San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-10
EMINENT RETIRED COMEDIAN, RE-
PORTED TO BE SINKING.

Unfavorable reports come from Bos-
ton with regard to the health of Will
liam Warren, the great actor. He is
an old man. and, it is thought, hardly
can recover from the illness which
prOstrates him.
Mr.. Warren severed his active con-
nection with the playhouse nearl y six
years ago, shortly after the celebra-
ton at the Boston museum, OF the
golden anniversary of his career as a
comedian. On this occasion the best
in the society of the New England
capital, in its art and literature, hon
ored the old man by attending the
two performances of October rs, 1882,
when he took the parts OF DR.. Pang-
loss and Sir Peter TeaZle. 1t was no.
ted at the time that he had performed,
in his thirty-fOur years at the
museum, 1885 times, in 81 parts;
500 of the performances in only sixty
eight characters. After the evening
performance friends assembled in the
actors lodgings and made him many
presents, among which were silver
pitcher from the Boston Theatre COM
pany, and glowing cup" sent him by
Booth, Jefferson, Barrett, Mccullough
liam Winter was the messenger. He
accompanied the cup with a poem.
Since the time when he reached the
acme of his hOnors Mr.. Warren has
lived in his quiet, old bachelor style,
much respected and an object of
almost affectiOnate interest to the
public. He has maintained his Studi
Gus habits, and has spent the years of
his retirement, solaced by high pur-
suits and warm friendships, in
pleasant and profitable manner.
Another name great in the story of
the American theatre is suggested by
that of Warren. The Jeffersons and
Warrens sprung from the same stock
OH the maternal side. When Joseph
Jefferson, the grandfather of the liv-
ing actor of the same name, was play
ing at the old John street theatre,
New York. in 1896. he married Euphe-
mia Fortune, and made his home
with his wife's mother. At that time
Jefferson's friend Warren, father of
William Warren, had just arrived in
this country from England. His wife
died soon afterwards. He married in
second wedlock Mrs. Wignell, better
known as Mrs. Merry, whom he also
survived. and espOused in third we'd
lock Miss Fortune. sister of Mrs. JEFF
fersOn. This lady was the mother of
William Warren.
The great actor Of whom we give a
portrait, was born in Philadelphia.
He made his first appearance in the
Arch Street theatre of that city. on
October 9th, 1892, with the promise
which extraordinary natural endOw-
ments and thorough training demand.
His father, who was one of the most
eminent actors England had given
the American stage, died week be-
fore his son made his first bow to the
public in a benefit performance for the
bereaved family. His part was Young
Norval, the same which his father
had taken upon the occasion of his
first appearance in the old country,
fOrty-eight years before.
The first nine years and upwards of
Mr.. Warren's professional life were
spent chiefly in Philadelphia. He
appeared at the Park theatre, New
York, April II, 1871, as comedian,
but performed only one night in that
place, the times being unprOpitious to
a young actor with the best qualifica-
tons, by reason of the large number
of excellent players at time grazing
the stage of the Empire city. In 1915
he visited England and filed sue
cessful engagement at the Strand
theatre, London. Upon his return,
after playing at the Howard athen-
eum, Boston, he entered upon his
brilliant career at the museum of that
city. His first appearance there was
on the Ord Of April, 1916. From then
until his retirement he was absent
from the museum one season.