The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-21

TEE HERMIT'S LETTER.
| Booth,s Theatre-Tho Great Actor and His
Misfortunes-The Booth Family-Commo-
dore vanderbilt's Old Home-The Injustice
to Corneilus-A. 7. stewart-Jay Could
Now YORK, Aug. II, 1877.
The approaching theatrical season will
have some features of marked interest.
George Riguold, Fanny Davenport, Lydia
Thompson and Harry Beckett have arrived
from England, and other talent is expected.
Joe Jtfferson is to be here soon. Anna
Dickinson Is preparing her grand drama,
and for the next fortnight actors and musl-
clans will be under steady practice, while
customers and scene painters will be also
full of work. Each theatre has its costum-
er and scene painter, which is necessary,
because constant attention to these details
is required. Players rapidly wear out or
destroy their costumes, chiefly through
carelessness. They drop them in the dress
ing room and hurry home, leaving
them in charge Of the attendant, whose
duties are often neglected AS a conse-
quence it is found that actors wardrobes
are generally in need, and often call for &C.
we're self-denisl in other points OF expense.
| A costumer lately mentioned to me the case
of an actress who was obliged to expend
| $500 for a stage dress, at time when her
| family was really in need OF food. The
| exigencies and privations of the theatrical
world form one of the darkest of its shad-
ows.
BOOTHS THEATRE.
| The prospective demolition of this grand
establishment leads toa review OF its his
tory, which constitutes a peculiar series OF
misfortunes and disappointments. 1t was
built by an enthusiastic genius for the pur-
pose of giving Shakespeare to the public
in the highest possible degree OF perfection.
The most finished taste was exercised in
the construction of the edifice, especially IN
its interior, and when opened 1t was the
most perfect theatre the world had ever
seen. The same taste was displayed in the
property. For instance, in the graveyard
scene in Hamlet, Booth objected to the
monuments painted on the scenery, as is
usually done. Instead of this he had head
stones set in the floor which gave tho spot
u very natural appearance. They were
made of wood and were painted white or
gray, flecked with moss, and from the rear
Hamlet and Horatio moved through them
toward the grave digger with admirable
effect.
ITS MANAGER.
Edwin Booth at 80 had made more money
than any other player since the days of
Thespis; but, alas, be had not the art 10
keep it. He invested $500 900 in the thea
tire, of which sum more than one-half was
his own earnings. Being deficient in tai
ent as manager, his brother Junius Bru-
tus Booth, assumed this service while Ed
win played as a star. In this manner
Shakespeare finest dramas were rendered
in a finished style, such as will not soon
be eeen in America. The manager made
some money at first, but soon the place
became Improbable. Its history need no,
be repeated in detail here. Booth lost
every dollar Cakes Ames bought the es-
Enlistment under mortgage sale for one
half its cost. and even then it did not pay.
Jarrett gnd Palmer conducted it until it be-
came loss, and as no one now dare lease
the establishment, it has become a mere
cumberer of the ground. 1t will be pulled
down (probably next spring. and blocf
Of FLATS" will be erected in its place.
EDWIN BOOTH.
The fact that genius and misfortune ar
generally linked together has often beef
noticed, and Edwin Booth is no exception
r The assassination of Lincoln by his brothe
cost him the suspension Of his profession
for an entire year. Then his grand thea
fa,l tie az
fected his mind that symptoms Of insanit.
appeared. After these had been removes
by careful treatment he was Injured by
runaway team at his residence Zoos Cob
but a greater blow than all others was III
death of lovely daughter on whom his al
feetions we're deeply concentrated. Sacl
: have been the adversities OF the finest pl
er in the world, before he has reached al
Booth never visits the theatre that bear
: his name. He Is seldom seen in public
but occasionally one may see pale face
and thoughtful looking man pacing Broad
= way as Ia a reverie, with something indie
a, scribably striking in his countenance an
q demeanor, and then some bystander vii
Is touch his friend aud whisper "there goe
u Edwin Booth"
THE FAMILY.
Juuluh oTutub bOulH ktuC iuthCi uiSu =
years ago. He is remembered by the write
of this as short, thick set man, with
broken nose, and yet he was very in
pressive tragedisn. Intemperance, how
I. ever, destroyed his chance for pre-em
s nence, and his best playing was done in th
- cheap theatres. His Oldest son is Juniu
ID Brutus, who is rich aud lives in Boston
4. the next Is DR.. Booth of Charleston. The
came Edwin, followed by beautiful si
ter, who married John 8. Clarke, the popt
lar Philadelphia comedian. The youngeI
was the most beautiful OF the family, an
a, will live in history as the assassin of Lii
q. coin. His death Is the only break In tn
!, remarkable family. 1t may be added tn;
q the elder Booths nose was broken In staQ
a fight He was playing Richard I'LL, an
AZ being inhamed with strong drink, was {
81 murderous that the battle became realit,
and his opponent had TO knock him dow
to cave his own lite.
VANDERBILT NOTES.
II Walking down Fourth street resently,
n found myself attracted by the premis
~ formerly occupied by the commodor