New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-14
DEATH or EDWIN BoorHS WIFE.

HER SICKNESS AND DETAILS OF HER LIFE.
RELIEF AFTER LINGERING HLNEs,-DYING AT
HER = RENIs HONiE-EDwIN BOOTH IN rhil-A-
DEiPIuA.
Mr.. Edwin Booth, who has been very i'll for near
" a year. died yesterday at p. III. al her parents
house. No. - West FIfty-thnd-st. For the last
five weeks she has been confined TO her bed.
The arrangements for the funeral have not
been completed, but there VIII be service
in this city, after which the will be taken
to Chicago for intermcnt.
Edwin Booth, her husband has been in Philadel-
phia for the last two weeks, and had not returned
to New York yesterday.
Mary McVicker the second wife OF Edwin Booth,
was born in Western city in 1919. Her maiden name
was Mary Runnion. Her mother subsequently, be-
came the wife of Mr.. J. II. McVicker. the manager
so many years the leader of theatrical enterprise
in Chlcago-and the child took the name of her
step father, ami grew up as Mary McVickor At an
early age she evuced unusual talent for music
and in that art she was carefully educated. When
only nine years old she sang III concerts with Slgnor
Brignoli and she was then considered remarkable
type Of precociOus ability. She also appeared on
the dramatic stage III juvenile parts, such as lane
Era, in " Uncle Toms Cabin" Edwin Booth first
saw her about this time, -lSjS,-but Of course
never thought that she was destined to become his
wife. Their next meeting occurred in 1867, when
Boom was acting mt McNickeTs Theatre, Chicago,
and when she came forward as Opheiia to his Ham,
Iet They were then betrOthed, and in that relation
they acted together during this Chicago engage
ment and several others. They married
June T. 1869, at Long Branch New jersey, whore
for a time they resided. Mrs Booth, as Miss Nc
Wicker had in the meanwhile made her first profess
sional appearance in New-YOrk, on the occasion Of
the opening of Booths Theatre, February 3, 1869,
when she appeared as Jaiiot, to Booths Romeo.
This tragedy was succeeded, April II, by
" Othello, booth acting the Moor, and Mary Nc
Wicker appearing ~ Desdera0nd. OthcllO" held the
stage till May 20, on which date Miss McNicker
made her farewell appearance. She then retired
from the stage and she has never acted since al
Il ough she has been her husbands onsant CON
panion in his professional travel aud labor.
They have had one child, boy, born July 9. 1870,
who lived but fcw hours. Their married life, it
will be observed, has extended period of
twelve years. Mrs Booth has passed away in the
thirty-second year of her age. Edwin Booth first
wife-Mary Devlin-to whom he was married on
July Z, 1860, in Newly Ork-died on February u.
1868, IN her twenty-third year. leaving daughter.
Edwna, who still lives TO be, she has ever been,
her fathers comfort and hope his chief care III life,
and the mainstay of his existence.
The late Mrs. Booth was renarkabl for energy of
character and for practical administrative ability
in the affairs of business and social life rather than
for especial talent IN acting. She had neither the
figure the cOuntenance, the voice, the personal
charm that essential for upon the stage,
and her acting, though intelligent gen
eral devoid of both tenderness and power. She
acted all along the range from LAZY Macbeth TO
ODheIa. Her courage was audacous; her anbi-
tiou knew no bounds and the fiery energy of her
strit kept her in restless activity, and, ultimately,
consumed her life As an actress she did not reach
the height to which she had aimed, aud her mind
never resigned itself to this disappointment Her
best effort on the stage was DesasMo"d-a perform
ance that had sweetness feeling and touch OF
ideal heroism. Her singing OF the willow song
was an exquisite bit OF pialntiVe melody ana iororh