The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-15
Edwin Booth.

Theatre ; but 1t is agreeable to those VINO
admire BooTH to Cad in them nothing to In
part any feeling Of aversion In going t. the
Theatre to look at the acting Of one whose
appearance revyes so many pleasant recoi.
lecii0nS.
The BoorH family in some sort is claimed
b. Richmond as part of its property. Tue
eide: Boorn made his FIRST appearance 10
! a,c,ica in The Richmond Theatre under the
management of CHARLES GILBERT. GILBERT
was man Of genius; but asains. him cannot
possibly lie the Objection that be had not
borrowed money nor paid Security debt.
lie had been gully of both. AS to whether
lie had fought duel, we can say neither yea
nor nay but we can say very emphalicaily
that if he did not fight duel be was very
glad that be didu't. As far as Indifference 10
money save to spend it, borrowing from
any body. aud paying for anybody, went,
GurErT was as fine pattern of gentleman
rs could DC Unsigned.
The elder BooTn, driven from England by
the Jealous and selfish kEENE, met 10 Vlr-
ginia genial spirit, and made bis nrst DO"
to the Vyepians in Richmond. GILBERT
was The manager, aud he Immediately be-
came the friend of BooTH. His RICHARD III.
won Al bearia and enchanted GILBERT.
From Richmond DooTu went forth to cap
lure Il! hearts and take stand upon Tue
Ame!ican sage second TO no man.
since then VIC have claimed BooTg, and he
reycr SEE ned inclined to deny the proplle-
tary relations Of Richmond 10 RICHARD him
self. Ia course Of time, rs Bo0TH placed bis
chick H. upon the stage, we have been III
clincat0 take them as they dotted the shells
ana assumed their places on the Stage and
claim ihtm al.
EDWIN BooTH, who appears here next
week. is the fourth sou Of JUSIUs BRUTUS
BcorR. Oi his elder children none reached
cmncrcc. WILKES was the most promis-
Ing, but hc ended bis life in mania. But
EDWIN stepped forward as the helr to bis
alhel's mantle. He made his first orpesr-
arce in Boston ia 1S49, and Immediately
achieved decided success. He rapidly TO-
lowed lis fathers line as IAGo, OTHBLLo,
RICHARD H., Sir GILES OvERREACH, Sir Ed
WARD MORTIMER, HAMLET, LEAR, SHYLooK,
BRuT:.s. and PEscAwh. In these he won
fame wonderful for bis age. and to these he
added ,hc roles Of ROMEO, PETRUCHIo, 81. lie
bad youth, colnclness, aed the genius of the
lover. We first saw him as PETRuCHI0. We
nerer saw another in that character, ard we
are convinced that no other man living can
play it 20 well. PETRUCHIo is one OF those
Eoustrositits in dramatic literature that
can only be triumphant through SHAK'
SHARES mighty genius. The fire, endu.
rance, and genius necessary to play PETRU-
CHIC ore would suppose almost impossible
Of realization; but EDWIN BoOTH had them
oil. His PEThUCHo wanted nothing. His
irrtprc ssihle animation, his wonderful vi.
yaeity aad understandable spirits, enabled
him TO achieve Withou, drawback or discount
The character Is portrayed by SHAKESPEARE.
1t was. indeed, the most brilliant, unfigeing,
iubiiaD'. and elegant performance we ever
De3eid in the line of gentcel comedy.
Deeply interested in BooTH as the son of
ouc old friend, we fancied that we beheld in
The youth that vim and that genius which
had borne the father through acts that re-
qulred not only the force of genius but the
courage Of hero.
We felt increased pride ia BooTH that be
was the father OF such son. We cultivated
EDWIN Booru's gcLius and hung upon bis
accents with Interest. We pat faith in him,
and nave not been disappointed. That he
has achieved the emihence attained by his
father re have somewhat doubted. We have
not stcn him for long time, but are in
clned 10 award him all the distinction bis
friends claim for him. He has well borne the
test OF The New York audience; but we
would rather see him pass the test Of the
Richmond audience once more. Yet We
think he is the most gifted man on the stage
in his Gay. People will have their prcju-
diccs if you will, and there is that sort Of
prelude" in cur breast that leads Us 10 tblrk
that when mau has left Richmond with the
imprima, ur of the Richmond stamp Of excel
ccnce he IS beyond the line, and whatever
people may say his reputation is out Of The
reach of accident or caprice.
EDWIN BooTR when we last saw him was,
youth.like, inclined TO the vanity of dress,
trenching slightly upon mannerism. Yet he
was gifted with the true bravery Of genius
that distinguished the elder BOOTH that
prompted him to advance tie character he
personated to the very front line. There
was no detriment to.the character from
timidity or hesitation; but it was brought
fully up 10 the proper position without fail.
ure or forfeit. The BoOTHS, father and sons,
were remarkable not only for this, hut for
their force and tcnacty OF "Stay." There
was no yielding, no relaxation, no back.
down in the father and from what we saw
Of him there was no appearance of either in
the son. Whatever of vanity or maunerism
the son may have manifested was matter
of easy reformation. The luxuriance of
growth in the young mind is encouraging 1t
Is easier to NOW away the rank vegetation
til N il is to cultivate q rich growth upon
poor soil.
We feel that it is period of genuine plea
sure TO Us old pay-goers that the scion of
our faYOritc is about to visit us. We are
sure that We shall have something to be
proud OF as we'll as much that will afford us
Infinite pleasure. After many years OF ao-
Scuce, we therefore shall be gratified to hail
young" Boom back again amongst the
Richmond audience. We look upon him
as one of the first OF bis profession, and as