Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-05
EDWIN BOOTH

Edwin DOOlh
Will sail for Europe by the Gallia the 30th
proximo, his daughter Edwina-his only
child by previous marriage-and his wife
(nee Mary McVickerl accompanying him.
He goes abroad primarily for his wife's
health-very delicate at present seconda-
rily, for recreation and rest. He has made
no professional engagements, though it is
quite likely that he will play in London
next autumn, as he can hardly escape i'm
portunities from English managers. He
has performed on the British stage, though
under very unfavorable circumstances. 1t
was during our civil war, when many
of the English were most bitterly
preiudiced against the United States.
There were other obstacles in his way, and
he felt so dispirited that he quilted the
country, after appearing in few cities
under most adverse conditions. Although
| regard Booth as the foremost, by all
odds, of English speaking tragedians-in
truth, | know Of nobody to compare with
him-I should not dare to predict his
success in London. Henry Irving is a
great favorite over there in Shakespearean
parts, and he is as unlike Booth as any two
actors well can be. To my mind, his Ham
let is very had-bad in conception and
bad in rendering. l cannot understand
how competent critics can like him and
yet l know that they do. Booths Hamlet
certainly cannot please the same people
who are capable of enjoying lrvlng's Ham
let. | am curious to see how Booth will
be received over there. The English have
such different modes of Judging from ours ;
have such different tastes, that it is impos-
sible to tell what will or will not be ap-
proved by them. They are slow witted,
compared with us, and do not like to make
up their minds except after ample deliber-
alton.
THIS STORY
illustrates the fact When Booth was
acting in London during the war New
Yorker asked an Englishman if he had
seen the young American. go, all Yes,
er-yes, was the answer; "er-have seen
him-er- several times" "What do you
think of him." "Think of him? All
ah-er-er-ah-well, really, now, don't
know, you know" "But you say you've
seen him. You must have some sort of
opinion" "No-ah-er-no. The-the
fact is, my dear boy, | haven't seen what
the Times says of Booth, you know, and
you can't expect fellow to make up his
mind all of sudden, you know" A num-
Der of Edwin Booths friends intend to
give him breakfast or dinner-it is yet
undetermined which-before he sails. The
time, the place or the number of invita-
tons is not settled at present, but will be
within fortnight. The occasion will be
delightful and the company brilliant, no
doubt, whenever and wherever it shall
take place, for he counts among his ad-
mirers and personal friends many of our
most distinguished and accomplished citi-
zens. The principal topic this week has
been
THE EXCESSIVE HEAT,
Which is so unusual and so wholly mex
pected at this season that it has taken
everybody by surprise and literally over
powered the entire community. Not only
has the temperature been very high-many
thermometers have marked 9S' and 1907,
even 1922, in the shade-the quality of the
air has been most oppressive, at times
nearly sitting. So far as known, such
heat has never been experienced before in
this latitude. It has driven everybody out
of town who could get out.
The places of amusement have slender
audiences O the restaurateurs complain
that people are too hot to eat; business
generally is interrupted the whole town
is perspiring and painting, and alarmed at
the future meteoric prospect. 1t is gen.
orally thoupht that we are to have q per-
fectly blazing summer, and thousands who
seldom leave the city except at intervals
have made arrangements for early depart
ure and regular absence.
Just think of it L! Before the close of
May, the mercury is 1907 dogs are run.
ming mad beasts and men are falling dead
in the streets. And yet May came in with
a furry of snow, and with ice in the gut
tiers. We have had no rain for four weeks !;
vegetation and humanity are drying up.
How idle the assumption, that we inhabit
temperate climate New York is now
in the torrid zone. CHAUBERT.