New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-04

|
OF tobacco, but as he was an nveterate smoker It y
that habit which hiss probably brought this attack
HIS LAST SEASON HERE.
Mr. Booths last engagement IN this city began on
November ~, and lasted until January s. This was
probably one Of the most notable of Mr. Booths
many remarkable seasons In Eew-York. II had becG
announced for many months In fact since the close
Of the previous season, that Booth and Barrett would
this year surpass all previous Shaespearean revvals
The advance salcs OF seats for this engagement were
unprecedentedly large Notwithstanding the increased
rates
othellos was the opening production, with Mr..
Barrett In tho title role Mr.. Booth Iago, John
Lane Cassie and Miss Minna X. Gale as Desdcmona.
The play was beautifully staged, and tho auxiliary
force exceptionally good. 1t was followed by q
magnificent production Of tho Merchant OF Venice
with Mr.. Booth as shylOck and Mr.. Barrett Is
Bassanio. It was Intended to run these two plays
throughout tho entire engagement, but many Of the
admirers Of both tragedans finally resented tho ad-
vsnced prices and It deemed advisable to change
the bin. julius Caesar wss then produced with
great success. After this "OthelIo," Merchant OF
atern ate nights interspersed on occasions with donbs
bills Of aYoricEs Love- and the : gcols ReyengeS
company one of the most complete that Mr. Booth
had ever gathered In his support 1t contained forty
Messr Booth and Barrett opened in Philadelphia on
January 2 In othello.s with Mr. Booth as Iago. They
remained there one week alternating the opening play
-othello' was also the opening production IN Bat-
more, where the tragedians remained one week, be-
ginning January IL Merchant OF Venice and
Julius Caesar were also produced there. The en-
the demand for seats was SO great thag II was found
necessary 70 give extra Thursday msthee In order
pointed on this occasion 900 people came from
washington on special train as matter of fact
Of he Bsimore snragewan Wassinetos naosls
have always been Obliged to visit BALTIMORE In order
the ss Es
special Pullman train conveyed The Booth Barrett
on January c1. In the NewEngland capital tie pre-
ylous successes OF the season were eclpsed, tho
receipts r ae G ay prsSSSs ass s
period in tho same city. Boston being Mr.. Booths
home, he was always sure Of drawing well there, but
every night unable TO gain even admittanoe within
The doors. The tragedlans remained in Boston until
as during tho New-York engagement. The combina-
ton returned then to PhiladePhf February Is for
this period incisdsd all Of ' those S1' which which
had made the Ytew-YOrk and Boston sea
PhiadeIpha were also extremely large, and during
most Of the time standing room only" was the rule
ut the door
THE SUPPER TO HIM AT DEIMoNIco's.
The week Of March 25 at the Amphion Academy in
brooklyn was also one Of the most notable of Mr..
Booths engagements in the City of Churches On
Saturday night last at the close Of Mr.. Booths Brook
lyn engagement, supper given to him at Del
monco's by A. NJ, Palmer and Augustin DAILY. The
occasion was noteworthy in that 1t brought together
with the common purpose Of hononng Mr..
Booth many men prominent In the affairs
Of the city, State and Nation and in the pro-
fessons and IN circles Of art and letters The supper
was given as token of appreciation Of Mr. Booths
munncent gift OF home for the Players Club. The
tables were adorned with choice flowers and surrounded
opening his remarks after the supper had been disposed
ss Sp0S M gSSs s0S SSS health The great sSF
20 words OF aclmo wledgment and thanks. Mr. Daly
then surendeyed bis post Of presiding officer 10 Mr
tAose Who paid their aestss that night . ST. BoOf1s
Ss;Dius Ss;d c,,dIS. and hSsrahty IT, veFp stephen Il
Il. Marx Tysln w,n COQqslnl General Horace Porter.
Florence, Parke Goodwin and Edward Harrgan.
HIS GENEROUS GIFT TO THE PROFESSION.
"The Players Clubhouse was formally opened on
December 81. Tho nve-story brownstone house No
10 Gramercy Park adjoining the S. J. Tilden mansion
on the east presented to the club by Mr. Booth
1t cost the tragodian $4,000, and he expended
9125 900 In having It rcmodelled and equipped
library, complete collection Of dramatic liter
ature IN the United States was given BY Mr. Booth
dream Of his life The Payer's Club was incorporated
under the laws OF New-York In 1887. Mr.. Booth, |
Palmer paine ssas sAasasn S Dsly joseph yoerson and Law
rence Barrett in his Soheme for tho establishment of
resulted in its incorporation last year Afr. Booth
was chosen the first president OF the club an Office
SS RS ~ sea up 70 the Ss sa% $ nss S 81
the theatrical profession in the United States.
POINTS IN HIS DRAMATIC CAREER.
Edwin Booth, following In his fathers footsteps and
Droating by his experience and instruction early in
life showed that promise OF genius and particular tai
mt which has since made his name syuonyme for |
Al that Is great in his chosen profession. Born
~ PAL md hO
IFS first regular appearance in the PLY Of Richard
IID at the Boston Museum in 1s49, and played In
1901 at tho Chatham Street Theatre the part OF Richard
III. After this he visited California, Australia
Ind other parts OF the globe, and
eturned to New-York in 1857, thence going to Eng
and.
On February 8, 1862 he opened his theatre at
twenty -thrd-st and Eighth,ave., but under his
sgement tho venture a failure, and he went
nto bankruptcy, his debts amounting to over $780,
700. This enormous debt he paid dollar for dollar.
SOME OF HIS NOTABLE PERFORMANCES.
On May 81. 1883. in the testimonial to Lester
yallaok at the Metropolitan Opera House. Mr.
Booth played Hamlet, while Mr.. Barrett appeared as
he Ghost Other members of tho great cast on that
ccasIon wero Frank Mayo, John Gilbert. Eben
'ioronee, ince.' Nine. 3odjesEa and Rose Coshian OF
Ir Booth It was said he fired by unusual energy
oqaSce op Sce0 Of the the OCCASION Never has So played
Iamet more superbly than he did last nightn On
"a Of that year he played in Boston for the boncht
4 the Actors Fund
The season of 1ss7Jes was phenomenally successful
or tho Booth and Barrett combination, much So In
act that the results could scarcely be realized to be
4 great as they were. The actors share of the sea-
on's receipts was e6000 COO OF which Mr.. Booth re-
eveh over 100000. This for a of thirty-sx
weeks The actors receipts averaged for the whole
eason $4,000 o week At the Bald
vim Theatre IN San Francisco the re-
elpts for three weeks we're $4,000 and more
han double the regular rates paid TO spectators
or tickets. An extraordinary feature of this tour
tands Three carloads of special scenery was car
On April 90, 1886, the Academy Of Music was
rowded by an immense audience, who had assembled
o see Mr.. Booth play Iago 10 Tommaso salytnPs
)theuo Salvini, Of course spoke HIS lines IN Italian.
'he programme was greatly enjoyed.
mn en- crnrn IrrR ST IInnrS els nnNPANY |