The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-04

hho Soutco vi Ouo Oh tnebo tOufS tOat Eu-
win Booth made his first regular appear
ance upon the stage, at the Boston Museum,
on September TO- 1910. The play was
Ci6ber's version OF Shakespeare's "Rich-
ard ILL.," and the youth came forward in
the little part oil Tressil. At first the elder
Booth opposed his sons choice OF the
stage. but ultimately he relinquished his
opposition. The boy persevered, and pres
entity, still acting in his fathers train, he
appeared at. Providence, r. l., at Phila-
delphla and other places, as Cassie in
"Othello," and as MILFORD in 1.-THE Iron
Chest" latter impersonation being
deemed particularly good. Edwin Booth
than two years after the advent at the
Boston Museum. His first appearance on
the New York stage was September ~,
1850, at the National Theater, Chatham
street, and in 1851, his father being i'll, he
suddenly and promptly took tho place Of
the elder tragedian, and for the first time
in his life enacted Richard III. The effort
remarkably successful for u comparative
novice, was held as tho indication
OF great talent and the augury OF
brilliant future. In the summer
OF 1852 he accompanied his father 10 San
Booth, Jr., had already established him
self rs an actor and theatrical manager,
and where the three now acted in COM
pany. 0thor cities were visited by them,
and the elder Booth remained in Cali
fornia about three months. One night, in
Sacramento, seeing Edwin dressed for
Jallir in Venice Preserved" he said to
him: "You look like Hamlet; why don't
/ A hat 0l.a..
Booth has had good cause to remember,
often or over so wide range OF territory.
Just as the name OF Junius Brutus Booth Is
inseparably associated with Richard Ill,
SO the nameoi Edwin Booth is inseparably
rs sociated with Hamlet In October,
1852, the father and son parted for the last
time. The California time OF Edwin
Booths career lasted from the summer Of
1852 until tho autumn OF 1856, and in
cluded trip TO Australia. The young nc
tor at first played parts OF all kinds, aud
he had a severe experience OF poverty and
hardship. Soon, however, he began 10
display uncommon merit, and thercupon
to attract uncommon admiration. One Of
his earliest and best successes was OBJ
tanned rs Sir Edward Mortimer in "Ihe
/ Albil NutNls IpI llAttit
eled in California, conveying his wardrobe
for this piece in trunk made TO resemble
q chest OF iron. His trip TO Australia. in
1854, was made with a dramatic COM
pany that included the popular actress
Miss Laura kecnc rs leading woman.
Previous 10 this he had, in his brothers
theater in San francisco, acted Richard
III. Shylock, Macbeth and Ham,
| l.N AuN
preston, and acquired abundant local
popularity. At this time his acting began
10 receive attention from thoughtful and
critical authorities. He stopped and acted
at the Sandwich Islands on his return yoy-
ago from Australia 10 san Francisco aud
reappeared then at the Metropolitan
Thcater, then (lSj5) managed by Miss
Catherine Sinclair Mrs Edwin Forrest,
who had left he her husband and obtained
divorce from him) and he was then
and there the original representative,
in America, OF Raphael in "ThC
Marbcl Heart" In 1896 he left California,
being checred ON his way by several tesli.
monial benefits, organized and conducted
by one OF his earliest and best friends, Mr..
Nj. l.. Butler, OF Sacramento, and his steps
we're now turned toward the cities Of the
|
Street Thealer Baltimore, and then made
rapid tour OF the large cities Of the
South, being everywhere well received.
In April, 1857, he appeared at the Boston
1heaier as Sir Giles Oyerreach in "a New
Way to Pay Old Debts" and his great
success ON this occasion, always regarded
by him as the turning point in his career,
determined him 10 persist In the rcsolute
endcayor to win the FIRST place as a tragic
actor. Ills career since then has been
marked By many vcissitudcsof personal ex
pcriencc and by fluctuations. of fortune,
but IL has been one Of lofty endeayor and
continuous advancement On May II,
1857, he came forward In New York al
Bnrlon's Mciropoltal Thcaicr rs Richard
ILL.,. and In the following August he wa,
again seen there in a round Of great char.
actcrs, all OF which lac acted with brilliant
ability and greatly TO the public satisiac
ton. On July Z, 1860, he married Mis-,
Mary Doylin, Of Troy, n. V, an acires,
whom he hal met three years before al
Richmond, Va, with whom lac shortly
after made a visit 10 England. Their only
child, daughter, was born In Fulhan
December y, 1861. After their return tC
America Mrs Booth, sinking under a sud
den illness, died at Dorchester, Mass, OF
February q, 1858. While In England
Booth appeared at tho London llaymar
ket Thcaicr under the management OF
Il. Blackstone, enaciing Shylock, Sir Gilc
and Nchclieu. The latter part with which
"a much as with Hamlet, his name I
identified, lac had first assumed at Sacra
mcnlo. Cal, In July. 1885. Ills perform
ance Of II was much admired In London
aud also NJ Liverpool and London, whcr,
he aitcFward acted. On returning 4
America Booth became manager OF III,
Winter Garden Theaicr, New York, which
had been Buuons metropolitan, bu
which Dion B0ucicault had leased reiiuc,
aud renamed. Here Booth appeared OF
the 10Th OF December, 1882, and with Thu
house he was associated until 23d March
1857, when IL was destroyed by fire.
particular record OF his proceedings at Thu
theatcr would fll volume. Here he Il
fccird magnificent productions o
"Olhcllo." Hamlet" THE Mcrchan
OF Venice" "Richelieu" and oihc
plays, aud here ho accomplishe,
The remarkable achievement Of runninl
Hamlet" for 100 consecutive nights, ~
exploit that WIS commcmomted by thi
public presentation TO him, on the -,
January. 1857, OF q gold medal suitably
Inscribed, and Offered in behalf Of thI
leading citizens OF New York. In rccen
DAYS such an artistic feat would not be "
difficult Of accomplishment. At that tint
Il was an extraordinary exploit Bootli'
brother.in.law, tho celebrated comedian
John * Clark, was his partner In thu
management Of tho Winter Garden Thea
ter, and they associated with themselves
an old Journalist and theatrical agent