The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-19
DION BoUCIcAULT Is DEAD.
Long Life Of the Greatest American
Playwright Ended.

Long Life Of the Greatest American
Playwright Ended.
New YORK. Sept. 1s-Dion Boucicault, the
playwright and actor. died tonight after q lin
geriny Illness
Boucieauir had cold which developed into
pneumonia.
Dion Boucicarlt was born in Dubli 5, Ire
land, December %. ls22. He was me son OF a
French merchant III Dubiia, ami was edncatc1
for a civil engiuter under his guardia Dr.
Dionysius Larlner. oi the university OF London.
but devoted himself 10 tae drama. In March.
1s4l, he produced III comedy, London Assur.
ance," which was brous BIT out at Covent Garden
theater, and met with great succ S. The earli-
est OF his plays, ii still retains a
high place among modern comedies, and
IL seen frequently every season.. He married
Agnes Robertson. and in September 1853, came
to the United Ststes, delivered lectures In New
York. and then returned to The stage In 1850
he went 10 London and brought ont at the
Adephi theater, his famous Irish play of "Col.
leen Bawn." founded on Gerald Griffin's novel
Of "1he Colleg ans" In 1851 was produced. in
the same theater, his drama illustrating the
evils OF Amer can avery, called ssrhe Octo
ROOM" Ai:er that he wrote, in rapid success.
sion, more tnsn 100 dramas, some of
them original and Others adaptatjons
from the French In 1867 he brcught
out Dot en- The Relief of Lucknow"
in 1867 THE Trial Of Ellie Deans;" in 1864. .The
Streets OF London in 1865. 'Arrah ma Pogue y
rip Van Winkle;" which was rendered fam
Gus by the acting of Joseph jefferson and .The
Parish Clerk" which last piece was written for
Mr.. Jefferson: in 1866, "The FLYING Send -,
HUNTED Down." ami The Long Strike" in
1867. "How She Loves Him." aud "Foul PLAY"
the latter written in collaboration with Charles
Reade; in 1865. "After Dark" in 1862 Lost at
sea" and "ForInosa;' in 1870, srhe Rappa,ee
or the Treaty of Limerick" and sJezebsl;" in
1872, "Bsbil ana BijoH." In the autumn of
1874 he returned TO the United States, where
since 1876 he has resided most of
the time. In 1873 he produced at Booths the
alter, in New York, the irish play of Daddy
O'Dowd'; at Wallack's thest-r Mora and
Mimi" and at the Union Square theater. lied
Astray.' In December 1873, he opened tho
New Park tn ater in partnership with William
Stuart During his former residence in the
United States he had established a theater in
Washington In ISIS. and reconstructed the
Metropolitan thes'er in New York, changod 4,
into the Winter Garden in 1859, and in 1862
after his return 70 England. he built over At
iey's theater and altered its name TO the West
minister, speculation that proved
failure. OF his other plays the best,
known are "Janets Pride" Louis XII" Faust
and Marguerite" Paul Lafsry.n tls7m ga
Dark Nishts Work" us7oy. The Dead secret,
uS7s). ANDY Blake and "The Shaughran. !"
Boucicaalt separated from his wife several
years ago and married again. Agnes Robert
sons suit for almony is still pending in a Brit.
ish court. and the litigation has been notorious
for the past few years Boucicault excelIed az
adramatist in brightness of dialogue. dramatic
action. and the treatment of incidents His
meiodramas are more natural than those that
preceded them. He elevated and improvad tho
character of the Irish drama The plots of his
plays are seldom original, but in the
drawing OF character. the introduction and
handling of dramatic incidents, and the com.
position of scenes of paibos, passion. or humor
he displays originality. knowledge OF human
nature, and dramatic Judgment He has ele.
waited the status OF the dramatic author by in.
sisting on higher rates OF compensation than
were usual, and by making the play itself the
leading attraction. As an actor Boucieault did
not rank as hignly as an author, but his ability
was lar above the average, and careful. con-
scientions work marked his conception Of .verx
character assumed. His creates, successes were
In leading parts in his own PLAYS. and few Ir,sh
coined ans nave reached his standard of excel
lence