The daily critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-11-13
EDWIN BOOTHS BIRTHDAY.
ENeTy scholar OF Shakespeare VIII
Render Htm Homage To-day


Render Him Homage To-day.
From 10 Dgy's baltimore SaH.
Most men's birthdays concern only
themselves ani limited circle Of
friends, but the gift OF genius, like the
touch of nature, creates ia its possessOr
certain kinship with all humanity,
and makes a date such as this, which
marks the tifty.seyenth anniversary OF
the birth OF Edwin Booth. an occasion
Of sympathetic interest With educated
people In every country In which
Shakespeare is known and reyereneed.
The great tragedian hath borne his
faculties so meek and preserved so
fresh the instructive modesty Of his
yo.th among the laurels Of his after
years that he still shTinks from public
attention except In the discharge Of pro-
fessional duties, and were he consulted
would doubtless be glad 10 have this
anniversary pass unnoticed. such
a virtue. in an age when even real
merit Is too often found assisting fame 20
blow lts praises, Is 10 itself so shining
an excellence that il cOmpels remark
and elicits the expressions Of admiration
which Il would most avoid Maryland,
moreover. claims a special right 10 DO
him honor. She Is a mother who never
fOTgets a son who has title 10 Temem-
brance, and Edwin Booth Is one who Ia
all his varied career has only brought
her pride and honest satisfaction.
Therefore on a day which thus strongly
recalls the relation between them she
may be pard0ned If she refuses 10 re-
spect even q mOdesty so worthy. But
apart from any personal considerations,
aud indeed IN spite of them. Il Is emf
nently proper that man like Dir. Booth
should live in the public memory, aud
be duly hOnOred on every appropriate
occasion.
Genius is great in any gaTb or walk
Of life, aud the actor who has delighted
and Instructed whole nations from the
stage and brought them nearer 10 the
gTandest thoughts and conceptions Of
the human intellect Is In bis way as
deserving of honorable recollection as
the general who has led armies, OF the
statesman who has helped % direct his
C0unty's course. No matter what our
theories may be, every one must admit
that the stage Is a power Of the FIRST
magnitude for good or evil The man
who directs it % Virtu0us ends alone
and raises n 10 The level Of an educa
tionai agency Is a benefeCt0r Of his
kind, and when % splendid dramatic
end0wments DE adds a pure aud manly
private life which illustrates iu
striking but uu0brusiye fashion the
generous and lofty traits which be por-
Trays before the foOtlights he earns the
public affection as well as the public
a a ~ y u
Edwin Booth occupies 70 day. and one
which he viii always bold iu the hearts
and minds Of The thousands whom be
has charmed and taught The greatest
tTaEedian 0f our day, a cultivated
ohakespeTeau scholar, true aud Warm.
hearted gentleman his name Is indis
solubly associated with the haest
triumpbs 0f the stage and when rs
curtain fails upon bis 1ual eXit-Which
may fate long ielay-the drama viii
have lost one NJ the uobiCsJ ngures %
has ever known.
Il may be said af him without eX,
a-geralion Ihat ne has been for many
years the ornament aud rose Of
-hakgsperelu tragedy, the glass %
fashion and Tie mould of form, the OBJ
served of an observers Take him for
al iU an We shan u0l soon look upon
bis Ike again Dir Booth may rest as
suIed that advancing years cannot steal
from BIN Tie universal respect aud al
mirariGu which are bis % day and Jhat
each recurring birthday viii only bring
him increased b1nor. love aud troops
at irieuds Slightly altered we may
repeat The hope expressed iu Toe lines
As il.s a46ulel9ls iag began the race
OF private virtue ioiu1l ~ public grace,
Mas ~ lQ QHHs them Welcome m Return.
Iil excellence IKE h's again s laIl