New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-22
A SKETCH OF Ais CAREER.

very rich The family consisted of nine children, of
whom but four are now living. Edward was the
seventh, and the only member Of the family that
ever adopted the stage. Hs parents had died before
heJnade choice of this profession. BE was educated
under the charge of q private tutor, the Rev. DR..
Redhead now, or late rector Of church Cheshire.
The reverses of fortune which befel his
father, and then the death of his parents,
broke up the family and disspated his pros.
poets, and this led to his adoption of the
stage. He was tben--in 1861 medical student,
In London; but he was conscious of strong
prediction for the drama, and presently. he con-
sorted with the amateurs-who paid for tho privi-
lege of playing at the Kings Cross Theatre-and
he embarked on the career which has Just ended.
His first regular engagement at q little thea
tire in Guernsey and the first salary he ever re-
ceived was 10 shillings q week ($3 75). The char
aoters IN which he there began his career the
Ghost Laetes and thu SeoQnd Actor. in Hamlet"
To facilitate his proceedings in these three parts
which, of course. required change of dress-he had
made written memorandums, and pinned one on
each wig. A sportive individual changed them. and
the consequent mixing MP of LGets with the scenes
allotted TO the Ghost produced remarkable effect
aud the young actor was. thereupOn discharged for
ncapacity. He then visited in turn, the theatres of
Plymouth. Weymouth, Wolverhampton and Biz
mingham, and finally migrated to America.
In 1862 he came out at the old National Theatre,
in Haymarket-square, Boston, Is Dr. PdngfOS0. in
The Heir at Law" and met with failure. His
stage name, then, was Douglas Stuart" and this
he continued to use, till in 1855, by Tho urgent adj
vice of the veteran J. W. Wallsck, he discarded it
and took his own. The first performance that he
gave under his own name was in the character of
Wilson Mavae in Lester Wallacks comedy of " First
ImpressiOns," produced at Wallack's old theatre,
September IL, 1855. From Boston he removed
after his failure which he had the to recognize
and aocept-to Barnums Museum, In New-York,
1884, where he took utility engagement to play
ali sorts of parts and to appear twice every day.
This was q rough school, but a good one; and he
rapidly improved under the discipline of industry
These were the times to which Artemus Ward
referred, when he commended the actors as "a
hard-working class of people Visible every morn
ing, with their tin dinner-caus IN their hands,"
on the way to the scene of their toll
While at Barnum's Museum Sothern made 80 good
an impression that be attracted the of Wyse-
man Marshall of the old Broadway Theatre, who came
to see him act, and who presently engaged him to
play light comedy and juvenile business, at Wash
ington. After @ few months in the Capital he
joined Laura Keene at the Charles Street Theatre.
Baltimore, and thence he went to Waliack's in New
York-the old theatre in Broadway. near the corner
made as Lord Charles RoebHGk. in "Old Heads and
Young Hearts," September 8. 1854 and there he re-
NAMED fOur years, acting various parls--walking
gentlemen, heavies, and broad low comedy. At
length-December, I667-he was selected for
armand Dual, to the Camille of Matilda Heron,
and from that time he steadily moved up.
ward In professional rank. In The next
year be Joined Laura Keene's Theatre--lately the
Olympic, destroyed this year. August 10-actnR
juvenile and comedy business. Z" Our American
Cousin " brought out here October Is, 1868.
Laura Keene asked Sothern to try aud do something
with fourth-class dyed-up old man." who bad
about seventeen lines TO speak The actor assented.
on condition that lie might be permitted to try
experiment which he had been considering tor
years. This was the beginning of his in
Lord DundrearV. 81 do and say nothing In Dun
dredryn Mr.. So them once wrote, that have not
seem iii some form another, done and said in
society since was five years old"
In 1851 he went to the Haymarket Theatre, Lon
DON appearing, November IL. as Lord Dundredry,
and from that time onward his career of
almost unvarying prosperity. In July. 1867, he
acted in Paris but was not much commended there.
He became great favorte at the London Haymar-
ket, where he fulfilled many engagements aud at
one time he was associated with ITS management.
He there brought out "Aunts Advice" adapted by
hlmBelt, from Tue fTeucuj dppodicu 40
Ddrid Garrick 1854 Frank JocelyH, in "The Women
in Mauve" 1865; Hon. Sam SliRqsbg; Marquis Vic or
de TompiIle IN "a Hero of Romance" y; Colonel John
White in Home"; HHgkde Brass Charles Chuckies,
in IAN English Gentleman; Sidney SpOonbiH. IN "a
Hornets Nest" and FitSGltamORt, in " The Crushed
Tragedan." These, together with Frank AnHerLeB
in THE Favorite of Fortune MatGGf. Cackfetd.
and Ldglot. in Barwises Book and 1.-THE Bur-
rampooter" Harry, Vivian. in "A Lesson For Life"
and Robert Devlia. in "A Wild Goose" were his
characters. But, of course, his chief works were
Lord DrHndreayy and Darid GGriok.. These called
into play his wonderful skill in caricature and his
powers in sentiment, together with his always pro-
found aud genuine earnestness. and his beautiful
artistic method
After passing about ten years in England. where
he ad the basis Of large fortune Sothern returned
to America, in 1871. His farewell benefit at the
Haymarket occurred on October 8, in that year
and on October % no came forward here Dun
dreary. at Nblo's. In the fall of 1872 ne played
long engagement at Wallaek's Theatre-NoVember
IL, 1872, to May, 1873. q period of twenty-nine
weeks His first appearance In this country David
Garick was made on February 10, 1873. The fol-
lowing summer he visited California,-returning to
Wallacl's IN the autumn. On August 10. 1874, he
sailed for England. but he again here two years
later and filled fine engagement OF the Fifth
Avenue Ii the autumn Of 1877 he took active
part in organizing and conducting benefits for his
much loved friend and comrade, Edwin Adams
himself giving performances in Eew.York Phladel-
phia, and Boston,-and no one who was associated
with him In that enterprise will forget the per-
sistent energy and patient kindness, the whole
hearted and unselfsh zeal with which he labOred
for his dying comrade, or the honest pride and Joy
that be felt in the of the project The per-
Torrance IN New-York occurred on October IL. at
the Academy, when Sothern appeared az 0thello,