The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-18

Junius Brutus Booth was the eldest son of the
great tragedian by his first wife. He was born
In Charleston, 8. c., in 1921, and spent the early
part of his l;fe on the old Booth farm i'll Har-
ford county, Md. He was a studious boy and a
great favorite with his father, who hoped to
see the LAD develop a %fondness for law
soon showed his Partially for the
stage. In his fourteenth year he was one of the
admission one cent. The circus performances
were given in the cellar OF a house on High
street in Baltimore. Associated win Junius
were John Sleeper CLARKE and several other
boys who afJerward became prominent
actors. Junius made his professional debut in
in Richard I'LL" In 1851 he made his
first appearance in New York at the Bowery
Theater. A few months later he went TO Cali
fornia, and, after playing tragedy In San Fran
cisco and Sacramento, entered into partnership
with William B. Chapman, the comedian, and
managed a theater. Early in 1852 he came
to play in California. In June, 1882, the
elder Booth and his sons, Junius and
Pacific coast. They arrived in San Francisco
forty days later, and found that the interest in
dramatic matters was waning. The father and
Edwin starred" In San Francisco and Saera-
niento, under the management Of Junius and
his partner, W. B. Chapman, but made no
money. In Sacramento young Junius had a
benefit, and played Othello to the Iago of his
fatheE. About this time the elder Booth be-
came disguised with the small audiences
ne played before, and, resolving to return TO the
East, called on his son Junius for his salary. Tie
was firm on this point, and compelled young
Junius, whose finances were almost to an eDb, to
raise the money and pay him every penny that
WAS due. Before leaving San Francisco the old
tragedian gave to Junius his Richard diadem,
an ornament that had been for years a treasure
want it again. This was the last time
Jun1us saw his father. Edwin remained in Cal
ifornIa with his brother. and soon made an en-
gagement with d. W. Waller TO star IN the Ne
vada mining towns. Before Edwin left Junius
said TO him; Tied, put a slug ian octagonal
piece of gold valued at $50 in the bottom of
it. To When en"A things nSs are 'Ss at ss6 1e worst worst
bring ont that slug" Edwin followed the
it was by means of the ''slug'' that Edwin re-
turn to San Francisco, where he played at the
theater which Junius Booth and W. B.. Chap
man were then managing. A few seasons later
Junius returned to the East and tried starring,
but was not successful. He was ar actor of very
ordinary ability, and in the race for popularity
talented brothers, Edwin and John wilkes. He
had, however, a thorough knowledge of acting
and was a fine stage director. He played with
many OF the most prominent atie compa-
MES in America since the war, and made his last
public appearance in Philadelphia in "The Gal
ley Slave" a year or so ago. In 1867 he became
the manager of the Boston Theater, which he
conducted successfully for several years, and in
1873 he leased Booths Theate-, New York,
from Edwin, but soon retired from the manage
ment OF that unfortunate house. Early in life
he married an actress named Matilda DeBar.
They separated in 1851, and in 1852 he mar
ried a Boston actress named Harriet Mace.
She died at San Francisco in 1859. His third
and present wife was the widow of Harry Perry,
an actor. Her maiden name was Marian Agnes
Land Rockies. She was born in Sidney, New
South Wales, in 1943, and came TO California Ms
II girl, where she married Perry in 1861. He
died a year later, ana, in 1867, having come to
New York, where she played with Forrest at
NiblO's, she became the wife of Junius
Brutus Booth. A few years ago Mr.. Booths
health became bad and travel aggravated his
6jaaasa He 0Vna6 a pOffuOa ar MunahpGtarhv
the-Sea, a beautiful spot, on the north shore OF
Massachusetts bay. There he built the Masco-
noma House, one of che most beautiful and pop
ular summer hotels in America. Since the open
ing of the big hotel Mr.. Booth has devoted a
large part of his time to its management, and his
profits are believed to have been large.