The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-17
THE BOOTHS.

"Reminiscences of u Family Disuns nished
bate-Edwin-His Successes and Failures
Edwin Booth is the most gifted OF u n.
markable historic family, one Of whose pc.
culiarities is that the children excelled
their father in personal appearance to d
remarkable degree. The senior Booth wa.
short and i'll looking, though his features
expressed great power, while Wilkes, the
assassin OF Lincoln, was one of the hand
soonest men of his day, aud Edwin is noted
for his fine appearance, Old Booth had a
role peculiar TO himself from which he
seldom varied His best parts were Sin
Giles OyerreaCh and Richard Ill. His
Snort and thick set irame enauleu him "
assume The physique oi the last named
character with much success, white his
genius was peculiar in Its combination u,
audacity, hypocrisy, cruelty and remorse.
Unfortunately, he had become the slave OF
strong drink, and this appetite interlered
with bis profess onal engagements. Some
times when the coach called TO convey him
To the theatre he would be found dead
drunk. Such was the uncertainty which
attended Iris dramatic engagements that
respectable theatres eventually closed their
doors against him. Some OF his best acting
was al the Chatham, which was one OF the
most vulgar places in the city. The
boxes were htty cents and the
pit hall price, and an entire
mouse could not contain more than 500
Here Booth might receive S25 night when
ober enough to play. All through the
npriprn hp nltai thn hnttla a,,l k..
came sometimes so excited when fencing as
to be dangerous to his antagonist, and on
one occasion Tom Flynn was obliged to
knock him down in order to save his own
lie, and the writer OF this who was then
but lad) well remembers Booths broken
nose, which was the result OF this aillay.
on HIS coon BEHAVIOR.
IL is more than u third of cen
tury since the park manager made
an engagement with old Booth for
a halt dozen nights. Many years
bad elapsed since he had appeared before n
tirst.class house, and he was auXi GUS TO re-
deem his name. 1t is said that he wa:
locked up securely, and allowed enough
brandy TO keep him in tone, Being
thus guarded, his presence was made
sure and he gave his best efforts. saw
him in Richard ILL.," and the picture re-
mains wildly in my mind and the very
tones are in my ear. Wilkes Booth. the
| subsequent assassin, was then a small DO,
and Edwin mere child, of whom not on,
predicted great success. There was al
elder brother, Jnnius Brutus Booth, who
was very clever actor, hut never reached
distinction. The senior Booth died in 1852
and though only tiity-six was u perfect
wreck.
THE GREAT TRAGEpGAN.
Edward Booth gave early proof of histri
| onic talent, but no one then imagined ii.
extent, and even his father could hard,
have dreamed of the emnence which hi,
son so rapidly attained. He was born il
1888, and hence is just fifty. He made h
debut rather suddenly, taking tue place o
his father. who was drunk. His role was
Richard Third and the debutante was in
his nineteenth year, Since then he has been
before the world winning distinction
wherever he appeared until he is now hon
ored III the centers of European taste
Edwin Booth reached the zenith of his sue
cess at least IN pecuniary seHse) in 1868
lie was then thiriy-three and was the idol
OF New York play -goers. His pay was
5000 night, ami he had accumuialed
$50 900. He was then unfortunately seized
with the ambition of building the finest
theatre in the world, and this error proved
his ruin. Had he been content TO remain a
star he won d have been sure OF wealth. In
this manner, indeed, Forrest without one
| quarter OF Booths genius, accumulated a
large fortune. Booth, however, could not re-
strain the promptings OF ambition and Tn,
world in due time heard OF the grandeur
and also of the failure of the great PLAY
| house. The unfortunate iragedian then
learned by experience the force of Shakes
pesres words:
lobkwhatis done cannot now be amended.
| VI nhall deal unaivisadly sometimes.
Which after'hOurs give leisure TO I pent"
| A peculiar train of misiortunes tollowet
| him. First was poverty. When he mad,
| his assignment after five years of struggl,
to sustain his dramatic elephant he only
had 800 worth of jewelry. So 800 worth .
books and professional wardrobe, wnil,
/ his dents were 1904 600, Then his father
in-law (McNicker) failed, The latter was u
one time rich, and Booth rested upon ex
pectations which thus ended In disappoint
ment. He also lost iavorite child an,
then came a separation from his wife, whit
soon aiterward died. and the unexplained
difficulty then sank out of the range o
gossip. Such an accumulation of troubles
at one time threatened his reason, bu'
fortunately this survived, and he has sine
showed such power OF enduring the ill
which flesh is heir to that admiration ha
been combir ed with sympathy. No maj
on the entire dramatic record has been al
equal sufferer, and all that now binds hin
to lie is "a daughter, on whom all his IN
tense affection is conferred Il New Norl
Correspondence Hartford Post.