The New York herald., 1865-04-21

kin >cd cvt and thurswiih tho nercensss and seroc
~ os man sagsd in an earnest snd liedependng tria
and II wa, in ce OF these crazy speis that his fac
disngured foi s by an imperIed actor, the brds
OF his nose being ken By the blow delivered throug
E occurred at a New FORK theatre between Boot
9 aad the celebrated 'fat girl" OF BarnulaI
Museum + psoSsDy ss = ar 70 most Of os
IA in the annals OF the stage II Is very doubtful
whsts Booth was insane at any time when not unde
~. .s 'ce or strong drink. He was, however, OF
@ e anu ality and In his peculiar sphere the sud
c neiy expression of concentrated passion, a.
oso tnd ~ ,b net and subtle passages Of his delnea
ions.hs was Ps,hs passed for crazy X tive i were sup up
hs vss aasS dramatic outburss by sens
rather than consuLasnate er' s,a I.ar,ot 80 ~
muob .vs W. ws :, S' on he admired
The family Of Bo 9Th contested OF the foilowing-
Junps Bratus Booth ~ and v Ss rst WIFE an English
lady; and Edwin Forre' John wilkes, Joseph, and
daughter. wife OF Jo Clarke ne ns, sr-
viving and who must be- al IL time past fty years Of
age.
JUNrUs BRUrUe .so9Tm. s,., T.
Charleston, south Carolina in M He made his irs'
appearance on the stage In 1884, al fttsoarg Iennsy
ysna as yrge in Richard eAysa nbs' rs ,p y
California, and L We mistake not be- ~ N. most Of nm u
time on the Pacific coast He was married. "s niss 70
and repued TO have been one OF the NOS beautiful
women OF her day They subsequently, sessa 'ed ana
Mr. Booth married miss Harriet Mace wh. ness u.ea
n san FRANCISCO In 1859, after q lingering N "Sse .
This member OF the family would have complese> -,
two weeks engagement at Pixies Opera House, "
Saturday. night, but for the terrible news which
associated the family name inseearably with The
cruel assassination at Washington. Mr. Booth who
direct 70 Pixies Opera House on Saturday morning
TO attend rehearsal totally Of what had
pred An excited crowd had already clamorcd at the
torn dnUn fha In latrh 1n
nounced and had only left that he would
not play, and that no performance would be had that
acting manager drew him sde and cautioned him
sgainst too much publicity He inquired why, and, on
osns toa tns ne news exclaimed my God can se pos
In an insensible condition He reported to have sace
ieft the city He is said by those who claim to know
him. and speak advisedly, TO be Union man. without
tnge of secession poison or sympathy but Of his po
cal notions We know nothing He resembles his father
personally, than any other Of the family having
antique type fce and features capable Of wonder
ful expressions under the influence Of excitement
EDWIN BOOTH.
Edwin Forrest Booth the eldest by the second
wife, has attained greater eminonce in his profession
than any member Of the family. versatile and
finished actor than his father he has surpassed him in
the reputation he has gained the American STAGE aud
stands confessed, TO day the most distinguished star in
the professicn excepting perhaps Edwin Forrest after
great scholarly atanments During the present season
he played Hamlet handred consecutive nights
at tho Winter Garden of which he Of the lessees
residence is in Kew York city, and his elsagemens have
Of late exclusively In the East He bad company
with his brotheriaaw, Mr. Clark purchased the Walnut
street theatre which It their intention open and
manage during the coming season. Mr. Booths wife, I
Mary most esfnHbl, woman, greatly loved and deeply
moarncd in Boson, died some two years ago. leaving
her memory by Emerson, soddals and other poets,
would, OF Themselves mako small volume Her loss
greatly affected Mr. Booth, and gaveto his pale intel
ecu 4 face tnge OF Sadness which OF his friends
attrtted in part to his continued study and person
0f n He s re-.
garded moody and eccentric frequently shutting him
self in his study and refusing admitance to his most
familiar friends Tor days together The telegraph an
nounces his intention TO withdraw from the stage alto
gether His assassin brother will have added to other
fair prospects Of Edwin ana driven from the stage
of the brightest ornaments TN the very heyday OF his
renown.
OF Josep prBooth the youngest OF the orotners we Il
know very little other than that he tried tao stage oay
long enough satisfy himself and friends that his
ton not in that direction When the rebellion broke
out he was studying medicine in Charleson but not
delpha, whers he has since resided.
THE ASSASSIN OF THE PRESIDENT.
John Wilkes Booth--thc infamous--was born on the
quently but twenty seven years old He made his first
stage appearances In 1855 Richmond in Richard ILL.,,
at the St. Charles theatre In Baltimore andain the fall
Of 1857 appeared undr tho of wilkes al the Arch
street theatre in Philadelphia, where he played stock
given him by his father In honor of old Baltimore
friend Jim Wilkes succefsful merchant and great wit
Young Both next became member of the Richmond
Va, theater, improved rapidly in his profession and
becams great favorite there During the seasen. of
1860 and 81 we nnd him engaged still further soath,
playing chiefly at Montgomery and Columbus, Ca Pro-
badly not fancyins tonscription into tho sorihsrn
army, however much he favored the cause, he
escaped North and in 1851 and '62 played in
St Louis, Louisville and other western cities
II was during tho following, believe, that
he first appeared In CINCINNATI at Woods theatre, and
left the impression, that though rather unequal
tor might bo expected Of OF his limited expe
rence he gave unmsakable evidence OF genuine dra
.-t~. L.l
advantage musicaly full and rch face almost
classic In outline features highly intellectual piercing
dcrcst passion and emotion, and commanding figure
and impressive stage address. In his transitions from
the quiet and reflective passages OF part to erce and
violent outbreaks OF passion, his sudden and mpcuous
had in it something Of that electrical force and
power which made the elder Booth celebrated. and
called up aresh TO the memory OF men OF the last genera
ton tho presence voice and OF his father Con-
viya in his habits sprghy aud genial In conversation
John wilkes mnde many acquaintances and friends q
among the young OF his age in the city-an
qualnance that renewed during two subsequent en-
gagements.
remember his features in repose had rather sombre
and melancholy cast; yet under agreeable in,
and glowing. His hair, jet black and glossy, curled
slightly and sot of in 1ne relief high intellectual fore
head and face full Of Intelligence Both chin and nose
markedly prominent and the firm sot lips and f.
lines about the mouth Indicated rmness OF WILL decision
and resolution He scrupnlously neat In his dress
and selected his habit with rare perception OF what was
becoming To his guro and complexion. He would pass
anywhere for neatly and not overly, dressed men OF
fashion.
or his political views very little known. He kept
still tongue the subject far wo have heard
Beng Of Southern birth and education was presumed
his sympathos tended in that direction; but he ex-
hibed particular warmth or zeal for the rebel.
lion, and nothing 70 indicate the remoles, +
desire TO further the cause by 30 much
as giving II pecuniary aid, much less personal as
sstance tits reported by gentleman who heard the
conversation that during his engagement in Louisville
1862 Booth fell into controversy with the treasurer
of the theatera rabd sccessonstwhilo standing one
morning In the box Office He remarked In effect that
he a Southern man, and liked the people OF the y
South who had boon kind 20 him, but he could not for
secede that they had IL all their way Ia Congress-
and that II they insisted fighting they should have
the American flag and fought under that There IL
another story 10 the effect that Booth while playing an
engagement In Cleveland year or more ago. asserted
in public bar-rooin that the who would Kill Abra
ham Lincoln would gain more enviebe notorety than
Washington himself II Is Of couSe impossible to say