The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-10-29
Edwin Booths MaIady.

"Jenny June" In her New York letter
to the Baltimore american, says: "The
last time Mr.. Booth appeared in this
city it was at the Madison Avenue Thea
| ter, for the benefit of the Poe Statue
Fund. 1t was noticed then that he
played PetruchiO with more force, grace,
and spontaneity than he had exhibited
for years, and the fact was commented
upon with pleasure and surprise. The
truth is, Edwin Booth had been suffer-
ing for many years past the most severe
mental depression, due to a physical
ailment at once mysterious and
Notwithstanding. 1t was what is
"a malady which baffied all the
physicians who first diagnosed his case
There was q pretty general agreement
among the eminent doctors he consulted
that the symptoms on his tongue be-
tokened a cancerous liberation. One
told him he had cancer of the liver; an
other located it in the kidneys, and all
agreed that his disease was mortal. Mr..
Booth in his early life had been a pretty
hard drinker, but since the death of his
first wife, and partly, peBhaps, because
of his threatening disease, he has led an
exceptionally temperate life. Being a
man of morbid imagination, his tongue
trouble weighed upon his spirits and I'M
doubtedly affected his study and inter-
probation of his favorite roles. He lost
much of his fire and all of his spon-
taneity, and was supposed by the public
that knew nothing of his condition
to have long ago reached his culminative
power, and to be gradually declining.
But chance or Providence made him ac-
quainted with physician who makes a
specially of rare and mysterious dis
orders those which battle the skill of
other physicians-Dr. Guislandi Durant
Even he was at first puzzled, but closely
studying the case, made up his mind that
the disease was of parasitic origin, and
that it was durable.
at required six months of treatment
to effect a cure, but it was finally pro-
nounced complete, and the grateful actor
made his physician a present of $500
cup, and to the spoon added 81 600
check. The cup is now on exhibition at
at Tiffany's, and is beautiful specimen
of the art of the silversmith. Mr.. Booth
went away in such excellent spirits at the
thought that the cloud had been dissi-
pated which had hung SO long over his
prospects, that he fully expected to do
better work in England than ever before
during his professional career. DR..
Durant is of the opinion that he could
have cured Charlotte Cushman, or atleast
have greatly relieved her distressing
symptoms. 1t will be remembered that
that great artist died of cancer. One
breast was removed twice and the other
once during the continuance OF her long
and painful malady, but when urged
near the close to seek such aid as could
be afforded her, Charlotte Cushman, who
had grown distrustful of the whole med
ical profession, replied, NO, prefer
dying i'll peace to any of their medica-
ments.
"Her experience was only that of the
brilliant and witty Fanny Fern, Mrs.
James Parton, and also our own lamented
Alice Cary. Both of these gifted women
died of the same dreadful disease, after
from twenty to thirty years of torture,
and at least in the case of Alice Cary,
three frightful operations"