New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-19
REW PUBLICATIONS.
BRUTUs BOOTH.

OF the three great actors who stand together IN ths
century above all Others in the English school, one
may be claimed as an American. Though born IN
snglaAd, Nay l. 1876, Junius Brutus Booth chose
shis country for his home. Tie came Of a Republican
stock His father left England to fight for America
h the Revolution; and after his return to London,
Eeyerently kept the portrait Of Washington 10 his
arawing-room No visitor was permitted 10 stand in
she presence Of the picture with covered head Thus
from childhood Junus Brutus was taught to believe
In the Republic; be came to this country at the of
IS and here his greatest triumphs were won lie de-
serves 10 be called the greatest OF American TRACE
Name England has right to his fame.
It'll no authentic biography Of the great actor
had been written, but numerous improbable asec-
aOes and incorrect sketches OF his life were circulated
IN the newspapers and magazines. Hall the anec-
dotes of distinguished men ere doubtless mere IN
vent0ns, and many good stories are told OF DoVIn
which really belong TO the dramatic apocryphA
These memorials, though not as complete as we OK
peeted, correct much misapprehenson oil ms ciIiIac
Ter and form an authentic record of his singular ca
Feer Thai they are written by his daughter gives
them deeper interest. Booth had 10 children OF whom
FIVE still hye--Junus Rosahe, Edwin. Asa and Jo-
seph; this volume is the work or Asla-brs. John D
Clarbe-and reveals in no small degree the genius
hereditary in the family. To all biographies, in which
the history Of the subject is related by relative or
srend this sweeping objection exists that the MAXIM
speak only good Of the dead is too faithfully heeded
Cor the interests Of TRUTH and that while most faults
are suppressed, all virtues are exaggerated. But this
objection cannot be fairly made to these memorials;
They are written with spirit Oh reserve, bRt mol OF
oonceament, and the author has Beautifully united
feeling of devotion TO the father with rare mpartahy
In Judging the tragedan. II is the story OF wild
and daring genius, simply and sadly told, The Tea-
for its publication the introduction states with
deIioacy and candOr almost unmatched when we con-
slider that the event TO which aludes the author
was permitted neither to be silent, nor " speak
freely.
This volume was originally designed token Of the pro
found love and reverence with which the children OF gGGd
and noble father regarded him in life and honor ms
English publications the drama having sheh total d're
eaId Justice in ali relating 70 my father maze the d sS
research had compiled hitsi S account and Vhen very
ga calamity without precedent has fallen upon
seuntyi We Of al fa@es secure ia domestic love and
sbwreatbed with sureis is dishonored by 'OH-hs wen
Sssoysd-his bright boy ASs9lOnl ...,., s., &, -.
beaVes hours Of sorrow 20 many tongues were nee 70
complete my work 10 The bsief thst while this hnthful
sheeh mag tend interest the friends o. my anented father
IN %s ss5'' IN all honest minds to ''' ''p'''O1'
Junus Bruins Booth is one Of M 'uy proofs that
acting Is an independent art and not re colloha
ts0n 0i oratory with scenic display. FOl men are
bOm actors as they are born painters, poets u usi
eahs. Booth had classical education; he L Narned
printing, and studied law; no was appointed oiI-
lhpman in the British navy; he had unquestiOnaL v
much literary ability and none Of his family had par.
If acting, be resolved TO be actor, and when only
~ years left his home and against the wishes Of his
father made an engagement with provincial manager
In 1914 his company visited Holland, where Booth !
pudured many of the hardshps of strOlling player.
But be soon learned to trust that ambition which led
him to the stage and in 1915, sought without sue
pess London engagement. He then played at |
Brighton as Richard, Norral, and Sir Ed.oard Mortt-
eT Sobtainng the friendship and admiration OF many
wersons among others DR.. Williams, Anthony Pas |
uun, who seems to have been among the first to |
recognise his genius. At last he obtained an en- |
gagement at COvent Garden, but only to play |
subordinate characters, and at the end OF the
eoAsOn returned in disgust to the provincial
Theaiers At Brighton, by failing to keep an engage
ment, Edmund Kean unconscQusly befriended rival
Of whose existence be was previously lguUIant AT
short notice Booth was required to play Sir Giles
OreTrsaeh in the place of Kean, and surprised the
audience with unexpected energy and power This
performance, by the influence of Lord Erskne DR.. |
Williams and other friends, obtained him trial |
night at Covent Garden, where he appeared Feb. ~
x61T, as RteiaFd Ill., His success was so great that
Kean, the monarch of the English stage, seems 10
have been alarmed for his supremacy Here began
thAt wretched professional Jealousy which in the end
had much to do with Booths emigration 10 Amer
....- kean, taxing 81 D., advantage Of a mlsun.
,asrsr,vtsDdhg ROout terms, between Booth and
mr., Harris, re manager Of the Covent |
Garden Theater Immediately called the decgtaHt
carried him TO Drury Lane Theater, and induced him
A. once 10 sign an engagement. Eight days after his
Keans OtheLO, at Drury Lane, TO an immense and en-
tAusastie audience London papers Of the day COM |
pared the circumstance 10 the friendly rivalry OF Gar
rick and Quin But this joint triumph was soon TO
end Booth was soon informed that he was-not to
play any of KeaRs parts, such Richard and SIR Giles
parts which also his own, and TO which be had
given special study In addition to this, be was re-
hired TO support Kean in secondary roles. he at
once withdrew from an engagement which he con-
Sidered Kean had broken, aud returned TO Coyent
Garden This caused great excitement, and those
were the days when the London public cared
more for the theaters than they did for Pakia-
ment; when like Garrick aud Kean ex-
cited as lively interest as Chatham or Pitt; when
dramatic writing was & profession, not business;
when actors were Kissed and plays were damned and
che storms Of theatrical rivalry did net rage IN the
sreen-roons alone. Booths resppearanee at Covent
Garden was the occasion Of fierce and brutal not
and Newspaper war between the partisans OF the
rival tragedians Booths genius finally triumphed
ever opposition; be continued 10 play Richard and SIR
Ies alternately and also appeared as Isgo, POstha
saoas aud SIR EdpaTd Mortimer Impartial minds,
Who took no part in the strife, acknowledged his abil
fties and his IaR0 was especially admired By William
Goodwin the author OF " Caleb Yilliaps" Who ad
dressed him letter Of, advice predicting his fame
We have read much in regard TO this celebrated
difRculty between Kean and Booth, much
that Is not quoted in these memorials aud
there n6doub bat that Booths errors were but the
mistakes of very young man. The fault was keaAes
who can hardly be acquitted OF an intention TO crush
a dangerous rival p - Mr. Kean,p says the biography
before us "ths acknowledged kngOf tragedy, did not
intend 10 allow continuation OF this nvalship he
had previously seen the power OF his adversary ana
merely proered him taste Of aduation and success
before attempting bis downfall. It's needless 70
pian that in the signing OF that fatal memorandum,
Mr. Kean hSd covert design. He knew the contents
m their literal and technical design, and Mr. Booth
did not" II is with pleasure however, that We read
that the mere mention of Keans name, in later years
neyerfailed TO draw from Booth genuine praise and
unselksh admiration that in 1920 the two great