Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-30


IS s.bope Of the living drama, greatly
10 his dismay, but bis instantaneous sue,
Gees almost justified such e1trayagant
enIogv. and while curiosity had brought
,nan9 ~ gee the son OF him who had
hen their vhilom idol they remained to
nav tribute 10 an effort which was origl-
nal and spontaneous.
pursning for the next few years the
ooreer Of a wandering player, with fire.
oueut returns to New York ana new at
ditions 10 his repertory, Edwin Booth
uas occurring new experience ana valu-
allie confidence in his powers. In 1860
be visited London, having made an III
considered and hasty agreement WITH
manager there which iorceu MN
10 come out at comedy theatre,
the Havmarket. in part unsulted Tor
a first appearance, although one oil
his best pcrformances-Shyiock' he
maid too little heed to the importance OF
lis London engagement. and 1t was only
as II neared it's close, when he had salts
fed the people by his magnetic per-
Torrance of Richelieu, that he awoke 70
the magnitude OF the event lie was
OBLIGED TO quit the scene OF his success
at the moment OF its arrival. Returning
TO his own country, he found the Ihd
apopized in the throes OF civil war.
During this visit to England his only
child. Tdwina. was born. His home on
his return was made at Dorchester, Mass.
HIS NEW YORK THEATRES
In 1863 he took lease OF the Winter
Garden Theatre. New York. having
already purchased, with Mr.. J. \. Clarke,
the Walnut-Street Theatre, in Philadel-
phia His partners IN the New York
scheme were Messrs. Clarke and William
Stuart In November, 1864, occurred
the notable production OF Hamlet,
which ran one hundred CONSECUTIVE
nights. 1t was adequately mounted, ex-
cellentlv cast, and fixed the fame of Mr..
Booth az the Hamlet par erccllence OF
the American stage No such revival
of a Shakspearean play had taken
place since the days of Charles
Kean at the old Park. After
nearly a wear of retiremens at the urgent
solicitation Of friends throughout the
whole country. he reappeared as Ham
LET ut the Winter Garden Theatre on
January 3, 1866. The reception and per-
Torrance were remarkable, and series
OF reyivals worthy Of any age succeeded
each other at the Garden Thea
ire. At the summit of the success az
these efforts to revive the glory OF the
early DAYS OF the drama fire broke ont
in the Winter.Garden Theatre which de-
stroyed not only much valuable material,
but DELAYED for the time the purposes OF
the ambitious actor, who had no less
desire than tho highest achievement ior
his beloved art.
Setting out on his provincial tours
once more be formed the plan to create
out of the ashes Of his ruined theatre an
edifice more costly and enduring. Sc
lecting n site for his new house he placed
the earnings OF bis richly productive
career in tho lap Of his new
enterprise. Over million dollars
were spent on the construction Of
the noblest temple yet erected to
the drama in America. With the
same liberality which had stopped at no
sacrifice in the erection Of the building,
the actor layished large sums on the
stage and its settings. The theatre was
opened February 3, 1869, with q gor-
eeous production Of "Romeo and
Juliet" from the original text. lie was
himself the Romeo, and the gifted I'd
win Adams the Mercutio, with q sup
porting cast of unusual excellence. The
success of the theatre was instant and
enduring. For the years during which
Mr.. Booth retained its control the re-
ceipts were very large, although the lavish
outlay lett no margin OF profit. winters
Tale" Hamlet, "Julius Caesar, " "Mer-
chant OF Venice" "Much Ado About
Nothing" and other of the great
Shakspearean plays were presented IN
an UNPRECEDENTED style OF magniiicence,
admirably cast. The original texts in
all instances were restored, thus ante
dating all English efforts in that line by
many years. Disaster. owing TO un-
skilful business management and the
impossibility that one man should
always remain at the helm, wrecked this
noble venture. But although bank
ruptcy resulted TO the enthusiastic
founder the glory Of having given such
q temple and such a series OF revivals to
the American stage will be linked IN
separately with the renown Of Edwin
Booth.
His subsequent appearances IN San
Francisco after twenty years absence,
and in London, where he presented a
round of his favorite parts with great
eolQt, and his crowning glory in present
ing himself before the critics of exacting
Germany, form a part in his more recent
fame.
HIS life was gentle, and the elements so
| mixed in him
That Nature might stand up and say to
all the world
This was a man."
HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AT BELAIR.
The following description OF Mr.. Ed
win Booths first appearance on any
stage is from a little book written by hi:
sister Asia, aiterward Mrs. J. s. Clarke,
entitled "Booth Memorials: Passages
Incidents, and Anecdotes IN the Life o.
Junius Brutus Booth the Elder"
"ln the summer of 1850, while Edwin
and Mr.. j. S. Clarke were ruralizing al
my fathers farm, they were solicited by
by number of the residents and col
legians Of Belair TO favor them with {
dramatic reading, which style Of enter
tainment was greatly in vogue in private
circles. They willingly complied with
the request, having previously recited to
gether the quarrel OF Butus and Cassiui
and other pieces at school before the no
very critical audience Of parents ant
friends, among whom conspicuouslyan(
with pleased countenauce sat the elder
Booth As the solicitation was genera
and admitted of no delay they mounted
their horses and rode twenty-five miles
on q sul,ry summer day 10 obtain printed
programmes III Baltimore. They were
greatly surprised to find that my father
instead Of Offering any objection to thei
reading, entered into all their plans Will
boyish citation, and became as enthusi
astic about it as themselves. He insisted
) upon retaining number OF tn,
programmes to enclose to friend: