. and that you pay q fine
OF 500 and ths costs Of prosecution.
WILLIAM Z. BURroN.-A telegram
from New York brings us the melancholy in
telligence that VIM L. Burton, the famous sc-
tor and manager, 10 no more Wm Burton
died at his residence in the city Of Now York,
Of disease Of the heart. on Friday the 10th inst
Few members of the theatrical profession in
America have done more TO elevate dramatic
art, and some expression OF sorrow for his loss,
some sckno wledgmsnt Of obligatio for his ser.
vices, is,therefore, DUE as we'll from US as from
those whose lives we're daily cheersd by his in.
imitable humor. VIM. Burton was a native of
England whore his father was the editor of an
influential provincial newspaper. After rsceiv-
ing thorough classical education, he became
connected with the paper, and on the death CT
his father, became its sole editor Whilst die
charging the duties Of the editorial chair, he
proved his profound acquaintance with oil the
intricaeies Of the Greek language by Directing
the proof OF valuable edition of the tragedies
ofSoph@lss. Though with brilliant career a.
ajournalist before h IN. he choose to change the
labor and honors Of editorial life for the drude.
cry. the disappointnents, and the excitement
Of the stage. He made his appearance, if our
raenory serves US, at Brighton. and though he
gave some evidence of comic talent. there were
but faint indications of that brilliant genius
which after rwards made him a worthy success
or to Lston. Dowton and Mundsn Before ar.
riving at emnence in England he came to
America, and settled in Phiade!p phia where af.
ter the usual vicissitudes of an actors life. he
became manager OF the Arch Street Theatre
Philadelphia. at that time, though extremely
populous, was nothing more than a sprawlng
country town, and though the pit of the theatre
was tolerably we'll flied with river men and
dock loaf r.. at q shilling head, bsggarlv
account of empty boxes. chilling the hopes and
dampsning the spirits Of the play ers, presente ed
but few indictments to effort or Improvement
Mr. Burton. therefore. temporarily abandoned
the sock and agsia assumsd the pen. becoming
tho editor OF the Gentlsman's Magazine The
magazine was an extremely we'll edited period
ical, though never q pecuniary success. In
lsi7 or 4s. Mr.. Burton saw that the metropo.
lis afforded wider field for Professional exsr-
tion than any provincial town, and removed to
New York, where, against the advice of the
most experienced ami astute theatrical mana
gers, he leased Palma's old opera house on
Chambers street, and began a career OF pros
perity seldom squaied in the history Of the
stage. He gathered around him Harry Plac!ds
Blake, Brougham, Lester. Mary Taylor, Mrs.
Hoey. and other celebrietiss. who formed
of rare brillisncy and power He
entirely ignored "the starring SYSTEM" that
curse of the profession adopting the belief that
the mo de to secure steady and lasting sup
port was by presenting play complete as
= whole, rather then by allowing dim star
to iret and strut his hour upon the stage, at
the expense of every other performer, and
the sacrifice of the point Of the play. AT Bur
tons he produce the Toodlss. the Ssriou.
Family, Dombey and Son, David Copperield.
and other well known favorites Of th play-go-
ing public, and soon realized a handsome
fortune. With increasing means he adopted
u style Of living, becoming q gentleman of
refinement and wealth. lie built a villa st
Glencove, a mansion in the city, and entertain.
ed his friends with sumptuousness bordering
on magnficence. He added to his private IL
brary rare editions Of the classics, and every
work upon Shakespeare, which the labors oftwo
hundred years have produced tie was then
at the zenith of his fame and popularity Stran.
gers never visited New York without going to
Burtons. He was one Of the 'institutions" Of
the city. Meantime, the tendency Of trade and
population was up Brodwsy, and Chamber.
street, which had been in the neshborhood
OF all the large hotels became down
town and oit of the way. Bur
ton. therefore, determined to follow up
town, and leased that stupendous failure, the
Metropolitan Theatre, in Broadway, opposite
Bond street. Here fortune deserted him
Wallack aud Laura Keene had dra wn from him
his most popular performers. and after resort
Ing to every expedient. and employing all the
stars in the country. he was admonished by
heavy losses to close his doors. With great
reluctance, he took his farewell as a manager
and started on starring tour though the South
and West. te" weeks ago whilst performing
at Troy. his physicians informed him that his
life depended on his immediate withdrawal
from the stage. Racksd by painful affection Of
the heart, and harrassed BY corrodiug cares. he
returned to New York to die. He is gone, and
his fame as an actor, Ike everything tradition
81, will soon be forgotten. He was one Of the
moss completely Amsrisanixed Englishman we
ever saw. As IN actor, with the exception of
Mr.. Blackstone he was without an equal in hi.
line. either in America and England. He was,
moreover. public bensfactor for he furnished
TO the overtaxed and care-burdened psople
relaxation, entertainment and amusemsnt. Il
10 whispered that he died in embarrassed cir
cu~stancss. We trust such appreh ensions are
unfoundsd. He whose flashes Of merrimeut
l'ghtensd many weary heart ought not to die
in misery or want The radiance of an afflu-
ent prosperity ought to have lit up the last
hours Of him who did 90 much to make life
pleasant to others.
l,OOO ted D0 81 ''Aoihi SEED WAN