St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-03-12
The Great Tragedian.
What Lawrence Barrett says about his
Lyndon Boyhood.

Lyndon bOynOOO.
Ia its issue of April IL, 1884, the
Union had the following in regard to
the tragedian, Lawrence Barrett
"People familiar with Lyndon Corner
in the years between 1910 and 1850,
will remember Lawrence lis one of the
''gaminS' of our street. His father
was tailor here, having his shop in
the little room below the CahOon Office,
where John Cassidy pegs boots, while
his family lived III the rickety base
ment below him. His two boys were
George and Lawrence. Lawrence was
Il belligerent chap, and when he
couldn't find any other hey to fight, he
would keep his hand in by undertake
ing to fog his older brother George.
The old gentleman would usually UNI
pire the fights and interfere only when
one boy was using an unfair advantage
over the other. Lawrence took to
books occasionally, and managed to
find time, between fights, to take a
partial course in the Lyndon academy,
where he was always ready when his
turn came for a defamation, and
usually otherwise engaged when his
turn came to recite. When other boys
were running away from rhetOricals,
Lawrence was on hand and seemed to
enjoy it. A little before 1850 the fam
lily disappeared from the village and
that was the last heard from them till
Lawrence began to appear in the the
atrical world. He went to Montreal.
we learn, where he managed to work
himself in behind the screens, as chore
50
nally he turned up in the American
cities as one of the foremost tragedians
of the present day"
Since the issue of this item, another
has been published by different pa
pers which represents Barrett as hav-
ing passed his early life as bell-boy
in Michigan hotel. A controversy
arose as to which one, if either, was
correct. Mr.. Barrett cOrrObOrates
inpart the Unions sketch as will be
seen by extrats from letter recently
received from him. He writes at is
true that | passed some days of my
youth at Lyndon, VT, but | cannet
think they were so turbulent as the
somewhat free writer of the extract
YOU send me would have them; or I
should hardly retain the pleasant
memories of the pretty village buried
in the hills which | have ever since
cherished. | had no brother George
and was myself IA sickly child, unable
to accomplish the valorous deeds with
which | am credited. In all that re-
lates to my public career the writer is
fully as Incorrect. My memory CRATE
fully COOS back to the place where /
gained the beginnings of such learn
ing and possession, and to the fair
teachers who were SO patient and kind
to me. | have not dared in my man
hood to go back to Lyndon fearful OF
disturbing the sweet influence which
was then engraved upon my mind, by
a contemplation of change which oul
progressive life brings to all the coun-
try.
Bnt / hope yet to see Lyndon, and
shall roam over its Minister hill,' out
to 'Chamberlin MILL and beside the
school house in the hollow, with Nc
disturbing memories of boyish fights,
or seconds of brutality to mar my
pleasure
One of the Lyndon boys of lS46 well
remembers Lawrence as a chubby
sunny faced boy of about twelve
years general favorite with all
while his older brother, Joseph, though
by no means a bad boy, was inclined
to indulge more or less in the manly
art of self-defense. NICOLA.