The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-25
EDWINBOOTH'S BEGINNING
AeREAT ACTORS sTAeEApvEN1
The Man Who introduced Him to Ppb,,o
Favor Talks Entertainingly and
with Pride and Pleas
are Concerning Him.

The most misunderstood man in tho
world, says the New York correspond.
ent OF the Philadelphia News. is Mr.,
Edwin Booth, the tragedian! have
long known that he isn't the Hamlet
In real life whom men and particularly
women take him to be, and ON meeting
MI William Stuart, who originally in
troduced Booth to fame, l asked him
ABOUT the famous Winter Garden en-
gagement.
"1es, that was his first prominence,
certainly" the old gentleman replied,
rput no mad, which seems to have been
lorgotten, previously played in New
York With me. when was manager of
Wallack's theatre, one night as Iago to
the Othello of Il. l.. Davenport, for the
benefit OF Mr.. Jarrett, afterward of Jar
fett " Palmer, and had also
played few nights at Burton's
theatre, sfterwaru reconstruct
ed into the Winter Garden,
an engagement interrupted by Illness"
consider that ON these occasions he
produced great impression. Shortly
after ne was married by DR.. Bellows to
Miss Mary Devlin, charming young
girl OF Celtic parents, and possessed In
OF the race, most exquisite sensibility,
wondrous power OF feeling and eX-
preston, the passion of love in its softer
and sweater phases, and the most ten
der and subduing pathos. Mr.. Booth
Immediately upon their marriage re.
moved her from the stage. Had she re-
manned l have little doubt she Womb
have grown into remarkable actress.
Charlotte Cushman shared my admira
ten with even more enthusiasm, and
after seeing and playing Romeo to many
Jullets, said she considered her far
away the best. Her whole soul was cen.
tered IN her husband, and this marriage
had the best possible effect on him, both
intellectually and physically, and laid
the foundation of his future. -
"What were the circumstances of
your engaging him?"
"Well, perhaps | was prompted nv
her. HS wrote from h 4ltimore TO Mi.
Jackson, an old New York manager
whom had taken in as partner and
hnahclal manager, proposing an en-
gagement. Mr.. jackson handed the
letter TO me. l accepted the proposal,
ana from mat date our relations were
very close and constant down TO the
burning down of the Winter Garden. .
"Ilow was this first engagement?D
sit was an intellectual but not n MON
etary success. The audiences were
finer in quality than quantity; and SO
with the next trial. The managemeut
lost httle-not much; but that was
amply compensated by the prospect for
the future that they brought. Roth be
and Mrs. Booth were intensely elated.
Tho critical voice, without a dissonant
note, vent strongly for him. Under The
lnhuehce OF this elation he started of
Tor England-a very foolish freak. But
there was an impression existing in
theatrical circles here at that time that
no actors position was established until
audience"
"How did hesucceed there?"
ION, he made pronounced failure.
IN the nrst place the season was against
hlm, the very worst he could have
chosen. Then he consented to omen in
Shylock, which he cannot play, instead
OF lago, or perhaps better for a Hay-
market audience, in Bertuccio, in either
OF which he would have made great
hit. The depressing effect of his failure
on the first night unhinged him, He
was not "ft' during the rest of the time
he was in England, and returned very
quickly"
did no play with you then?n
es, one or TWO engagements of the
same character as the first. Jackson
shortly after retired, and becoming sole
lessee and manager, | entered into an
agree ment with Mr.. Booth, by which
ms plays were TO be presented at
Winter Garden with the same
splendor and completeness as were
those of Macready and Charles
kean at Drury Lane, Covent Garden
and the Princes, He designed and di-
rected all these presentations, or re-
viyals, as they We're styled, both as to
scenery, properties and dresses-all the
accessories OF art. | selected the COM
pany subject to his approval. He went
in Tor the very best actors, those fitted
Tor particular parts, without any con-
sidereion of the salaries, and he
usually had some stars and semi-stars
IN his support"
ais IL true that in his early DAYS no
was enthusiastic for art, while latterly
he has become 4 sordid money getterY',
you may judge from what L have
said that in hls earlier career he was de-
youred with thirst for fame-a very
wise ambition, for fame brings money.
They touch each other at every point.
What his feelings or objects are now, L,
OF course, am not more qualified than
any other of the public to say"