Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-11

when We say It Is far better than anything
we have ever seen in the Ledger.
For sale by G. W. Wilder
The TRAcEp1AN Az Essay oS TIE HIsrsI-
oNIc GENTS OF JUNIUs BRUrUs BOOTH. BY
Thomas r. Gould New York Published
by Hurd and IIoughton
We have, in this rare little work, tribute
OF love 10 the memory Of & friend. 1t is gar
nished with a photograp phed bust Of the great
actor. cut in marble by the author He is
also an artist ana if he blends the colors up
on his palette. or reproduccs upon the can
vas the beautiful objects which he seeks to
uerpetuaue in that wav. with one half the
skill which ne uses in word painting, lie can
nave few cOmpeers. In reading the book,
we scarcely know which most to admire, the
love, the reverence, the true appreciation OF
the genius Of his subject. or the ease with
which he makes the most delightful langua ge
tell tho story. Had we not OF times, while
witnessing the superb acting Of Edwin Booth
experienced some Of the emotions which
fnd most satisfactory Interpretation here,
though we were utterly powerless TO express
them ourselves, We might regard the author
- most eXtrayagant enthusiast, though we
snouId then be obliged to commend the work
for it, great literary merit. As it is, we
most cordially thank him for it. and we shall
take great pleasure in reading it again and
again. more especially his estimate of the
unparalleled actor in the different plays
which form the larger part of the work
We would like TO give our readers the au-
thors description of Mr.. Booth.
That Mr. Booth Was a man Of genius in
tine vital conception, and . consummate artist
IN the varied expression Of dramatic, and es-
pecially OF Shakespearan character, we hope
amply TO illustrate, by review Of his more
important personatIons, defined and refreshed
by memoranda made at the time Of their
occurrence, during many years. for private
reference and delight.
In person Mr.. Booth was short, spare and
muscular. with head and face Of antique
beauty dark hair blue eyes; a neck and
chest of ample but symmetrical mould q
step and movement elastic, assured, kingly.
His face was pale, with that healthy pailor
which j. one sign Of r magnetic brain.
Throughout this brief, close knit, imperial
figure, Nature had planted or diffused her
most vital organic forces and made il the
capable servant Of the commanding mind
that descended into and possessed it in every
fibre
The airy condensation of his temperament
found fullest expression in mis- voice Sound
and capaclOus lungs, a vascular and fbrous
throat, clearness and amplitude in the in
terror mouth and nasal passages, formed its
physical basis. Words are weak. but the
truth Of those We shall employ, in an en-
deayor To suggest that voice. will be felt bv
multItucLes who have been thrilled by it's
living tones. Deep, massive. resonant.
many-stringed, changelul, vast in volume.
OF marvellous fexIbility and range; deliver
ing with case, and power of instant and
total interchange, trum pet-tones, bell-tones
tones like the - sound of many waters >
like tie mufled and continent roar OF
bleak row pines
But anaiogies in art or nature and
especially no Indication Of its organic struct-
ure and physical conditions, could reveal the
inner secret Of its charm. This charm Law
in the mind. of which his voice was the
organ; - most miraculous organ,' under
the sway ot a thoroughly informing mind.
The chest voice became q fountain of passion
and emotion. The head register gave the
a. clear. silver. icy, keen, awakening tones -
of the pure intellect. and as the agina-
tion stands, with it's beautiful and comfort
ing face, between heart and brain. and
marTtos them with benediction. giving
glow to the thoughts, and form to the emo
Itcas, 80 there arose IN this intuitive actor a
third element of voice, hard to define bat Of
insing. blending, kindling quality, which
appeared now in some single word, now
with the full diapason of toues in some
memorable sentence, and which distinguished
him as an Incompatible speaker of the Eng
Iish tongue hat voice WAS guided by a
method which defied the set rules of elocu-
ton 1t traDscended music IL =. brought
airs from heaven and blasts from hell - 1t
struggled and smothered in the pent fires of
passion, darted from them as in tongues
of flame IL was - the earthquake voice of
victory. 1t was, on occasion. full OF tears
and heart-break. Free as fountain. it took
the form and pressure Of the conduit
thought; and expressive beyond known
parallel in voice OF man, it suggested more
than IL expressed But his voice was
marked by one significant misation. IL had
no mlrth. There were tones of light, but
none Of lesity. No laughter, but that ter
rinc laughter in ShvlOck, which seemed torn
from his malignanG heart at the announce
ment of Antonio's losses II is true MIR.
Booth played in farce We have seen him
repeatedly Jerry Sneak, in Foote'S farce
oI che - Mayor Of Garratt: - and SIS Geoffry
Muthncap, IN :. Amateurs and Actors But
his acting iii this kind was never 10 our
taste. 1t was not fun alive His farce was