New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
EDWIN BOOTH.
A TRIBUTE To THE ACTOR.

A TRIBUTE To THE ACTOR.
AT a midnight supper given March 80. 1883.
AZ Delmonico's, by Augustin DAILY and A. NJ
Palmer. in honor of Edwin Booth, the following
speech WAS delivered by William Winter:
1t was my fortune, many ago, TO be present IN
the old Boston Theatre night when that famous
American actor Edwin Forrest, at the close Oh an e1t
eeedingly brilliant engagement, represented HSmis'
and delivered farewell address. can see him now,
as saw him then-not the most intellectual nor tns
most brilliant figure in our theairicA history, pus
certainly the most colossal the most imposing tho
most definite, impressive Inspired animal inn'iduanN
that ever has been seen upon the American Stage ana
can hear his voice as then heard II. when' as no
sazed around upon Q vast assemblage Of the pubic
and upon the stage that was literally covered "iln
lowers he said-in those magnificent vibrating, organ
tones Of his which IN opr day have boon equsied
or approached - Here, indeed is miracle OK euiture
wilderness Of roses, and not q single thornP 10.
night Il my fortune be present at this memoraoe
feast Of tribute "a genius and virtue, and to Behold
his great and famous successor In the leadership VI
tragic art In America surrounded by friends who grees
him with affection no less than homage, and who honor
themselves rather than him by every denotement Oh
respect and appreciation they possibly can give 70
Edwin Booth: and can imagine that he also, ioonns
upon your eager happy, anectonate faces, and listen
ing 10 YOUR genial eloQuencein this scene OF hghs
and perfume and Joy, Of high thought and sweetiy
serious feeling and gentle mirth-Ray utter the sans
exclamation of grateful pride" Here. indeed, Is
miracle Of culture-a wilderness Of roses and not
single thornS
For II man eminent in public life and nustrtous IN
the realm Of may not indulge sentiment OF honest
pride and grateful exuitation at such moment a.
this ] know not when he may indulge T. Ronors
are sometimes gwen where they are not due; but IN
those cases. although they accepted, they are nos
enjoyed in the present instance they flow As natural
~ and rightly to the object Of our esteem as rivers
dow to The sea Edwin Booth adopted the profession
Of the stagn when he In his sixteenth year. and he
has been an actor close on forty years LOOKING
back upon that long career of ambitious and noble
labor and achievement, think he must be conscious
know that We who have observed and studied IL arc
consciousthat he has been animated IN every minute
Of Il by the passionate desfre, not 10 magnify ana
gority himself but through the ministration Of
great and beautiful art 70 stimulate the advancemens
OF others TO increase the stock Of harmless PLEASURE
to make the world happier srd nobler. and to Leave
the stage a better institution than IL was when DO
found It, Speaking g1th reference 10 actors In gen
eral, It might perhaps justly DO said that 10 Is
the innrmity Of each of them to consider
himself as the centre Of a solar system around which
everything else In the creation revoYes. Not so With
the guest Of this occasion, the hero Of this esta hour
tho favorite of fancy and tho comrade OF our
Lowell For he has borne his faculties meek, has
been clear in his great Office" that whether on the
golden SUBMITS Of prosperity or in the valley Of the
disposition, his simple fidelity to duty his solid SIN
certify Of selsacracing character, and his absolutely
.guileless and blameless conduct OF life have oeeh
equally conspicuous with HIS supreme dramatic genius,
his artistic zeal and his glittering renown sbhwin
Booths fame is assured, and think It stands now at
its height and no artistic fame Of our generation can
be accounted brighter; but to my mind, the crownlng
glory OF It is the plain fact that occasion like this
representative to him of the universal sentiment and
reclamation Of his imeis simply the spontaneous ac-
knowledgment that grateful sincerity awards TO
genuine worth. Ny own words about him, another
festival occasion In this same place, may fifty be re-
peated now:
Though skies might gloom aud tempests rave,
His constant spirit simply brave
Would calmly smile at fortunes frowns
AnS Pr me G %Srs i Or sesr the crown
That gently bore the cross
II was not TO tell Edwin Booth that he Is q great
actor and 1t not to tell him that he Is dear TO the
hearts Of his friends, that this assemblags has been
convened. The burning OF incense Is . delightful
and often righteous occupation, and OF al the duties
that your Shakespeare has taught there is no thai
he urges with ador than that Of whole
hearted admiration for everything that Is noble and
lovely In human nature and conduct Him, az least,
you never find niggsrd and reticent in his praise.
But as spprehend Il, the motive OF this occasion.
the desire TO express. for sake, enss
Of obligation TO Edwin Booth for the lesson OF his
life. AS the years drift away and the shadows begin
to slope to the eastward and the nrst faint nists
mlnge with the light of the sinking sun, nothing I'M
presses me so much as the imperative need that We
should preserve the Illusions OF youthful spirit and
look upon this world not IN the cold and barren light
Of fact, but through the goiden-haze OF the imagine
ton and the genial feelings To some men ana
women Il Is granted that they dnse this raiiahs
glamour OF ideal charm. Like delicate perfume thss
suddenly comes upon you from with ed rose, or .
bit of ribbon, or tress Of hair, long hailowed ard
long preserved: like faint, far-oh strala OF
music that floats on q summer brocse across the
moonlt sea- they touch the spirit with sense OF ths
beauty and glory tho mystery and the pa,hos OF or
existence, and we are lifted up and haalowed and
strengthened and all that bitter in experience
and sordd In our surroundings Is sooshsd and swcet
ened and gloriaed. They teach US hope and belief.
instead Of doubt and despondency; and thus, In
world Of trouble and sorrow, giving to the human
anything else, We need, they
ashed something Of celestial light
Round the familiar face OF every day.
II is because Edwin Booth has hoen In tAis wsy 4
blessing 10 his generation that met to thank
him; and furthermore, 10 Is escsaso In Period that
sreatly requires nobility Of practical example he 10
vital and influential aud conclusive proof thai On
actor may know and mag fulhi his duty 70 his tina
What that duty 10 you VIII not expect sny speaker
here 10 describe. win but ash you to recall whAs
rhe American stage was when ts came upon n fhirv
years aeo and 10 consider what IL b and wacss
lnaueuec mainly i.s Advancement Is due Ana
dous majesty of st. pauis Cathedral and loos ppoa
tie marble which oommeInofxt1s ~ great Nessoss
you may read one sentences that u the ysrfscs nSy
Of simplicity and elosaenes-s II ysn weuh beaoA ~
uionp to4E nr061n& -