The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-18
EDWIN BOOTH.
a Continuous ovation - Incidents Of a
Notable ShakcspeariaD Revival.
from the New York Tribune.l

from the New York Tribunel
The many who are interested IN the
welfare OF the legitimate drama and the
prosperity Of its foremost and practical
representative, will read with satisfac-
ton that Mr.. Edwin Booths profess
sional tour through the South
has been attended with great sue
cess. This tour was begun at
Baltimore, on the Sd of January, and
of March. The business OF the expedi-
ton was judiciously and admirably
guided and managed by MI. John I.
Ford, the leading theatrical director in
the South, and long we'll known AS one
of the ablest managers in the country.
In Baltimore Mr.. Booth appeared four
teen times, before audiences brilliantly
representative OF the culture and beauty
OF that city and his success there was
the more interesting and significant
from the fact that Baltimore is his ma.
seven times. Then he visited, in sue.
cession, Charlotte, Columbia, Au-
gusta, Charleston, Savannah, Ma
con, Columbus, Montgomery, Atlanta,
Chattanooga, Nashville and Bowling
Green. The total number of perform
ances given by Mr.. Booth, in all of
these places, was tifty.two. The char
acters that he represented were Hamlet,
Othello, Richelieu, Richard H., King
Lear, Shylock, Cardinal Woolsey, Iago,
and Petruchio. At Charleston Mr.. Booth
gave six performances. The audience
here represented the very best people
in greater proportion than ever before
known in the stage experience OF that
city. The Booth family. were we'll
known here, Mr.. Booths brother, Ju-
MUS Brutus, having been born in
Charleston about the year 1926, and he
received many social attentions. The
demand for seats was something extra
ordinary, and there was no lack of en-
thusiasm in the reception OF the great
actor as he stepped before the footlights.
Mr.. Booth had not acted south Of
Baltimore, on the Atlantic coast, since
1859, when he appeared in most of the
cities named. He was, therefore. pos
tive novelty, and the inhabitants of the
South, for many miles around the places
that he was announced to visit, mani
tested lively desire to see him act. and
came in crowds to the cities in which he
appeared. The hotels were thronged.
Legislatures regulated their hours of
meeting with a special view to attend
ance upon his performances. Social
parties gave precedence. to the theatre.
Crowds of people gathered as early
as daylight, in many instances,
to buy tickets. Northern citi-
zens who CHANGED to be passing the
winter in the South were among the
most eager applicants for places. There
was multitude at every railroad s,a
ton, to welcome the great actor; and
often, at way-stations, the doors of the
ears had TO be locked, in order TO keep
out the rush of spectators eager to see
him. No actor, for many years, has
aroused such excitement or received
such welcome in the Southern coun-
try; and the newspapers, as well as pri-
waite advices. testify that Mr. Booth has
thoroughly epaid this MISUNDERSTANDING
acted with such power and fire as in his
earlier days he never surpassed. His
personation Of Richard the Second"
1t is important to record, was genuine
success, particularly in Baltimore, Rich
mond, Charleston and Savannah, which
places are understood to be unusually
exacting in critical views Of the acted
drama. This part, long disused, is
made specially by Mr.. Booth. and his
portrayal Of it is one Of the most pecu-
liar, poetical and pathetic assumptions
that are now conspicuous on the stage
Lovers OF Shakespeare will, assuredly,
be glad that he has received such cordial
and substantial encouragement to keep
this character in use
MI. Booth IL now in Nashville There,